Gran Truffo

To sell a car and not to make it.

The wonder of capitalism is an ability of selling a piece of melted coal in a price of a, err, diamond. As Brigate Rosse aren't in fashion anymore, Italians are learning this skill rapidly.

Is to be seen in the way the make the 3200GT' successor. Maserati 3200 GT was a nice, stylish car with beautiful rear lights (what made them soon to fade out from budget) - well thought over, successful, italian version of Aston Martin. It was the first modern-looking Maserati after the edgy, Biturbo-style models. This car raised the marque from the dust.

The new Quattroporte followed this fashion, but then, a time for a change came. The new Maserati named, how creative, Gran Turismo (frankly, the previous one hadn't the original name, too) is fighting with 911 flood now.

After paying Italdesign for 3200 concept, they decided to make it in-house - and profitable. How? They simply cut a half from a production Quattroporte and stick a few badly manufactured bits from its 2005 Birdcage concept.

Is that so easy? Yes - the accountant smiles. And while the mechanics were ready and style is borrowed, costs were about 1 centimeter low.

La dolce vita? Rather a Vitelloni.