Italian luxury brand Maserati ended last year on a successful note across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

It has rapidly accelerated in terms of sales, new product launches and market visibility in 2014, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

It has also been honoured with 12 awards across different categories in the Global Overseas Markets region covering Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia and Pacific.

The latest addition to the model range, the Maserati Ghibli, has bagged no less than seven awards from reputable car magazines across the region including 'Car of the Year' and 'Best Sports Saloon' by UAE's Wheels, 'Midsize Luxury Saloon of the Year' by Malaysia's Autocar Asean, 'Best Performance Luxury Executive Car' by Asian Auto, 'Best Luxury Sedan Car 2014' by Saudi Arabia's Sport Auto, 'The Most Beautiful Car of the Year' by Gentlemen Drivers, Morocco and 'Luxury Car of the Year' by the New Zealand Herald.

The Maserati GranCabrio was also the star of its category at the Gentlemen Drivers Awards.

At the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, Maserati had revealed its latest concept car, the 2+2 sports coupe called 'Alfieri' after one of the founding brothers of Maserati. Production for the car has been confirmed. It was named 'Concept Car of the Year' by UAE-based car magazine Evo.

South Korea is one of the strongest growing markets for Maserati in Asia with sales having increased by almost seven times compared to the same period in the previous year.

The brand's efforts to localise its marketing initiatives to the specific needs of its South Korean clients have not gone unnoticed.

The Maserati Ghibli S Q4 campaign 'First AWD Born in the Name of Maserati' for the launch of the first all-wheel drive model by Maserati answered the demand for a four-door, all-weather luxury sedan.

It was awarded for Best Marketing and Best Advertising by the prominent South Korean newspapers JoongAng Daily and Korea Economic Daily.

“We are really proud that our efforts in developing fantastic new cars are recognised not only by our customers, but also by the industry and media,” Maserati Global Overseas Markets managing director Umberto Cini said. - TradeArabia News Service