Maserati unveils the Ghibli, its first mid-sized four-door sedan

(April 22, 2013)SHANGHAI, China — The Shanghai Motor Show marks three giant steps in Maserati’s march towards its goal of 50,000 cars a year. The Maserati momentum that began late last year with the all-new V8 and V6 Quattroporte continues in Shanghai with the all-new Ghibli — the first-ever mid-size four-door luxury sports sedan in Maserati’s history.

Both the Quattroporte and the Ghibli sedans will each boast two different power outputs from their turbo-charged V6 gas engines.



The Ghibli will additionally be offered with the first diesel engine in Maserati’s history. The turbo-diesel 3.0-liter V6, developed by Maserati engineers under the direction of Scuderia Ferrari former Chief Motorist Paolo Martinelli, will deliver traditional Maserati high performance.

Another Maserati making its world debut in Shanghai is a version of the new Quattroporte equipped with a V6 capable of 330 horsepower and specifically conceived and developed for the Chinese market.

The all-new Ghibli is set to break new grounds for Maserati. With its debut at the Shanghai Motor Show, it marks the first time in Maserati history that the Italian sports, luxury and prestige maker will have two four-door sedans on sale at the same time.

The Ghibli’s design ethos emphasizes its more dynamic driving characteristics by maintaining visible links with the larger Quattroporte while delivering a more aggressive visual personality.

The outline of the body reflects a coupe-like philosophy for the four-door sedan, while there are strong feline hints around the Ghibli’s grille and headlights. The grille takes its inspiration from the current GranTurismo and it can draw a line back to the classic A6 GCS of the 1950s.

It also maintains Maserati’s distinctive C-pillar treatment, which delivers much of the coupe-like stance and carries the classical Saetta Maserati logo, carrying on a tradition dating back to 1963.

The side profile is dominated by a swage line that runs from the traditional Maserati grille vents behind the front wheels and finishes in the rear lights themselves.

Inside, the Ghibli sets itself apart from the Quattroporte with its own dashboard design that meets the buyer’s need for a sportier and youthful experience without losing any of the luxury expected in a Maserati. The Ghibli also delivers a sporty design combined with the typical roominess of an executive sedan.

The Ghibli will have a more-focused, sportier philosophy than the larger Quattroporte. It will be available with two turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 gas engines, and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The most powerful of the V6s will be the twin-turbo unit in the Ghibli S, which produces 410 horsepower at 5,500 rpm. The rear-wheel drive Ghibli S will reach 62 mph in 5 seconds flat, and has a quoted top speed 177 mph.