Maserati’s best-selling luxury sedan, the Ghibli, now comes with discreet refinements to the ultimate detail in an MY19 (Model Year 2019) version, which Naza Italia, the official importer and distributor for Maserati, has announced is available for booking in Malaysia.
The Ghibli makes a bold statement and elegantly delivers a smooth, lavish ride with razor-sharp coupé-like handling. A symbol of high-powered luxury that’s imbued with Maserati’s racing DNA, the Ghibli embodies the marque’s competitive spirit and maintains the tradition of empowering performance. The latest incarnation of this model presents subtle style enhancements, new colour options, alloy wheels, full-grain Pieno Fiore natural leather with new veneers and a redesigned gearshift lever with shorter travel and improved operation. Adaptive Full LED Matrix headlights are standard for all model range. Maserati’s eye-catching Nerissimo styling package has been updated and made available for the MY19 Ghibli.
Dato’ Samson Anand George, Group CEO, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn Bhd, said, “The Malaysian market will see the complete range for this model, which includes the Ghibli, Ghibli GranSport, Ghibli GranLusso, Ghibli S, Ghibli S GranSport and Ghibli S GranLusso. The highly popular Ghibli range offers gorgeous looks, top-quality performance, a comfortable driving experience and even greater refinement.”
Exterior design
Distinct styling themes and aerodynamic efficiency
The Ghibli looks as elegant and sporty, fresh and extraordinary as the day it made its World Premiere in the 2013 Shanghai Motor Show. Its design remains a real statement in the premium sedan segment, combining a coupé-like philosophy with interior comfort second to none. The designers in Turin interpreted the styling of the GranLusso and GranSport trims separately for each one, in order to more clearly distinguish luxury from sportiness.
The focal point is a front bumper that embraces a large grille with a ‘shark nose’ profile, chrome bars and a chrome insert on the upper side. The concave grille is clearly inspired by the iconic Alfieri Concept, adding a three-dimensional effect to the frontal view of the car.
The front bumper’s lower fascia has been styled to underline the character of each of the two trim levels. The air duct is wide open and more linear on the baseline Ghibli and Ghibli GranLusso, emphasising their elegant and luxurious character. The Ghibli GranSport presents a sportier, more exaggerated bumper design with its central splitter embraced by two diagonally arranged wings that virtually support the grille, visually accentuates the width of the car and conveying a sense of augmented stability.
The rear bumper is elegantly designed to give a sharper look to the Ghibli. The baseline model and the GranLusso share the same structure that better supports the central diffuser, providing an extra sense of stability. The GranSport’s sportier rear bumper opens wider at the sides, visually emphasizing the width of the car.
The Ghibli’s design has contributed to a substantial improvement of the car’s aerodynamic efficiency. The drag coefficient of the recently restyled Ghibli is as low as 0.29 – a 7% improvement on the 0.31 value of the original design.
GranLusso, GranSport, new colours and wheels
The Ghibli GranLusso stands out for its enhanced exterior finish. This most elegant expression of the Ghibli uses exclusive materials and special features in the finest tradition of Italian craftsmanship. Externally, alongside the Adaptive Full LED Matrix headlights, the trim is distinguished for the chrome inserts on the front bumper, the GranLusso badge at the base of the front wing, the body-colour side skirts, the black brake calipers and the 20” Urano wheels for Ghibli GranLusso, and 21” Titano Anthracite alloy wheels for Ghibli S GranLusso.
Externally, the GranSport features Adaptive Full LED Matrix 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, red brake calipers and, last but not least, the 20” Urano Gloss Black Diamond wheels for Ghibli GranSport, and 21” Titano – Gloss Black alloy wheels for Ghibli S GranSport.
There is a choice of eleven body colours in the MY19 Ghibli range. One of them is brand new tri-coat colours, the Blu Nobile with sparkling glass flakes glimmering under the sunlight. There is also a choice of ten alloy wheels in six different designs in sizes ranging from 18” to 21”. A wheel design is brand new for MY19, the 20” Teseo, which is available in light and dark finish.
The 350hp Ghibli is standard equipped with 245/45 R19 front and 275/40 R19 rear tyres. The Ghibli S version features wider 245/40 R20 front tyres and 285/35 R20 rear tyres.
The recently introduced Nerissimo package is available in the MY19 Ghibli, bringing together black and dark body elements with an extended range of eight specific exterior colours – five of which are brand new – and 20” or 21” alloy wheels with dark finish.
Interior design
Business class tailored to individual tastes
The Ghibli presents its signature superior cabin craftsmanship with a unique, cockpit-inspired dashboard design that perfectly matched its driver-focused character, without compromising on refinement and sophistication.
The interior is built around an intuitive, uncluttered and user-friendly driver interface. The instrument panel features large analogue gauges for the tachometer and speedometer, alongside a 7” TFT display.
The dashboard is designed around the 8.4” Maserati Touch Control Plus (MTC+) display, which features updated graphics and improved Climate Control functions for MY19. The center console neatly accommodates a redesigned gearshift lever and a revised button cluster for the driving modes as well as the characteristic double rotary knob, a high-quality forged aluminium component that provides intuitive control of the audio volume and other functions.
The console also features two cup holders – in American size* now if requested – a 12V power socket and a climate controlled mobile phone compartment that contains an SD card reader, USB socket and aux-in port, through which the user can play music, watch films or view images.
The Ghibli provides class-leading front legroom and, despite its coupé-like silhouette, comfortable head and legroom for all occupants. The driver’s seat offers 6-way electric adjustment, while the GranLusso and GranSport trims both have standard 12-way power front seats. The rear seats can accommodate three people, providing optimised lateral support and guaranteed comfort even on longer journeys.
The interior packaging also incorporates 60/40 folding rear seats with ISOFIX fittings to securely anchor child seats and 500 litres of luggage capacity alongside the practical, large door pockets and an electrically lockable passenger glove box.
Wider choice of leather materials
Since the introduction of the GranLusso and GranSport trims, the interior of the Ghibli has been adapted to emphasise either luxury or sportiness, two essential elements in the DNA of every Maserati.
GranSport trim: this sport-oriented interior immediately transmits a sense of passion through an array of exclusive elements, like the 12-way power sport leather front seats with integrated anti-whiplash headrests, the sport steering wheel fitted with aluminium gearshift paddles, and the Inox sport pedals. The dashboard’s wood trim is finished in high-gloss Black Piano.
GranLusso trim: the luxury-oriented cabin exclusively features the Ermenegildo Zegna Silk interiors, with mulberry silk inserts, Radica open-pore wood trim on the dashboard and wood-finished leather steering wheel.
The trim includes a Bowers & Wilkins Premium Sound system, power-adjustable foot pedals and steering wheel, an electric rear sunblind, the Soft Close Doors system and an electrically lockable passenger glove box.
The Ermenegildo Zegna Silk interior combines fine-grain leather with 100% natural fibre mulberry silk inserts on seats, door panels, roof lining, sunshades and ceiling light fixture. The silk, always anthracite in colour, can be combined with three different shades of luxurious fine leather: black, tan, or red.
Maserati has widened the choice of exclusive interior finishes with the new Pieno Fiore natural leather is on the top-end of the list. The full-grain leather is available in black, red and tan colour, either with comfort or sports seats, each with its own stitching pattern.
Premium Leather (grain B) is used on the upper and lower dashboard and on the armrest. The door panels also stand out for their unique, double-stitching pattern. Pieno Fiore is like no other leather used in the automotive industry for its natural, soft feel and is purposely processed to develop a unique character throughout the years.
Maserati also offers two brand new High-Gloss interior veneers for the MY19 Ghibli, the Carbon Fibre Twill, which adds exclusivity to the cabin by conveying the idea of a deep 3D look, and the luxurious wooden Rovere Veneer, which features fine stripes with a brushed effect under the glossy top coat.
Powertrain
Class-leading 3.0-litre V6 engines
The 2,979 cc V6 petrol engine – available in two power specifications with 350hp and 430hp – is designed by Maserati Powertrain in collaboration with Ferrari and is manufactured by Ferrari in Maranello.
This latest-generation engine is powerful, exciting to drive and eco-friendly, thanks to Gasoline Direct Injection technology, two low-inertia parallel turbochargers, four continuous camshaft phasers as well as Auto Start-Stop system. For MY19, the Maserati petrol engines are Euro6c-compliant.
A characteristic feature of this Maserati engine family is the 200 bar direct fuel injection system. This very high pressure helps atomise the fuel, thus improving the fuel-air mixture and optimising combustion at higher engine speeds.
The Twin Turbo V6 has two intercoolers – one for each turbocharger – mounted low on either side of the main radiator to catch a constant supply of fresh, cool air. Maserati Powertrain has implemented on-demand ancillaries, with a variable-displacement oil pump that works under electrical control for improved consumption and performance.
The Ghibli features three driving modes, Normal, Sport and I.C.E. for Increased Control & Efficiency. I.C.E. mode is aimed at reducing consumption, emissions and noise. It delivers softer pedal response for smooth driving, deactivates the turbocharger’s over-boost function and keeps the exhaust’s Sport flaps closed up to 5,000 rpm. It also adjusts the gear changes to make them softer and slower, and reduces torque at each gear’s take-up point.
In the best Maserati tradition, the sound and performance of the Ghibli’s exhaust system are controlled by pneumatic valves in the pipes emerging from each bank to maintain the rich aural tradition of the brand. In Normal mode, the bypass valves are closed up to 3,000 rpm to give a comfortable and discreet engine sound, which emerges through four sport exhaust tips.
With Sport mode activated – which also sharpens the car’s handling parameters – the valves open, providing the shortest, highest-energy route for the exhaust gases. The result is optimised engine performance and that unmistakably resonant, spine-tingling sound.
Ghibli S 430hp Twin Turbo V6
The range-topping Ghibli S version delivers 430hp peak torque. The maximum engine speed is 6,500 rpm, yet it delivers its peak torque between 2,250 rpm and 4,000 rpm. The class-leading power output gives the Maserati sports sedan a top speed of 286 km/h and remarkable acceleration: it makes it to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds.
The remarkably high power output does not affect the fuel consumption of the top Ghibli version.
Ghibli – 350hp Twin Turbo V6
The turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine available on the Ghibli delivers 350hp at 5,000 rpm and 500 Nm torque from 1,750-4,500 rpm in over-boost mode. Combined fuel consumption is 11.0 litres/100 km and CO2 emissions 255 g/km. The 350hp Ghibli is capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 5.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 267 km/h.
Active Sound System
Thanks to Maserati Active Sound, the two sound actuators, fitted near the exhaust tailpipes, accentuate the engine’s most distinctive tones and modulate them according to the current driving style. The actuator transforms the exhaust tones into an unmistakable sound, full-bodied yet restrained in Normal mode, while much more aggressive in Sports mode.
Redesigned gearshift lever for the eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox
All versions of the Ghibli are equipped with the same eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, used also on the Quattroporte and Levante models.
MY19 Ghibli is fitted with a redesigned gearshift lever, which features an intuitive, dual lane shift pattern that provides shorter travel and improved operation. The driver has the option to use the gearbox in either automatic (RND) or manual mode simply by shifting the lever from right to left, while a new ‘P’ button on top sets the transmission in parking mode.
With the new gearshift lever, the driving modes cluster on the central console is even more user-friendly. The M button has been eliminated and a Start&Stop “off” button has moved in its place.
The transmission caters for all demands, from comfort to fast gear shifting, and from minimised fuel consumption to low noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). The car also recognizes a variety of conditions, such as uphill or downhill driving, hard braking or driving through a corner, and selects the optimal gear and the most suitable gearshift style accordingly.
In Manual Normal mode the system automatically shifts up as the red line approaches, while in Manual Sport, gearshifts are quicker and sharper and the engine can be pushed to the limit without the system intervenes.
Pricing
The Ghibli enters the Malaysian market at the starting price of RM 618,800.00 (inclusive of local taxes and duties) for the standard model, whilst the Ghibli GranSport and GrandLusso are priced at RM 668,800.00. The Ghibli S is priced at RM 718,800 and the Ghibi S GranSport and GranLusso at RM 768,800.00. All models include 5 years Standard Warranty coverage with no mileage restriction plus a Free maintenance program of 5 years/ 100,000 km whichever comes first (Inclusive of *Maserati Premium Service Plus of 3 Years /60,000KM).
The public is invited to visit the Naza Italia showroom in Petaling Jaya to view and test drive the Ghibli range and speak with Naza Italia’s sales team in greater detail about Maserati’s newest offering.
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