Historic and Contemporary Award-Winning Maseratis in New York City Columbus Day Parade

Classic Sports and Luxury Cars Span Eight Decades in Outstanding Display of Engineering and Design Elegant, Powerful Maserati Quattroporte S to be Raffled for Charity

NEW YORK, Oct. 9 -- A troop of classic and contemporary Maserati sports and luxury cars will lead New York City's 65th annual Columbus Day Parade up Fifth Avenue on October 12, 2009.

Automotive enthusiasts will have an opportunity to view the cars in an exhibition following the parade and to win a Maserati Quattroporte S in an exclusive raffle that will benefit the scholarship programs of the Columbus Citizens Foundation, which organizes the Columbus Day Parade. To purchase tickets, call 866-860-8572.

Among the Maseratis to be featured in the Columbus Day Parade are the following:

  --  1929 / 1931 Maserati Spyder - V16:  A unique model, the 1931 Maserati
      Zagato Spyder was the first super car.  Powered by an unusual
      16-cylinder engine, the car set the world's speed record of 152.9 mph
      in 1929.  It was later rebodied in 1931 by Zagato as a road-going
      sports car.  In 2003, it was a first place winner in the Pebble Beach
      Concourse.

  --  1955 Maserati A6G54 GT Frua Berlinetta:  Exhibited in the Turin Motor
      Show in 1955, this A6G54 was sold to Italian music legend Domenico
      Modugno, who recorded and wrote the music and co-authored the lyrics
      for "Volare," which won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song
      of the Year in 1958.  In 2003, the Frua Berlinetta won Best of Show in
      the 2003 Villa d'Este Concours in Cernobbio, Italy.

  --  1956 Maserati 300S: Winner of the 1956 Venezuelan Grand Prix driven by
      Sterling Moss and later acquired by 5 time world champion Juan Manuel
      Fangio. First in class at the 1999 Pebble Beach Concours.

  --  1960 Maserati 5000 GT: This striking automobile, the second of 34 5000
      GTs built, is identical to the model built for the Shah of Iran in
      1959.  It was displayed at the 1959 Turin Motor Show and uses the
      Maserati 450 S race car engine and is capable of a top speed of over
      170 mph.

  --  1970 Maserati Ghibli Spyder SS: The Maserati Ghibli Spyder went into
      production in 1969 and, as an SS model, is extremely rare - only 25
      were built!  The model in the 2007 Columbus Day Parade had only one
      prior owner, a Neapolitan businessman who purchased it in 1970 to help
      win the affection of a woman he considered the most beautiful in
      Naples.  They subsequently married and are still together to this day.

Following their appearance in the parade, the Maseratis will be on view in front of the

Columbus Citizens Foundation until early evening. The exhibition will be on 69th Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues.

The Maserati Quattroporte S that will be raffled, which is silver with a tan interior, is currently on view in a unique exhibition in Grand Central Terminal through October 17. Maserati Quattroporte S presents a modern look and meets Maserati's high standards of engineering and design. The drawing will be held at 6:00 PM on October 16 in Grand Central Terminal.

Maserati is partnering with the Columbus Citizens Foundation in the raffle of the Quattroporte S in recognition and support of the Foundation's scholarship programs and of the company's own Italian heritage.

Tickets for the Quattroporte S are limited to 400 and cost $1,000.00 each. Please visit www.columbusraffle.com for raffle details and rules.

Proceeds of the raffle will benefit the Columbus Citizens Foundation's scholarship funds. The Foundation is a non-profit organization in New York City that provides financial aid to deserving students from the elementary school through graduate school levels and organizes events that promote Italian-American heritage and culture. In 2009, the Foundation is providing financial aid to over 600 students of Italian ancestry. The Foundation has organized New York City's Columbus Day Parade since 1929.

  Event:             65th Annual Columbus Day Parade
                     Monday, October 12, 2009
                     11:45 AM to 3:00 PM (Approximately)
                     Fifth Ave., from 47th St. North to 79th St.

  Event:             Raffle of Maserati Quattroporte S
                     October 16, 2009
                     6:00 PM
                     Grand Central Terminal, 42nd St. and Park Ave.

  Press Contacts:    Jeffrey F. Ehoodin  Public Relations Manager
                     Maserati North America
                     T. 201.816.2705  F. 201.816.2626
                     jehoodin@maseratiusa.com

                     Andrew Decker  Andrew Decker Communications
                     T 212.222.4688  F 212.222.3188  decker06@gmail.com

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091009/NY90419
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com