Akis Temperidis, our old friend, auto aficionado, journalist and adventure freak recently carried out another of his epic journeys. The ever smiling man drove coast-to-coast, from New York to California in a shiny new Maserati Quattroporte GTS. If you think that’s a feat, you need to know that he has circled the world in a Land Rover earlier, along with his wife Vula. Along the way during his American Odyssey he made good use of his exceptional skills as a photographer, clicking some breathtaking pictures. In this photo feature, he depicts his eventful journey with the help of captions.
Slide on, for the magical experience.
On December 31st, 2012, Giovanni Soldini and his crew of eight sailors in the Maserati yacht, departed from New York to break the world record on the historic Golden Route to San Francisco.
April 16th, 2013, our coast to coast trip is on: New York to San Francisco in a Maserati Quattroporte GTS!
Our friend and Motoroids correspondent Akis Temperidis was the driver of the project.
Driving in New Jersey, moments after we received the car from Maserati North America
The first Quattroporte generation six to be driven around Times Square, New York
Day 2 of our trip we visited the Amish communities around Lancaster, Pennsylvania
The first car wash before entering Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh is a pleasant – even if industrial – city.
A big moment in front of the Indianapolis museum: the new Quattroporte meets the legendary Boyle Special Maserati, winner of Indy 500 race in 1939 and 1940
The Boyle Maserati is one of 30 Indy 500 winners displayed in the Hall of Fame Museum of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In the photo, you can see two of them, the very first one (1911) and the winner single seater of 2011.
Michael Schumacher drove the Boyle Special Maserati before the F1 GP in Indianapolis, in 2002.
Refuelling in Indianapolis. The Quattroporte, thanks to its brand new direct injection V8 biturbo, consumed as low as 11 litres/100 km. on the highway.
Early Saturday morning downtown Chicago. The civic center is completely empty during weekends!
The Chicago skyline seen from the Millennium park
The “bean” is the centerpiece of the Millennium park in Chicago
Easy riding on the interstate to St. Louis. Thanks to the cruise control we could keep the strict American speed limits.
The Gateway Arch, the iconic monument of St. Louis, symbolizes the expansion of the country to the west.
Outlaw filming in St. Louis…
Arriving to Kansas City, which is right on the border of Missouri and Kansas states
Crossing one of the cowboy towns on historic route 56, Kansas, in the Great Plains of the US
Happy photographers after one more long day of work
Heavy snowfall on the road to Colorado Springs in a 530 bhp saloon with rear wheel drive!
All weather Quattroporte…
Prices are per gallon, of course…
Weather got much better next day so we could test the Maserati on the Pikes Peak hill climb road.
This is the most famous road in north America: 156 corners in 20 kilometers, from 2,800 to 4,300 mts.! Loeb drove his 875 bhp Peugeot here to break the hill climb record…
The view from Pikes Peak is breathtaking
January 22nd, the Maserati Yacht crossed the notorious – for its winds and currents – Cape Horn, on the southernmost tip of the Americas.
Thanks to the ICE mode (Increased Control & Efficiency), the rear wheel drive Quattroporte was confident on the icy road. Pikes Peak was for us what Cape Horn was for Soldini and his crew: the highlight of the trip!
Meeting a Big Mack on US24 to Montrose, Colorado.
Welcome to Utah, the red rock country of off road adventures
Let’s leave Las Vegas for later and turn to Salt Lake City.
West of Salt Lake City, on Interstate 80 that drives through the majestic Bonneville Salt Flats
Most land speed world records were attempted here. Some, over 1000 kmh!
The fastest sedan ever on the fastest soil on earth!
Our correspondent Akis Temperidis, checks the tyres right before attempting 260 kmh on pure table salt!
Donuts are easy on table salt but if you try, take care of the tyres and wash perfectly the car underneath, right after…
A restroom in a sea of salt? Americans take care of everything everywhere…
Happily working for Renato Zacchia’s art work!
Bonneville Salt Flats turned to outdoors studio for the filming of the Quattroporte. Videos to come soon in a website near you!
Driving in the Arches National Park, near Moab, Utah
On the US191, the road to Monument Valley, Utah
Welcome to Monument Valley, Utah, the American postal card par excellence.
With love from Monument Valley: the Maserati crew happy to have arrived to the iconic far west of America. From left to right, videographer Victor Ortega, assistant photographer Gianni Pipoli, photographer Renato Zacchia and the pilot, Akis Temperidis
Renato Zacchia art!
Relics of the past on the road to Monument valley
Four states, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona, meet exactly here. This is the heart of the Navajo country.
Sedona is full of theatrical characters
The rocks around Sedona are considered energy vortices by the New Age community. In anyway, Sedona is an energetic little town, formerly used as a set for western movies.
On the road to Sedona, flying over our Maserati Quattroporte.
Get your kicks on Route 66, Maserati!
Like a scene from “Cars” movie
Quattroporte was used hard all the way to San Francisco and proved tough enough!
If you want a genuine far west taste, don’t forget to visit Oatman, Arizona, on an old stretch of Route 66.
During the filming from a Robinson 44, in Sedona, Arizona
Late night drive on the “strip” the famous Las Vegas Boulevard!
The Quattroporte at the famous Ceasar’s Palace casino-hotel, Las Vegas.
Cruising in Las Vegas, next to the Venetian hotel
Route 66 started from Chicago and arrived to LA after 2.448 miles across eight American states. After ’84, few parts of the road stay alive.
The last Route 66 town by passed by a modern interstate was Williams in Arizona. Pete in his beautiful garage are still there reminding the old good days…
The Italian beauty posing in front of Pete’s garage
Santa Monica pier is the end of the Route 66.
A star among stars: Maserati Quattroporte at the Walk of Fame, Hollywood Blvd., LA.
Exactly where she belongs: our Maserati proved a head turner in the most exclusive market district of America, at Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills.
A little bit of off roading near Seligman, Arizona
Don’t forget Seligman, the Arizona town that inspired “Radiator Springs” the fictional town on “Cars” animation movie.
“Would you like to check the oil, sir?”
Sunny, glitzy Los Angeles…
Departing LA, we crossed through a serious wildfire on the coastal road to Malibu.
On February 16th, 2013, the Maserati yacht arrived Golden Gate bridge after 47 days, 42 minutes and 29 seconds, breaking impressively the world record for the golden route from New York to San Francisco.
On May 3rd, we completed our trip, crossing the iconic Golden Gate bridge to San Francisco, the official finish for Soldini’s attempt.
The first ever Quattroporte MY13 to compete with a San Francisco cable car.
Slow driving down at Lombard Str. the most famous and twisty road in San Francisco. Chinese tourists got delighted by the V8 roar…
Giovanni Soldini, a true modern hero, inspired our coast to coast trip in the Quattroporte. Grazie Giovanni!
