Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT Captures Robb Report Best of the Best Sedan

Super-sedan seduces editors with combination of stunning performance and stand alone good looks

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., May 18 -- Maserati North America is proud to announce that the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT has won the prestigious Robb Report Best of the Best competition for sedans. Robb Report chose the Quattroporte Sport GT over several high-profile and higher-cost competitors including the new Bentley Continental Flying Spur and the new Maybach 57S. The Quattroporte Sport GT also defeated the new Audi S8 and the BMW M5.

Scheduled to hit newsstands on May 23, Robb Report magazine's 18th annual "Best of the Best" offers readers an unprecedented selection of new products and services that exemplify the very finest that the luxury world has to offer.

The culmination of a year's search for the most extraordinary new products and services, "Best of the Best" features premium-quality automobiles, yachts, jewelry, vacations, wines, and fashion, and other exceptional items.

The Quattroporte is now the first two-time winner of Robb Report's "Best of the Best," having also taken the award at its 2004 launch. The end of the review sums up the Quattroporte Sport GT in near perfect fashion:

"The Quattroporte is a styling masterpiece ... the unpretentious Pininfarina shape will continue to turn heads when other sedans have become yesterday's styling fad. It is these concours-winning looks, underpinned by performance and fit and finish that are world-class, that make the Quattroporte Sport GT our favorite new sedan."

ABOUT THE QUATTROPORTE SPORT GT

"The Sport GT version of the Quattroporte was created to further enhance the high performance spirit that sets the Quattroporte apart from any other luxury sedan," commented Maserati North America President and CEO James Selwa. "We appreciate this award as the Robb Report is noted for their expertise in fine goods."

Features available only on the Sport GT include a black chrome trimmed grille and side air intakes which take their inspiration from Maserati's race cars, and a red striped Trident typical of Maserati competition cars of the past. The car's overall sporty character is also enhanced in the interior by the carbon fiber center console, sport steering wheel and hand-brake grip and lightweight aluminum pedals.

The performance of the transmission has been increased: the Sport button allows the driver to significantly cut gear change times up to 35 percent thanks to enhanced software in the electro-hydraulic transmission system's CPU. At high engine speeds, the 4.2 liter Ferrari engineered V8 growls an even more sonorous basso thanks to a specially tuned exhaust system.

Particular attention was given to the programming of Maserati's renowned Skyhook adaptive damping software to provide a higher level of dynamic handling, while still allowing the driver to set the system for comfortable cruising. Sculptured 20" wheels communicate immediately the car's great sporting ability and feature specially produced tires with a pressure monitoring system. The high performance Brembo braking system now features metal weave tubing and cross-drilled discs with titanium-colored calipers.

MASERATI POSTS RECORD YEAR IN NORTH AMERICA

With 2,100 cars delivered in the twelve months of 2005, Maserati North America achieved an over 90 percent increase in volume compared to 2004. 1,550 were the Maserati Quattroporte, the high-performance sedan that quickly became the leader in its market segment. In fact, for 2005, the Quattroporte topped all competitors with over 40 percent share of the market for individual sedans between $100,000 and $170,000.

For 2006, the Maserati range has been broadened to eight highly focused and exciting models. New for 2006 are the Quattroporte Sport GT and Executive GT. The Sport GT offers the highest level of performance while the Executive GT embraces exquisite luxury. The two door line now features a thrilling 400 horsepower open air Spyder based on the GranSport, a limited edition GranSport and the MC Victory, which honors Maserati's capture of the 2005 Manufacturer title in European FIA GT competition.