International Maserati Centennial Gathering Salutes 100 Years of Automotive Excellence (September 18-20)

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., June 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cars and car collectors from all over the world will gather at the International Maserati Centennial Gathering, a three-day program of exhibitions, parades, a regularity race (rally), a track test, a concours d'elegance and visit to the two Maserati factories. This landmark event begins in Modena on Thursday, September 18, and ends in Turin on Saturday, September 20.

A hundred years have passed since, in December 1914, Alfieri Maserati and his brothers Ettore and Ernesto opened their first car repair workshop in a basement on Via de' Pepoli, Bologna. Here, before Italy entered the First World War and in the months that immediately followed the end of the conflict, the Maserati brothers began to prepare and modify cars for themselves. The three brothers were also rather capable drivers and the gentleman drivers of those heroic days. These were the first steps of a company that in time was to become an international icon of Italian motoring.

The Maserati Centennial Gathering will begin in Modena on the morning of Thursday, September 18, with the arrival of the historic and contemporary models that will be taking part in the rally, displayed in some of the city's most captivating sites. The afternoon program involves a visit to the special Maserati Centennial Exhibition at the Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari, followed by dinner at the historic Viale Ciro Menotti factory, where Maserati GranTurismos and GranCabrios and the Alfa Romeo 4C roll off the production lines each day.

The following morning, participants will start making their way toward Turin. The first stop is the San Martino del Lago Circuit near Cremona, which will host track sessions and pay homage to Baconin Borzacchini, the Italian driver who set – in his Maserati V4 16-cylinder – the world record during the Flying 10 Kilometres in Cremona on September 28, 1929. After track activities, the Maserati fleet will parade through the streets of Cremona before racing on to Turin, where the vehicles will line up in the Piedmont capital's historic Piazza Castello, followed by a gala dinner hosted at Reggia di Venaria palace.

On the morning of Saturday, September 20, the third and final day of the event, guests will visit the Avv. Giovanni Agnelli Plant, where the Maserati Ghibli and Quattroporte models are built and the final leg of the rally will move to the Basilica di Superga. The Maserati Centennial celebration will conclude with a concours d'elegance in Piazza San Carlo.

Prior to the three-day Modena-to-Turin rally, Maserati collectors are invited to Bologna on Wednesday, September 17, to see the exact location – Via de' Pepoli 1 – where the Maserati brand was born 100 years ago. They will have their photos taken with their cars next to the Fountain of Neptune, the inspiration for Maserati's logo that remains.

Starting today, the Centennial Gathering section on the www.maserati100.com website will contain details on how Maserati customers and collectors can participate in the International Maserati Centennial Event.

About Maserati:
Maserati produces a full line of two and four door models legendary for their spacious handcrafted luxury, thoroughbred performance and everyday usability. The Maserati range includes the all-new full-size Quattroporte and the mid-size Ghibli sport sedan, which earned a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). The flagship Quattroporte GTS leads the charge with a 523 HP twin turbo V8 while both the Ghibli and Quattroporte are available with All-Wheel-Drive, a competition bred twin-turbo 404 HP V6 and an adaptive 8 speed automatic transmission. The two-door GranTurismo line continues with several variants of coupes and convertibles that combine elegance and comfort for four adults, with a six speed automatic transmission to keep the legendary Maserati performance and exhaust note close at hand. Maserati automobiles and merchandise can be found at authorized retailers across North America. Information on Maserati can be found at www.maserati.us, 1-800-My-Maserati.

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SOURCE Maserati North America