Like its German rivals, Maserati plans to boost overall sales with the addition of new models, pushing forward with the Ghibli, which is based on a similar yet smaller platform to that of the Quattroporte.
Maserati has plans to boost overall sales to 50,000 units by 2015, an eight-fold increase over the 6,288 units sold in 2012, with some help from the new Quattroporte, as well as the GranTurismo and GranCabrio. More help is expected next year with the introduction of the Levante SUV, and a new sports car based on the Alfa Romeo 4C due out in 2015. Many expect the Levante to spearhead Maserati’s lofty sales efforts, similar to how the Porsche Cayenne became that company’s sales leader. As for the Ghibli, it’s expected to square off against the likes of the BMW M5, Porsche Panamera, and the Jaguar XFR. The Ghibli is expected to be about 16 feet long, or just under a foot shorter than the incoming Quattroporte. These measurements would put the Ghibli in the same ballpark as the M5.
Underneath the hood, base 3.0-liter V-6 twin-turbocharged engine is expected to be ready at the Ghibli’ s initial launch, the same mill found in the Quattroporte. When mated to the Quattroporte, this V-6 engine is rated at 416 horsepower and 407 pound-feet of torque. Autocar is reporting that power numbers for the Ghibli are expected to top out at around 385-hp, however. Another engine choice for the Ghibli will include a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 which also runs in the Quattroporte. When in the larger sedan, this engine is rated at 523-hp and 479 pound-feet of torque. Once again, Autocar thinks that this engine will actually be rated at around 480-hp when in the Ghibli though.
A third and final engine option that’s rumored to make the jump into the Ghibli includes a highly tuned version of Fiat’s 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel engine. This same mill is due out in the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and possibly the Ram 1500 as well. Expect the Ghibli’ s exhaust to be tuned so that it hides the usual diesel chatter and be piped into the cabin as well. Every aforementioned engine will be mated to a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission and include paddle shifters. All-wheel drive will be an option as well.
The Masearti Ghibli is slated to be unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show in April but the Frankfurt show is ready and waiting in the wings in case the vehicle isn’t ready just yet. If everything goes according to plan, Maserati will release the Ghibli into the wild by the end of the year.
Source: Autocar
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