For the first time in the 17 years since it became a part of the Fiat empire, Maserati is in the black with a 1 million Euro profit recorded in the second quarter of this year. This compares to a 7 million Euro loss for the same period in 2006.

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

Maserati cite the success of the Quattroporte Automatica sedan and the imminent arrival of the Granturismo four-seat coupe as being the reasons behind their new found confidence. The Granturismo is expected to go on sale in Italy later this month and find its way to dealers throughout the rest of Europe during September.

The new and much better automatic transmission in the Quattroporte has helped drive European sales of the four-door express up by 39.6 percent to 783 units over the last 5 months.

Maserati are expecting the revised Quattroporte and new Granturismo to increase 2007 sales to 7,600 cars ahead of 2006 sales of 5,600 cars. From here they are planning to sell more than 8,000 cars in 2008.

Source : Automotive News