Ghibli [Official] 2014 Maserati Ghibli

[ZicZachZo]

^^ Sounds like my cat when she's pissed off at me! Very cool and honestly, in IRL it looks really cool.

 

[Wunderkind]

The Ghibli is a sweet looking car. It's the quality of the interior that deters me from loving it. The rubber and plastic bits and pieces in the interior really look cheap compared to the Germans. Also, it is lacking the bells and whistles that the new E Class and BMW 5 Series have.

In short, I think the Ghibli only looks good as an alternative to the M3 or a C63.

 

[deity]

Oh god...those live shots do look pretty nice. The front is still slightly awkward, but man, was I ever wrong about the rear! This car needs some re-assessing...

 

[Tumbo]

It actually looks good on that video!

To bad the interior is so crap

 

[Wunderkind]

It actually looks good on that video!

To bad the interior is so crap

The interior is Alfa Romeo quality. Probably late 1990's BMW quality.

See the Ghibli as the Alfa 164 and you won't be disappointed.

 

[Pedro Alexandre]

Maserati Ghibli Diesel first drive review by Autocar UK

What is it?

This is Maserati’s glamorous alternative to the BMW 5-series. It’s the first time the luxury sports car maker has offered a car in this class, although this is not the first Ghibli, the most recent predecessor being a startlingly fast 306bhp 2.0-litre Biturbo-based two door that dazzled briefly in the early ‘90s.

Before that, the Ghibli was an exotic, front-engined V8, late-1960s supercar. Three very different animals then, and the latest bearer of the name owes little to this haphazard bloodline except that all three cars are resolutely sporting, and flaunt lavish and classily flamboyant interiors.

Instead, the latest Ghibli is a very close relative of the just-launched and larger Quattroporte saloon. They share the same root architecture, drivelines, suspension and indeed, the same production line. They differ in looks – no two exterior panels are the same, the Ghibli is almost a foot shorter, slightly wider and besides its bespoke cab-rear proportioning bears its own sculptural character. And inside, there’s a more driver-biased dashboard design.

Nevertheless Maserati has a challenge here, in developing a car of more distinctive and more sporting character using the same engines, transmissions and suspension, but without tempting prospective Quattroporte owners into thinking that they might as well spend less money to get a car that in essence, is the same.

The Ghibli offers three engines and two drivelines, the range beginning with a rear-drive 3.0-litre petrol twin-turbo V6 developing 326bhp. Above that sits the Ghibli S with the same 404bhp twin turbo version of the V6 recently debuted in the Quattroporte, this engine available either with rear or four-wheel drive - although disappointingly the latter will not be available in the UK.

The most unusual offering, in a Maserati context, is a 271bhp 3.0 V6 turbodiesel that’s an essential weapon if the Modenese marque is to boost its sales from well under 10,000 units to 50,000.

All Ghiblis come with an eight-speed paddle-shift ZF transmission, multilink rear suspension and double wishbones up front, Maserati’s electronically controlled Skyhook dampers, a limited-slip differential, Brembo brakes and hydraulically assisted steering. And all benefit from 50:50 weight distribution, a model-for-model kerb weight 50kg lighter than the Quattroporte and a 0.31 drag coefficient.

What is it like?

Listen to it kick-off from outside, and the Ghibli diesel has a slightly maritime sound to it. But if you’re inside you hear none of this, the silence instead broken by a low hum. And in the powertrain’s normal mode this hum rises smoothly, but rarely turns penetrating.

It’s not quite as sweet as BMW’s best but it’s civil, and with some subtly sporting rort too. Now press the sport button beside the gearlever, accelerate hard from 1000rpm in second and, after a pause while the revs wind to 1800rpm, you’ll hear a deep-chested, swelling back-beat. Thank Maserati’s Active Sound system for this, a pair of noise actuators heightening the desirable elements of the diesel’s tune.

You’ll want to leave the Ghibli in this mode, because the engine feels unexpectedly indolent in normal mode, despite its fat 443lb ft of torque, which spools from a not-quite-low-enough 2000rpm through to 2600rpm. In sport the diesel pulls with a fair bit of verve – if rather less than the lively 325bhp petrol – to produce a distinctly brisk 6.3sec 0-62mph sprint.

This pace is not wasted when you chance on some bends. The Maserati feels secure, and with its variable-ratio steering plunges into bends with encouraging zeal. Turn the ESP off, pull yourself a lower gear via an aluminium paddle shift, deep-dip the throttle and the Ghibli’s tail will perform a satisfying arc through a curve, and straighten itself with admirable tidiness, too.

Though in the wet we suspect the Maser' may swing like a church bell at midnight. Steering feel? Well it feels real and it’s consistently weighted too, if over-heavy in sport at a cruise. And yes, you can sense something of what the fat front rubber is doing when you charge hard.

The Ghibli’s weak link is its ride, which is very variable, and not only because it can be tautened via a damper button on the centre console. Sharp-edged ridges and shallow potholes cause audible agitation as the suspension patters with effort, while camber changes on hard-charged straights produce a slightly wayward feeling.

On sharply undulating roads, the Ghibli falls well short of mustering the body control exerted by an XF or a 5-series. Yet at other times the Maserati feels as stable and civilised as the ambience of its richly upholstered cabin.

It’s hard to resist the allure of the interior, too. Finely tooled leather, subtly deployed aluminium and wood highlights, supportively sumptuous seats and excellent air-con make long journeys a pleasing prospect. Better still, ergonomic flaws are few and trifling (the row of buttons flanking the gearlever could be easier to read, for instance) and there’s plentiful room up front and decent room in the rear.

Should I buy one?

All-new executive class entries are rare. And it’s a big ask to expect this Maserati Ghibli to match the polished excellence of the 5-series, E-class and XF first time out. In a few areas, such as ride and high speed body control, it doesn’t.

The Ghibli also seems to be a bit of your Italian heart-over-head car. Its muscularly alluring style, aristocratic bearing, classily sumptuous cabin and outright performance are all serious tempters. So is the simple fact that it’s fresh and the compromises so often imposed by Italian cars are less severe.

The numbers turned by its diesel (including its 158g/km of CO2) are highly competitive if not quite class-best. Its performance is engagingly and subtly thunderous, if sometimes languid in the delivery. And the Ghibli has few practical flaws, besides succeeding in its quest to be a sportier drive than the Quattroporte. It is, however, a bit pricey compared to its more commonplace competition.

The one significant worry is its ride, which might just turn out to be a bit busy for Britain’s 3D roads. Otherwise, the Ghibli has to be the most stylish, desirable and exciting executive debut in years.

 

[Gianclaudio]

Yeah, that cheap interior!

It’s hard to resist the allure of the interior, too. Finely tooled leather, subtly deployed aluminium and wood highlights, supportively sumptuous seats and excellent air-con make long journeys a pleasing prospect. Better still, ergonomic flaws are few and trifling (the row of buttons flanking the gearlever could be easier to read, for instance) and there’s plentiful room up front and decent room in the rear.

Edit: review by Autoexpress:

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/maserati/ghibli/64496/maserati-ghibli-diesel

It's a similar story inside, where all the major components such as the dials, steering wheel and gearlever are shared with the Quattroporte. The Ghibli's arrangement is more driver focused though and feels sportier thanks to a chunky metal surround for the central touchscreen. The quality is excellent and there are some lovely touches, such as the elongated metal paddles that feel expensive on your fingertips and operate with a satisfying click.

 

[Pedro Alexandre]

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[Merc1]

Thats a lot of water coming out the exhaust.

M

 

[Levi68]

Souds better than any other German turbocharged engine. In fact it doesn't even sound like a turbocharged engine. I'm not worring about Italian cars getting turbocharged.

 

[SCOTT27]

Thats a lot of water coming out the exhaust.

M

Yes I saw that I hope they had someone standing by with a mop? Or else there will be plenty of ruined Gucci loafers .

I seen one of these in Munich in Black - Looked absolutely jaw dropping ly beautiful.

 

[Levi68]

I seen one of these in Munich in Black - Looked absolutely jaw dropping ly beautiful.

I don't like the front. It is like 3 Series which I don't like either that much. F30 front still looks better in real than on pics. I guess it must be the same for the new Maseratis. Do these fronts (also new Lexus IS) have anything to do with crash regulations?

 

[Sayyaaf]

Thats a lot of water coming out the exhaust.

M

that's orgasm

 

[Merc1]

The car is so interesting, I will be test driving one. That Chrysler interior is like a stain though.

M

 

[mini_cooper4]

Hmm that's some car. I'm starting to fall for it... the interior is crap but on the exterior it's way better than the 4porte and that sound... it's Italian all around. I'll also test drive one... let's see

 

[Pedro Alexandre]

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[Levi68]

Nice video. Simple and clear explanation. No marketing BS and sensless words like BMW.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Yeah, that cheap interior!





Edit: review by Autoexpress:

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/maserati/ghibli/64496/maserati-ghibli-diesel

I see you're happy to use reviews from unreliable magazines like Auto Express when they match your OWN views.

You can't have it both ways.

If when they do a group test of the Ghibli against a Jaguar XF, and the Jag wins, will you be happy to accept that view or will you then claim Auto Express "can't be trusted"?

 

[Gianclaudio]

I see you're happy to use reviews from unreliable magazines like Auto Express when they match your OWN views.

You can't have it both ways.

If when they do a group test of the Ghibli against a Jaguar XF, and the Jag wins, will you be happy to accept that view or will you then claim Auto Express "can't be trusted"?

I'm not claiming they match "my view", as I hasn't seen the car yet. My point was to highlight a contrary opinion too many people in the thread who say the interior feels/look cheap, but hasn't too, see the car IRL.

Does that means I can trust Autocar/Autoexpress? No way in hell.
I'll give my opinion when I see, touch, smell and lick the damm car.

You know Betty, Matthew or whatever is your name, it would so much nicer for the forum if you turn the ratio of your post, from 80% stalk and questioning of other members and 20% useful info and opinions about cars, to the inverse case.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I'm not claiming they match "my view", as I hasn't seen the car yet.

I'll give my opinion when I see, touch, smell and lick the damm car.

OK, fair enough. You only form an opinion when you see and touch and feel the car.

So, if I go back and read threads where you've disagreed with ANY magazine's verdict on a car, be that in a single drive or where a certain car has come top of a group test and you've disagreed with that decision, am I to assume you have driven every vehicle in that test in order to form an opinion?

You know Betty, Matthew or whatever is your name, it would so much nicer for the forum if you turn the ratio of your post, from 80% stalk and questioning of other members and 20% useful info and opinions about cars, to the inverse case.

80%? You just plucked that number out of thin air didn't you? I'm calling you out on your choice to pick certain magazine's opinions when they happen to suit yours, and then criticise them when they don't. You're not the only one to do this by any stretch of the imagination so I'm not just aiming this at you. I guess today just isn't your lucky day.