The Maserati Ghibli (GEE-blee with a hard “g” as in “guts”) is the 3rd-generation of the model. As with past Maseratis, the Ghibli is a sporting leader given its suspension settings and power delivery. The chassis architecture under the Ghibli sport sedan is also all-new for 2015 and the drive performance is precise and enjoyable. For North America, the stylish Ghibli comes in two trims: the rear-drive Ghibli and the all-wheel-drive Ghibli S Q4.
The structural rigidity of the latest Maserati helps the car’s handling, as does the choice to remain with traditional hydraulic steering instead of making the switch to electrical steering as many car manufacturers have done. The Q4 all-wheel drive system is 100-percent rear-biased under normal conditions. Press the Sport button on the center dash and gearshifts and throttle response get tighter, while it also opens up the sport exhaust, which makes a wonderful. Standard on all Ghibli sedans is a mechanical limited-slip rear differential, a major badge of honor for a sporting car.
The 2015 Maserati Ghibli uses the Chrysler Pentastar 3.0-liter engine block and head as starting point and adds twin turbochargers to boost the horses. Whether at 345-hp or 404-hp trim, the responsiveness via the 8-speed automatic gearbox is satisfying, and the voice of the sport exhaust likewise.
Inside the 2014 Ghibli sedan the interior is spacious and very Italian. The standard leather interior is nicely detailed. On the list of options is a luxurious Poltrona Frau leather interior. Personalization options include a range of six leather colors and five looks for the trim details – among them Radica, Ebano, and Carbonio, the first two of wood and the third of carbon fiber. Gripping the leather-covered steering wheel is a pleasure.
Baltimore’s foremost Maserati dealer told us that the Ghibli sedan can be ordered in eleven different colors. The stunning array of wheels available from Maserati (there are seven) ranges from a standard 18-inch to an aggressive 21-inch forged design. Even the brake calipers from Brembo can be ordered in four different colors – black, red, blue, or silver.
With the responsibility of the Ghibli sedan to produce maximum sales, Maserati will later come out with hybrid-EV trims, a GT S trim and/or an ultra-aggressive MC Stradale version. A first-ever 3.0-liter turbocharged Ghibli diesel is offered in Europe.
Tags: 2015 Maserati Ghibli, Ghibli sport sedan, Maserati Ghibli
