Luca Cordero di Montezemolo Chairman of the Ferrari Maserati Group, together with Maserati Chief Executive Martin Leach delivered a special Maserati Quattroporte to Italy’s President Carlo Azeglia Ciampi during a private ceremony at the Quirinale Palace in Rome last week.

The car in dark blue with a natural hide interior is fitted with a range of personalised options selected by the President. The car can be distinguished from other Quattroporte by the two flag holders on the front wings.

In 2003, President Ciampi visited the Maserati factory in Modena and was given an exclusive preview of the new Quattroporte. Such was his interest in the car that one was assigned to him. The car was then officially unveiled to the world at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will also take delivery of a silver Quattroporte, along with a number of other government representatives.

The last President to use a Maserati Quattroporte was Sandro Pertini during the 1980s together with Giovanni Spadolini, then President of the Senate.