| Industry News | Maserati Profits |

Since it became part of the Fiat Group, Maserati has been overdue what in business terms is known as profit. Finally, 17 years after the Italian partnership began, Maserati has recorded a second-quarter profit of 1 million Euro (trading profit), in drastic comparison with a 7 million Euro loss during the same period last year.

"This year, Maserati will definitely be in the black for the full year," Maserati Sales Director Raffaelle Fusilli told Automotive News Europe.

The turn around comes as Maserati places its new four-seater coupé - the gorgeous GranTurismo - on imminent release. Maserati's Quattroporte is another contributing factor to the success; despite lacking in the technology department compared with German counterparts, the Quattroporte oozes more character than most rivals could dream of. The new automatic transmission installed in the Quattroporte Automatica has significantly boosted sales since its introduction five months ago.

The Italian firm expects the GT and Quattroporte to help increase sales to 7,600 in 2007, up from 5,600 in 2006, with further hopes of breaking the 8,000 unit mark in 2008.

Kyle Molyneux - 26 Jul 2007