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Fiat
increases the pace at Maserati |
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| In a recent article in the Australian by Russell Williamson (22/8/96) he reported that since Fiat Auto took over Maserati SpA in 1993, Fiat had poured nearly $170 million into streamlining model development and upgrading facilities to help turn the company around. He said the US publication Automotive News reported that Maserati is expected to break even next year and turn a profit in 1998 after several years operation in the red. The President of Maserati, Mr. Eugenio Alzati said the company would become profitable when it was selling between 1500 and 2000 units a year. Maserati expects to sell about 1650 cars next year and 2000 by 2000, up from just 851 in 1994. One car the factory is pinning its hopes on is the latest 3.2 litre twin-turbo V8 Quattroporte, which Maserati recently confirmed is available with Australian sourced BTR automatic transmission. The Maserati contract follows two years of development by the Albury-based company, during which a Quattroporte V8 automatic covered more than 45,000 kms. The 250 kw V8 automatic Quattroporte will have its Australian debut at the Sydney motor show in October and joins the Getrag six-speed manual version of the V8 Quattroporte and the manual and automatic 2.8 litre V6. The Quattroporte is the most recent result of the significant continuing investment made by Fiat Auto. |
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