How do you feel the GT will do in the luxury segment in the GCC?

	we do not have an issue with our prices, we are quite comfortable with them where they are

That's a good question. Maserati has increased its sales in the Middle East over the past few years without the GranTurismo. In 2007 alone we doubled our sales in this area. The brand is perceived more and more as an exclusive brand than ever before. While we respect our competitors, BMW, Mercedes and others, we feel that the Gran Turismo is aimed at a different type of consumer. You have to keep in mind that Maserati invented the Gran Turismo concept in 1947 and has always appealed to a select group of people as a very niche car. We also believe that the Pininfarina design of the car is very unique and artistic when compared to other cars. The quality of the new car is really something, which Maserati has heavily emphasized on with this car and have left nothing to chance. That's why we think that it will contribute to the already strong growth in the Middle East and continue to do so over the next few years.

And do you attribute this strong growth forecast solely to the Gran Turismo only or do you think that the Quattroporte will continue to play a large part?
Certainly, both cars. As good as the new Gran Turismo is, it is a compleely different car and appeals to a different buyer. We do not see any cannibalization of the Quattroporte's sales by the new Gran Turismo because the type of buyer who buys the Quattroporte is looking for the practicality of a four door. We see a continued increase in sales for both models and think that they will do even better next year.

Can you say now that Maserati's past problems including quality control are completely erased?
It's easy to claim something and then to delivery something else. I can tell you how good the Gran Turismo is, but only experiencing the car will give you an idea of what a high quality product it really is. A huge investment was undertaken by Maserati in order to ensure that the car's quality is second to none.

How does Maserati justify such a high price tag for a car which some would argue does not perform much better than its competitors?
To be honest, we do not have an issue with our prices, we are quite comfortable with them where they are. We don't want to stress our production by lowering the price and increasing sales too much. This is a niche car aimed at selective people who are willing to pay the asking price for what they are getting.

Where do you see Maserati in the Gulf region in the next 5 years?
The Middle East is one of the most important markets in the world with huge growth. Very interesting things are happening here, as well as in the far east in terms of growth.

An owner's club perhaps?
Our Middle East office is fairly recent and we are still in the process of developing many activities over time but do fully intend on creating an owner's club.

How will Maserati perform this year on a worldwide level?
Maserati will close the fiscal year with a strong operating profit for the first time in a long time, which is a tremendous achievement for this company, which has been losing money for the past ten years. Things are moving forward nicely.