The Italian brand's first car equipped with a diesel engine was unveiled today in Shanghai: Maserati Ghibli.
Maserati has just unveiled its new saloon, the Maserati Ghibli, at the Shanghai Motor Show. One of the events that has grown the most in recent years, boosted by the growing importance of the Asian automobile market.
Already considered the ideal alternative for those looking for a more compact and sporty version of the Quatroporte, the Maserati Ghibli assumes itself as a kind of «younger brother» of the first. Scheduled for launch in early 2014, the Maserati Ghibli will come in this first phase equipped with just three engines.
With an absolute novelty in terms of engines, the «Baby Quattroporte» will be the first Maserati in history to offer a diesel engine. A 3 liter V6 engine developed under close scrutiny by one Paolo Martinelli, none other than the ex-Ferrari responsible for road tests. According to the brand, this engine is capable of producing 275hp and 600Nm, helping the Ghibli to reach 100km/h in 6.3 seconds. In exchange, it asks for just 6 liters of diesel for every 100km and emits less than 160g/km of CO2 into the atmosphere.
In gasoline engines, two versions of the same 3000cc V6 engine. One with 330hp and 500Nm of torque and the other with 410hp and 550Nm of torque reserved for the S version, the sportiest in the Maserati Ghibli range. The latter is capable of reaching 100km/h in 5 seconds and reaching a top speed of 285km/h.
In common, all engines will be equipped as standard with a modern eight-speed automatic transmission, which will deliver power to the rear axle, or as an option to all four wheels through the new Q4 all-wheel drive system.
A model of the utmost importance for the brand. On Maserati Ghibli depends the success or failure of the management of the Italian brand to reach the goal of 50,000 units produced in a year. More details coming soon.
Text: Guilherme Ferreira da Costa