The 2018 Maserati Ghibli has arrived in Australia providing the Italian marque’s best-selling sports saloon with a host of improvements in styling, performance and technology as well as adding two new distinctive variants to the range, the Ghibli GranLusso and the Ghibli GranSport.
“The Maserati Ghibli has, since its 2014 launch, transformed the position of Maserati in Australia and around the world,” says Glen Sealey, Chief Operating Officer of Maserati in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
“The Ghibli is nothing less than the best-selling Maserati of all time, with no less than 70,000 cars delivered in more than 70 countries around the world. As such it has brought the traditional Maserati values of unique style, personalization and performance to a whole new group of owners who aspired to make a Maserati a treasured part of their lives.”
“The 2018 Maserati Ghibli remains faithful to both its and Maserati’s DNA, offering unmistakable class, top-quality performance and a stylish yet comfortable driving experience, while adding a host of new technology, the choice of two new versions and a power boost for the range topping version. With these improvements, there can be little doubt that the Ghibli will remain at the forefront of Maserati sports saloon sales and continue to entice new owners to the unique experience of Maserati ownership.”
The Ghibli shares its core architecture – chassis, suspension layout, V6 engines and eight-speed ZF automatic transmission – with Maserati’s flagship, the Quattroporte, but is 293 mm shorter and 50 kg lighter.
The car’s perfect weight distribution, front double-wishbone/rear multi-link suspension and standard Limited-Slip Differential (LSD), guarantee the razor-sharp road handling for which genuine Maserati models are famed.
The five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and integrated Advanced Driving Assistance Systems ensure total peace of mind for both driver and passengers.
The new version strategy, already introduced by the Quattroporte in 2017, enriches the existing Ghibli range with two new distinctive versions, GranLusso and GranSport.
Both are available with all powertrain versions – the Ghibli Turbo Diesel, the Ghibli 350 bhp Twin Turbo V6 and the Ghibli S, with its new power boost from 410 to 430 bhp.
Both the GranLusso and GranSport will be priced at the same level across the range, the only variation being dependent on engine choice.
Ghibli GranLusso and GranSport are immediately recognisable thanks to their distinct exterior features and exclusive interiors.
The exterior design stands out for its coupé-like attitude as well as for several unique features: the distinctive C-pillar bearing the iconic Saetta logo, the frameless doors, the pronounced grille that resembles iconic Maserati cars of the 1950s, and the range-standard quadruple chromium-plated exhaust pipes.
The addition of the Ghibli GranLusso and GranSport to the 2018 range drove the Design Centre in Turin to give each trim a clear identity, primarily by restyling the front and rear bumpers. While visually discreet, this aerodynamically optimised changes accentuate the original’s sporty yet luxurious style.
The aerodynamic efficiency of the restyled Ghibli has improved by 7%, reducing the drag coefficient to 0.29 from 0.31 in 2017.
All petrol engines for the Ghibli are manufactured by Ferrari in Maranello and feature the acclaimed Euro 6 homologated Twin Turbo 3.0-litre V6 engine with Auto Start-Stop, in conjunction with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.
The top-range Ghibli S now delivers 430 bhp and 580 Nm peak torque, 20 bhp and 30 Nm more than the MY17 car. The increased power output gives the Maserati sports sedan a top speed of 286 kmh and better acceleration. The new Ghibli S accelerates from 0-100 kmh in 4.9 seconds compared to 5.0 seconds for the MY17 car.
The Ghibli Diesel with its Euro 6-compliant 3.0-litre V6 engine – exclusively developed by Maserati in collaboration with VM Motori – produces a power output of 275 bhp, among the best in its class.
Ghibli and Quattroporte are the first Maserati models to adopt the Integrated Vehicle Control (IVC) system by Bosch, which helps to prevent (rather than simply correct) vehicle instability, providing enhanced active safety, improved driving dynamics and an even more thrilling performance.
The introduction of Electric Power Steering (EPS) is another first for Maserati. This improves the car’s handling and comfort, better supports the driving modes and enables the newly-introduced active functions of the Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS), while retaining the classically Maserati razor-sharp steering feel.
The new ADAS package is standard in the 430 bhp S versions of the Ghibli, Ghibli GranSport and Ghibli GranLusso and an option on the Turbo Diesel and 350 bhp versions of the Ghibli, Ghibli GranSport and Ghibli GranLusso. It includes functions like Highway Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist and Traffic Sign Recognition.
GranLusso & GranSport: two distinct souls of Ghibli
The baseline Ghibli and the new Ghibli GranLusso share the same design features while the Ghibli GranSport boasts a subtly different exterior that underlines its sportier character.
The front bumper incorporates a larger grille with a ‘sharknose’ profile and integrated chrome bars. This concave grille is inspired by the Alfieri Concept and adds a three-dimensional effect to the car’s frontal aspect.
The air duct has also been restyled for 2018. Wide open and more linear on the Ghibli and Ghibli GranLusso, it features a sportier layout on the Ghibli GranSport with two wings virtually supporting the grille, separating the central splitter from the side air ducts. This design visually accentuates the width of the car, conveying an extra sense of stability from the front.
The headlights have maintained the same contour. The Ghibli GranLusso and GranSport utilise Adaptive full LED headlights developed in collaboration with Magneti Marelli Automotive Lighting, while the baseline model uses Bi-Xenon technology.
The new Ghibli GranLusso reinterprets the concept of luxury in a sports sedan by enhancing the exterior finish and improving on-board comfort for both driver and passengers. This most elegant expression of the Ghibli uses exclusive materials and special features in the finest tradition of Italian craftsmanship.
Externally, it is distinguished by its Adaptive full LED headlights, chrome inserts on the front bumper, GranLusso badge at the base of the front wing, body-colour side skirts, black brake calipers and 19” Poseidone alloy wheels.
The Ermenegildo Zegna Silk interior features patented mulberry silk inserts on the seats, doors panels, roof lining and ceiling light fixture.
The tailored seat details and the label on the sun visors, complemented by a Radica open-pore wood trim and wood-finished leather steering wheel, make this trim unique and exclusive, beautifully epitomising the GranLusso soul.
This uniquely luxurious trim includes Comfort seats with extensive 12-way power adjustment as standard, parking sensors, an electrically lockable passenger glove box and new Soft Close Doors.
The Ghibli GranSport takes its inspiration from the legendary racing heritage of Maserati. This specific trim was conceived to meet the needs of customers seeking a sportier expression of a high-end sedan in the segment.
Externally, the GranSport features
- Adaptive full LED headlights and is also recognisable for the Black Piano inserts on the front bumper,
- the GranSport badge on the front wing,
- body-colour side skirts,
- blue inserts on all Trident and Saetta logos,
- red brake calipers and,
- last but not least, the 20” machine-polished Urano alloy wheels on the Ghibi Turbo Diesel and 350 bhp Ghiblie, while the 430 bhp version sports 21 inch Titano wheels.
The Sport 12-way power full leather seats and Sport steering wheel create an inspiring mix for the driving aficionado. The interior of the Ghibli GranSport also features standard gearshift paddles and Inox sport foot pedals. The Ghibli and Ghibli GranSport can be further customised with an Exterior Carbon Package for an even more emphatic message about Ghibli’s racing heritage. It covers the external door mirrors, B- and C-pillar covers and door handles on the base trim, as well as the front splitter and rear spoiler on the GranSport.
