MASERATI BIRDCAGE 75
Only in Los Angeles, on display the most spectacular car ever to wear the Trident badge. 
A Pininfarina concept based on the MC12 race car that has clinched the 2005 FIA GT championship title.
   
RECORD YEAR FOR MASERATI
Maserati North America nearly doubles volume in 2005 delivering 2,100 units.
Quattroporte commands its segment helping United States set sales record.
California is top market in the country.

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERES
Quattroporte Sport GT and GranSport Spyder make their North American debuts


A TRADITION OF STARRING ON THE SCREEN
Maserati has regained its role as a favorite both on and off the screen
 

BIRDCAGE 75 - only for LA
"Excellence through passion."   A blueprint of the super car of the future, the Birdcage 75 was constructed in celebration of Pininfarina's 75th anniversary. A living link to the storied tradition of extreme sports prototypes which highlighted the Italian renaissance of car design, born in the Fifties, a period of optimism and boundless creativity that produced some of the world's - and Maserati's - most astounding and beautiful automobiles.

Centerpiece of the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d' Elegance, the Birdcage 75 utilizes the most advanced mechanicals available from Maserati, including its 700 horsepower 65 degree V12.  Project partner Motorola has outfitted the car with advanced communication and entertainment technology called Seamless Mobility - helping to complete a look at the future - in an experience of today.

The Birdcage 75 takes its name from perhaps the most respected racing car Maserati ever constructed - the "Birdcage" built from 1959 through 1963 and named so because of the complex arrangement of small tubes that made up the chassis.  The Birdcage 75 is based on the last version of the original model, mid- engine V12 equipped Tipo 63 (1963). 


RECORD YEAR IN NORTH AMERICA
"Excellence through passion."  Maserati arrives in Los Angeles for the last time in early January, only days after wrapping up another record year.  With 2,100 cars delivered in the twelve months of 2005, Maserati North America set a new high water mark in the United States and Canada, nearly doubling sales volume with a 53 % increase compared to the 1114 units of 2004.  Of the 2,100 cars, 1,550 were Quattroporte, the Italian sedan quickly becoming known as a unique and special offering. In fact, through November of 2005, the Quattroporte maintained a commanding lead in its segment with a 36% share of the market for sedans with a base MSRP between $100,000 and $200,000. The individual models included in the grouping are the BMW 760, Mercedes S600, S55 and S65 and the Bentley Flying Spur.
The balance of units sold by Maserati in 2005 were Coupe and Spyder models, to which one must add the more recently introduced GranSport - soon to be followed on the market by the GranSport Spyder, first debuted here in Los Angeles.
North America represents almost 40% of Maserati's worldwide volume.  Headquartered in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Maserati North America is led by President and CEO James Selwa.  California is Maserati's largest market in the United States, while in the Golden State, with its enthusiastic entertainment community and large entrepreneurial society, the Los Angeles area is the number one sales market.
 
Global success
"Excellence through passion."  Sales success in the United States is mirrored in the success achieved by Maserati worldwide.  Maserati sales were up in 2005 by 25 % versus 2004, for a total of over 5,600 units.  At the end of November, riding on the success of the Quattroporte, Italy has become Maserati's second market in the world, followed by Germany and the United Kingdom.  Never has Maserati's presence in the world been felt more than today: a commercial reality in 56 countries on five continents with an overall network of over 275 dealerships.  In the main global markets, Maserati directly controls its subsidiaries, including a joint venture in China.

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERES
"Excellence through passion."  Two are the North American premieres for Maserati in Los Angeles: the Quattroporte Sport GT and the GranSport Spider, with both cars featuring Maserati's Transaxle drive system. 

Maserati is the only company to utilize a Transaxle drive system for the entire model line. The Transaxle layout, in which the gearbox is positioned at the rear of the car in a single unit with the differential, offers optimum weight distribution between the front axle and the rear axle. This helps optimize traction and acceleration for a more stable, balanced performance in all conditions. In short, this system delivers extraordinarily exhilarating driving and exceptional road-holding in one neat package.

QUATTROPORTE SPORT GT 
"Excellence through passion."  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. Features available only in this package include a black chrome trimmed grille and side air intakes which take their inspiration from Maserati's race cars, while the hood bears the pierced Trident typical of the Maserati competition cars of the past.

The car's overall sporty character is enhanced in the interior by the carbon fibre trimmed steering wheel, hand-brake grip and lightweight aluminium pedals.

The performance of the transmission has been increased: the Sport button allows the driver to significantly cut gear change times up to 35% faster thanks to enhanced software in the electro-hydraulic transmission system's CPU. At high engine speeds, the 4.2 litre 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 cars 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 callipers.

Thanks to continuous developments, particularly on the gearbox, all MY06 Quattroportes in automatic mode have now their lowest consumption rate ever, reduced as much as 16.7 % in highway driving, 5.8% in city driving and 9.4% in combined cycle driving. 

GRANSPORT SPYDER 
"Excellence through passion."  This open air GranSport Spyder maintains every ounce of the temperament and aggressive look of the GranSport coupe. This is emphasized first by a 10-mm-lowered set-up, a very pronounced front lower spoiler and by the side bars elegantly integrated into the body itself, all resulting in improved aerodynamic performance.

The athletic look of the car is completed by the 19" alloy wheels in the same design of those used in the Maserati Trofeo Championship mated to specially produced tires with a profile designed to make the GranSport Spyder even more agile and responsive to the steering wheel.

The Italian roadster also shares with the coupe the evolved version of the 4.2 litre V8 producing 400 hp and a 333 lb-ft of torque, placing the GranSport Spyder among the fastest convertibles in the world. The engine has been combined with an exhaust system designed to give enthusiasts an instantly recognizable deep, full-bodied rumble. Thanks to new specific software, the GranSport Spyder offers even faster gear changing, on average 35% faster than its predecessor.

The design and materials of the interior are a perfect mix of leather, high-tech fabric and the most use of Carbon fibre in the class. The upper part of the dashboard is trimmed in leather, while the central area, framed by piping, is trimmed in BrighTex®, the same high tech fabric of the racing MC12.  The GranSport Spyder will go on sale beginning March 2006.

STAR OF THE SCREEN
"Excellence through passion."  Maserati has not only enjoyed success on the street, but also on the screen. Maserati models are featured today in top television shows such as Entourage and The Sopranos on HBO and the red-hot Desperate Housewives on ABC.  Maserati has also been a part of Nip/Tuck on F/X, a cable channel of FOX; and featured in the most popular show on American television today, CSI on CBS.