Can anyone say no to Maserati’s Ghibli S?

It is not often we get to drive Maseratis, so when the people at Maserati SA asked if we wanted to spend a night with their Ghibli S, how could we say no?

The Ghibli is the latest addition to the Maserati range and is also the first E segment model by the Italian luxury brand. It is also an entry point into the brand, with cars starting at R1 322 000, while our S model tops the range at R1 622 000.

With the Ghibli, Maserati said, they have produced two concurrent fourdoor sedan models for the first time in their 100-year history. It is the second model after the flagship – the Quattroporte – to be manufactured to new benchmark quality standards in their new state-of-the-art production facilities at Grugliasco, close to Turin, Italy.

In line with their long tradition of naming cars after winds, the name “Ghibli” originates from the hot and dry, dust-bearing desert wind descending from the interior highlands of Libya toward the Mediterranean Sea. The wind is also most frequent during the spring and early summer.

The first Maserati Ghibli, the mark “I”, was launched in 1967 as a two-door, two-seater grand tourer with a V8 engine and 330hp. The Maserati Ghibli II appeared in 1992 with a 2.0 litre V6 engine and 306hp – the highest hp/litre output ever at the time. The car I drove features a 3.0 litre V6 engine with twin turbos and is good for 306kW of power and 550Nm of torque while running an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.

This is said to be good enough to get the car to 100km/h in just 5.0 seconds, eventually reaching a top speed of 285km/h. The Ghibli shares parts of its core architecture – its chassis, its suspension architecture, the V6 engine and the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission – with the flagship Quattroporte.

It is, however, 173mm shorter in the wheel base and 291mm shorter overall, as well as 50kg lighter. What is also very good is the dynamic and precise handling of what is a full-size sedan, I guess this is where the perfectly balanced 50:50 weight distribution and sophisticated suspension system, along with a limited slip differential, come into play.

The interior of the Ghibli is a good place to be with its cabin craftsmanship and detailing. It also sets itself apart with a unique, cockpit-inspired dashboard design that perfectly matches its sporty character without compromising on refinement or sophistication.

Key elements, such as the 8.4-inch Maserati touch control and the fine Poltrona Frau leather finish, underline the cabin’s timeless character. Optional features include the 10-speaker premium Harman Kardon sound system or the 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins high-end audio system, blind spot alert, Siri integration, WLANbased WiFi and a wide range of customisation options that cater for the most demanding individuals.

If there is a downside, it is that your fingers get squeezed by the shift paddles when trying to activate the radio controls that sit on the back of the steering. And it is those same paddles that don’t move with the steering wheel, so if you are turning, you can hunt around for the gearshift.

The bottom line is that the Maserati Ghibli offers you something unique while still maintaining its dynamic appeal and space for the whole family.