VIDEO: Maserati's Head Of Design Walks YOU Through The Ghibli

If you haven't noticed, we're pretty excited about the all-new Maserati Ghibli. That's for a couple of reasons.

1) There are two cars important to Maserati gaining sales traction, a.k.a. volume, the Ghibli and Levante.

2) It looks like the Ghibli will prove to be a tough competitor for the more conservative vehicles in the midsize luxury class. Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Infiniti, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz's, life just got much more difficult.

While we've posted plenty of photos and a couple of video clips showing it in action, we think it's time that you learn from the trident's Head of Design, Marco Tencone, what exactly makes it a special piece.

Maserati Ghibli, design story. Present by Marco Tencone. Head of Maserati design.19-20.06.13. Siena(Italy)

The 2014 Ghibli is likely to become the core model for Maserati once it goes on sale later this year. It's an important model for the Italian marque as it represents the first diesel car wearing the Maserati badge, a V6 3.0-liter turbo mill churning 275 HP (202 kW) and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm). Another engine option is the V6 3.0-liter twin-turbo gasoline churning 330 HP (243 kW) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm).

The range-topping Ghibli S is fitted with the same gasoline power unit but in this form it unleashes 410 HP (301 kW) and 405 lb-ft (550 Nm), enough for a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in five seconds and a 177 mph (285 km/h) top speed. All these engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission developed by ZF.
European customers (excluding UK) will have the possibility of opting for the Q4 all-wheel drive system. Compared to its larger brother (Quattroporte), the 2014 Ghibli has a 20cm shorter wheelbase while length has been reduced by 29cm. As standard it gets 18-inch rims, but Maserati is offering various styles of alloys measuring up to 21 inches.

TheGenius - 6/26/2013 11:38:43 PM

+1 Boost

unique design for rear lights..sure as unique as the year old Kia cadenza

cidflekken - 6/27/2013 2:24:13 PM

+1 Boost

I do think this is the best-designed mid-size luxo car. But I have to agree that the taillights are just not inspiring. Same with Quattroporte. Seems a trend with Maserati as the taillights of the previous Quattroporte and those of the current GT don't have the same design flair as the rest of the bodies.

mini22 - 6/29/2013 12:59:00 PM

+1 Boost

I agree on the taillamps. Maserati could have taken the rear lamp design from the previous short wheelbase coupes from the the 2005 coupes. I think that would have been a more striking design. I think the tailamps have too much of a corporate design look as opposed to a more bespoke look. Other than that the cars design reminds me of the first quattroporte which I like very much. I like the look of the new S class Mercedes, the BMW 4 series coupe, and the A5 Audi coupes and Audi A7. Other than that I find the rest of the German three designs boring both inside and out. The Gibli offers a viable alternative to the me too yuppie crowd. When you add options to the Germans alacarte their prices can easily exceed the $65 grand price for the Gibli. The ride may not yet be perfect but for a first foray into the semi affordable low luxury market they have produced a fantastic effort.Bravissimo!!