Maserati have released the first official photos of the new car it intends to unveil during the
Shanghai Motor Show later this month (If it's not cancelled because of bird flu!). The Ghibli will be the first ever Maserati to feature a
diesel engine.
The rear-wheel drive, four door Ghibli's approach is to be more of a 'mass-market' car than Maserati's other models, and as a result it is hopes to boost Maserati's plans to sell 50,000 cars per year. It aims to compete directly with the heavy hitters in this category; Audi A6, BMW 5-Series and the Mercedes Benz E-Class and is seen as a close relation to the already hugely successful Quattroporte.
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| Maserati Ghibli |
Full technical specs are yet to be released but what we do know is the third generation Ghibli's diesel version will come with a 3-litre turbo diesel V6, while there will also be a choice of two turbocharged 3-litre V6 petrol engines, with an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard. Buyers will also have the choice of rear-wheel drive or "Q4" four-wheel drive. The VM Motori sourced engine is the same one used in the Lancia Thema and the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Masterati claim that it will have a more 'sportier character' than the Quatttoporte, and the snap of the interior definitely backs up the claim. Interestingly the word 'Ghibli' apparently comes from the Arabic word for scirocco, a reference not to the VW model of the same name but to the powerful African wind!
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| Masterati Ghibli - Interior |
It's due to be released at the Shanghai Motor Show which kicks off later in the month, and then expected to go on sale through-out Europe sometime in the summer. You can keep fully up to date with the launch on their official site:
http://www.ghibli.maserati.com/
