The last time our spy photographers turned their cameras on Maserati’s engineers, they were out in the snow driving a test mule of the Ghibli wearing the body of the Quattroporte on the production model’s platform.
Now that the weather is getting better in Europe, the Italians rolled out an actual prototype of the Ghibli, albeit under heavy disguise to prevent prying eyes from seeing the final exterior treatment.
Nevertheless, it’s clearly visible that the Ghibli is far more compact in size than the 5,263mm (207.2 inches) long Quattroporte, upon which it is based, using a shrunken version of the luxury sedan’s platform. Expect the Ghibli to measure somewhere around 4.8 to 4.9 meters long, or about the same as the BMW 5-Series, which will be one of its main rivals, along with the Jaguar XF, and other executive mid-size saloons with a similar sporty flair.
The Ferrari-designed and built twin-turbocharged direct-injection 3.0-litre V6 producing 404hp (410PS) and 550Nm (406 lb-ft), and 3.8-liter V8 delivering 523hp and up to 710Nm (524 lb-ft) that are found in the new Quattroporte, will also be used in the Ghibli, however, Maserati may de-tune both engines in this application. Maserati is also contemplating a high-performance diesel unit based on VM Motori’s 3.0-liter V6.
All powerplants will be paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission from ZF, with all-wheel drive likely to be offered as an option on the V6 engine.
We’ve heard rumors that the Italian company could present the new Ghibli as early as this April at the Shanghai Auto Show in China, but Maserati may choose another venue for the world premiere.
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS
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