Tipo 26: the first Maserati. The first car wholly designed and built by Maserati, in the winter of 1926, was the supercharged Tipo 26. Inspired by a Diatto Grand Prix racer, and proudly sporting the now-legendary Trident logo for the first time, the Tipo 26 gave Maserati its first victory in Bologna’s Chilometro Lanciato, with speeds of over 167 km/h.

The GranTurismo philosophy. A belief in the perfect blend of effortlessly accessible power, long-distance comfort and distinct Italian style, combined with the bold spirit of adventure that originated in Italy before the war. This is the philosophy of GranTurismo. Since the unveiling of the A6 1500 in 1947 – the first Maserati intended for daily use rather than racing, and now a grand touring icon – this philosophy has been the driving force behind every Maserati.

What’s in a name? Maserati has a long tradition of naming models after winds, and for good reason. Levante is a warm Mediterranean wind that changes from mild to gale force in an instant, mirroring the SUV’s dual characteristics. Ghibli is a hot, dry, desert wind, alluding to the sports sedan’s immense power and exotic beauty. Both the Maserati Karif and the Khamsin were named after African winds, while the Maserati Mistral (a strong cold northerly wind of southern France) conjures up an illusion of breathtaking speed.

Fast enough for Maserati. One of the first women to compete in a world championship Formula One Grand Prix was Maria Teresa de Filippis, driving for the Maserati team in 1958. Born in Naples, Italy, Maria Teresa began racing after her brothers bet that she wouldn’t be fast enough. She made three Grand Prix starts for the Maserati team, with a best result of 10th at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

A diplomatic ‘incident’. In 1983, the then President of the Italian Republic, Sandro Pertini, made a visit to Ferrari’s historic Maranello factory – of course in his state car, the elegant and stylish Quattroporte. Etiquette required Enzo Ferrari to open the door for the President. But the rivalry between the two Modena-based carmakers prevented Enzo from even approaching the car, and the good-natured Pertini had to open the door himself.

Bringing it all back home. Modena, Italy is the town that created the supercar, where Maserati rubs shoulders with Lamborghini, Ferrari and Pagani. The town is also famous for its “Aceto Balsamico di Modena” (which can only be produced in Modena and Reggio Emilia) and some of the finest restaurants in the world. Maserati moved from Bologna back to Modena in 1940. And the rest is history.

Something this special deserves special wrapping. After completion, every Maserati is subjected to quality-control tests that look at everything from the integrity of its weather proofing to its handling on different road surfaces. Each car is tested for 50 kilometers (31 miles) on a wide mix of different local roads, including mountains, motorways and city streets. Each one goes through another series of 24 checkpoints before it is checked again by an independent inspector who double-checks the vehicle with a white-glove treatment, wrapping it in a protective covering before it makes its way to the importer — then to the dealer and ultimately, to the customer.