Against the Odds, Maserati Sales Jump

Buoyed by wealthy, middle-aged men who can afford to defy high gas prices and a plummeting economy, sales of Maserati luxury cars are up in the US this year, Bloomberg reports. Common brands like Lexus and BMW have seen sales fall, but the very rich don't skimp when they see something that will stand out, analysts say.

“When times get tougher, they are losing people at the lower edge of luxury,” one said. But how are people spending $115,000 on a Maserati that gets only 12 mpg in the city? “Exclusivity is a big factor,” one dealer said. An owner got closer to the point: “this car,” which can top 167 mph, “is basically for play.” (More Maserati stories.)