Formula Sports, Inc., the exclusive distributor of Maserati in the Philippines, has officially opened its dealership in Makati City and launched the GranTurismo S coupe and the Quattroporte S luxury saloon.
The Maserati vehicles penned by Italian design firm Pininfarina convey class and luxury that perfectly complements the long sporting heritage of the brand.
Unlike other sports car, the GranTurismo S is a true 2+2 luxury grand tourer that carries four passengers. It travels from zero to 100kph in 4.9 seconds before topping out at an electronically limited speed of 295kph--the highest ever reached by a standard production Maserati. Helping the GranTurismo S achieve those figures are the integrated spoiler and side skirts which improve the airflow around the car.
The Quattroporte S, which single-handedly created the luxury sport sedan segment, offers a unique balance of the stylish design of a luxury sedan with the unparalleled driving dynamics of a sports car. With a zero to 100kph figure of 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 280kph, it's hard to deny that the Quattroporte S is indeed all that.
The GranTurismo S and the Quattroporte S share the same 4.7-liter V8 engine although the former gets 440hp out of it while the latter has 430hp on tap. Torque figure for both cars are at 490Nm at 4,750rpm. Putting the power down to the wheels is a six-speed hydraulically-controlled ZF automatic gearbox. This is then controlled through a traditional, center console-mounted shifter as well as through steering column-mounted rocker arm paddles.
Maserati buyers have the option to personalize with their car through Atelier Maserati and it is almost impossible to run into two similar Maseratis with the same configuration. Options include the type of leather, carpets, stitching and even the finishes for the luxury cars.
"Maserati is not a mass-market manufacturer," said Francesco Fabbiani, the Asia Pacific business development director for Maserati. "Unlike German manufacturers that make 60,000 vehicles in a year, we only make from 6,000 to 8,000. So not only will you be buying a car that's truly unique on the Philippines' roads, you're buying a car that you fully specified for yourself."
This level of customization takes Formula Sports two to six months to have a car ready for its buyer, said Formula Sports brand manager Jasper Monteiro. Maseratis are being sold from P10 million to P12 million here.
Formula Sports is expecting to sell just 20 units of the Maseratis this year but things are looking up for the brand in a market has long been looking forward to more luxury vehicle options, said company chairman and president Wellington Soong.
"Right now, we are exceeding our projections," Soong said. "The response of the market is overwhelming. We believe that the interest and desire of the market will continuously grow."
The Maserati showroom is at the ground floor of the Enzo Building along Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City.
