Historic and Contemporary Award-Winning Maseratis in New York City Columbus Day Parade

- Elegant, Powerful 2009 Quattroporte S to be Raffled for Charity

- Classic Sports and Luxury Cars Span Eight Decades in Outstanding Display of Engineering and Design

A troop of classic and contemporary Maserati sports and luxury cars will leadNew York City's 64th annual Columbus Day Parade up Fifth Avenue on October 13, 2008.

In a unique display of Italian excellence in engineering and design, the Maseratis will range from a one-off, 16-cylinder Maserati Spyder, which set the world's speed record in 1929, to a 2008 GranTurismo sports coupe that goes from 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds.

Automotive enthusiasts will have an opportunity to view the cars in an exhibition following the parade and to win a 2009 Maserati Quattroporte S in an exclusive raffle that will benefit the scholarship programs of the Columbus Citizens Foundation, which organizes the Columbus Day Parade.

Among the Maseratis to be featured in the Columbus Day Parade are the following:

    -- 1929 / 1931 Maserati Spyder - V16: A unique model, the 1931 Maserati
       Zagato Spyder was the first super car. Powered by an unusual
       16-cylinder engine, the car set the world's speed record of 152.9 mph
       in 1929. It was later rebodied in 1931 by Zagato as a road-going
       sports car. In 2003, it was a first place winner in the Pebble Beach
       Concours.
    -- 1953 Maserati A6GCS MM Spyder: The first Maserati A6GCS, Series II was
       from the outset a factory race car that immediately earned an
       impressive race history with wins in 1953 and 1954. In 2000, it was a
       first place winner in the prestigious Louis Vuitton Concours at
       Rockefeller Center.
    -- 1955 Maserati A6G54 GT Frua Berlinetta: Exhibited in the Turin Motor
       Show in 1955, this A6G54 was sold to Italian music legend Domenico
       Modugno, who recorded and wrote the music and co-authored the lyrics
       for "Volare," which won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song
       of the Year in 1958. In 2003, the Frua Berlinetta won Best of Show in
       the 2003 Villa d'Este Concours in Cernobbio, Italy.
    -- 1960 Maserati 5000 GT: This striking automobile, the second of 34 5000
       GTs built, is identical to the model built for the Shah of Iran in
       1959. It was displayed at the 1959 Turin Motor Show and uses the
       Maserati 450 S race car engine and is capable of a top speed of over
       170 mph.
    -- 1970 Maserati Ghibli Spyder SS: The Maserati Ghibli Spyder went into
       production in 1969 and, as an SS model, is extremely rare -- only 25
       were built! The model in the 2007 Columbus Day Parade had only one
       prior owner, a Neapolitan businessman who purchased it in 1970 to help
       win the affection of a woman he considered the most beautiful in
       Naples. They subsequently married and are still together to this day.
    -- 1971 Maserati Ghibli SS: the Maserati Ghibli SS debuted at the 1966
       Turin Motor Show. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, who was named Car
       Designer of the 20th Century, the very low and particularly slender
       design was powered by a 360 hp V8, giving it a top speed of 185 mph.
    -- 2008 Maserati GranTurismo: The GranTurismo is considered to be the most
       stylish sports coupe in production and is powered by a 405 horsepower
       V8 engine.

Following their appearance in the parade, the Maseratis will be on view in front of the Columbus Citizens Foundation until early evening. The exhibition will be on 69th Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues.

A Maserati Quattroporte S and a GranTurismo are currently on view in a unique exhibition in Grand Central Terminal through October 17. The sleek, 2009 Maserati Quattroporte S is the car of choice for the successful executive with an individual sense of style. One of the most highly anticipated introductions to the U.S. market, the Quattroporte S is styled by Pininfarina with luxury appointments and has a powerful 4.7 liter, V8 engine producing 425 HP with a 0-60 time of 5.3 seconds.

Maserati is partnering with the Columbus Citizens Foundation in the raffles of a Quattroporte S and GranTurismo in recognition and support of the Foundation's scholarship programs and of the company's own Italian heritage. A GranTurismo will be raffled at the Foundation's Annual Gala Dinner in the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on the night of October 11, and the Quattroporte S will be raffled at 9:00 PM on October 17 in Grand Central Terminal.

Tickets for the GranTurismo are sold out. Tickets for Quattroporte S are still available and limited to 400 at a cost of US$1,000.00 each. To purchase tickets, call (888) 860-8572. Please visit www.columbusraffle.com for raffle details and rules.

Proceeds of the raffle will benefit the Columbus Citizens Foundation's scholarship funds. The Foundation is a non-profit organization inNew York City that provides financial aid to deserving students from the elementary school through graduate school levels and organizes events that promote Italian-American heritage and culture. In 2008, the Foundation is providing financial aid to 850 students of Italian ancestry. The Foundation has organizedNew York City's Columbus Day Parade since 1929.

    Event:           64th Annual Columbus Day Parade
                     Monday, October 13
                     11:30 AM to 3:00 PM (Approximately)
                     Fifth Ave., from 44th St. north to 79th St.

    Event:           Maserati Quattroporte S Raffle
                     October 17, 2007
                     9:00 PM
                     Grand Central Terminal, 42nd St. and Park Ave.

    Press Contacts:  Jeffrey F. Ehoodin -- Public Relations Manager
                     Maserati North America
                     T. +1-201-816-2705 -- F. +1-201-816-2626
                     jehoodin@maseratiusa.com

                     Andrew Decker -- Andrew Decker Communications
                     T. +1-212-222-4688 -- F. +1-212-222-3188
                     adecker@att.net


    Web site:        http://www.columbusraffle.com

SOURCE Columbus Citizens Foundation

Copyright © 2008, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze, Daily News

Tags: ,AUT,ENT,EDU,CHI,NPT,NY-Columbus-Day-Cars

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