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MASERATI LEVANTE HEADS FOR NEW YORK
Maserati's first SUV makes its North American debut at the New York International Motor Show
The Maserati Levante -- the first SUV in the brand's more than one hundred year history -- will make its North American debut at the New York International Automobile Show on 23 March 2016.
North America accounts for 39 per cent of Maserati’s global salesmaking it the most important market for Maserati. With luxury SUV sales up 7.6 per cent in February this year compared to the period last year in the USA, along with SUV sales as whole taking nearly 36 per cent of the US vehicle market, the North America market for the Levante is particularly significant for Maserati.
The New York Auto Show first opened its doors in 1900, making this 116 year old motor show North America’s first car show. Last year it set a new attendance record of 1.1 million visitors in nine days looking at more than 1000 vehicles,confirming its position as one of the most popular American auto shows. The city also at the heart of one of the key Maserati sales area in North America.
The Levante completes the existing range of saloon and sports cars, extending the offering together with the Quattroporte, Ghibli, GranTurismo and GranCabrio models.
The design of the Levante features clear associations with the Maserati brand and its distinctive Italian character: the aggressive front introduces new, tapered headlights separated into two elements, with the upper headlight unit connected to the radiator grille. Maserati's design signature is clearly visible on the sides: the three iconic air vents on the front wings, the trapezoidal C-pillar with the "Saetta" logo and the large, frameless door windows. The rear is dominated by the tapered back window and streamlined shape, both typical of a high-performance sports car.
At a technical level, the Levante's chassis is designed to combine the outstanding on-road performance typical of every Maserati with excellent off-road performance and ride. The new SUV boasts a high level of content as standard, with all versions featuring sophisticated electronic suspension with controlleddamping and air springs, which can be set on several levels, "Q4" intelligent all-wheel drive and eight-speed automatic transmission specially calibrated for the brand's new SUV.
The Levante will be launched in Europe in May and is set to arrive in Australia and New Zealand in early 2017.
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Maserati at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show VideoClick Here
Full Maserati presentation at the Geneva Motor Show VideoClick Here
Maserati Levante Reveal Picture GalleryClick Here
Maserati Levante Media PackClick Here
Maserati Levante Picture galleryClick Here
About Maserati SpA
Maserati is one of the most fascinating car production companies with a long history of appeal, tradition and sporting success. It was founded in Bologna by Alfieri Maserati on 1 December 1914 and established as a mechanical workshop named ‘Officine Alfieri Maserati’. In 1926 Maserati was transformed from a workshop, modifying or developing the vehicles of other companies, into a company designing, building and selling its own.
The Maserati brothers adopted the symbol of the Trident, created by the artist of the family Mario Maserati and inspired by the famous statue of Neptune in Bologna, and made it the logo synthesising the new company in a single image. At the end of the 1930s, following the acquisition of the company by Adolfo Orsi, a businessman from Modena, Maserati moved to Modena to the current site in Viale Ciro Menotti.
Maserati has been part of the Fiat Group – now FCA – since 2005 and is a prestigious brand in the sector of sports and luxury saloon cars. It can be found in more than 60 countries, where it continues to bear witness to Italian sophistication, elegance and style around the world.
Today the factory in Viale Ciro Menotti, Modena, and the Maserati Avv. Giovanni Agnelli Plant, inaugurated on 30 January 2013 in Grugliasco, are able to guarantee the highest technical and quality standards.
Maserati celebrated the start of 2013 with the presentation of the sixth generation Quattroporte at the Detroit Motor Show and with the Ghibli, the new top of the range saloon which marks Maserati’s entrance into the E segment of the market, at Shanghai Motor Show. The sporty Ghibli saloon and flagship Quattroporte, feature V6 and V8 Twin-Turbo engines with power outputs ranging from 330-530hp. There is also a Q4 all-wheel drive version as well as the recently introduced V6 Turbo Diesel with 275hp.
The range is completed by the GranTurismo coupe and the “open” GranCabrio version; equipped with aspirated V8 engines with 405-460hp they are able to offer the comfort typical of Maserati GT cars, designed to accompany passengers on pleasant journeys at a fast pace and in a comfortable and elegant way.
2014 was a very special year for Maserati as the company celebrated its centennial and, with 36,500 units delivered, a record number of vehicles sold. At the Geneva Auto Show a special concept car named after the founder of the company, the Alfieri, was presented to mark the anniversary and to introduce the main design features of new models to come.
EURO 6 engines have been introduced on the entire MY ’16 Maserati range, produced from mid-June 2015, while Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans are equipped with new and exclusive features, amongst which the Ermenegildo Zegna interiors.
About European Automotive Imports
European Automotive Imports (EAI), trading as Maserati Australia and New Zealand, was appointed as the distributor of Maserati, its products and services in Australia and New Zealand in 2005, starting operations on 1 October that year, initially from offices in the Sydney suburb of Homebush before moving, in 2010, to its present offices in Waterloo. The company also took over the New South Wales retail Maserati representation from 1 October 2005, initially as Italia Motori until the completion of the new facility in Waterloo as both home to EAI and the new dealership, Ferrari Maserati Sydney, which opened its doors in 2010. This dealership was taken over by the McCarrolls Group in 2015, joining their brand new Artarmon Maserati dealership on Sydney’s North Shore. From 2013 EAI has also controlled the Maserati retail outlet ‘Maserati Auckland’ in New Zealand. In addition to offices for EAI, the Waterloo facility also provides a state of the art training facility for both technical and sales training. EAI has a fully computerised parts facility in Sydney to ensure fast and efficient distribution of parts and accessories.
In 2015 EAI was appointed as distributor for Maserati in South Africa along with running the retail business for Maserati in Johannesburg.
EAI is a private company wholly owned by its Executive Chairman, Neville Crichton, and it is not a subsidiary of any of Mr Crichton’s other companies. Maserati Australia and New Zealand is headed by Glen Sealey, who took over as General Manager in 2010, and who has overseen a doubling of team responsible for Maserati in Australia and New Zealand. In 2015 Mr Sealey was promoted to the role of Chief Operating Officer for Maserati in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The Maserati team in Australia and New Zealand includes Bilgen Tug, National Marketing and Public Relations Manager; David Weihen, National Aftersales Manager and Alex Ball, National Sales Manager.
Following its appointment, EAI set about a major renewal of its dealer group, with all-new dealerships opening in Brisbane (2006), Melbourne (2008), Perth (2008), Sydney (2010), Adelaide (2013) and Auckland (2013) with major refurbishments in Sydney, Adelaide and Auckland prior to new facilities opening. In addition, Christchurch opened initially as a Maserati service centre bringing the marque officially to the South Island of New Zealand in 2008 and this was expanded to a full dealership in 2013. In 2014 new additional dealerships opened in Sydney and Melbourne with another dealership set to open 2016 to serve the Queensland market
EAI has consistently grown Maserati sales in Australia and New Zealand. In 2014 total Australian sales for the year were greater than the three previous years combined and 2015 lifted that sales record by 29.2 per cent to 519 deliveries.
For further information, please contact
Glen Sealey
/ Tel: +61 2 8577 8070Chief Operating Officer / Fax: +61 2 8577 8079
Maserati Australia, New Zealand & South Africa / E:
Release Number: Maserati_585
Date of release: 1/2/2019 2:34:21 AM