Maserati is in the process of reinventing itself as an electric-heavy brand, and that road starts today with the reveal of the hybrid version of the Ghibli saloon.
2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine
Well, we say hybrid, and indeed Maserati says hybrid, but actually this is merely a mild-hybrid version of the long-serving Ghibli saloon. It uses a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine, with 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance, to provide what Maserati claims is the performance of a V6 petrol with the economy of a V6 diesel.
The engine is broadly the same as that used by Alfa Romeo in the Giulia saloon and Stelvio SUV, but has been given a small 'eBooster' electric motor, and a compact battery, that brings power up to 330hp and torque up to 450Nm. The Ghibli Hybrid's top speed is 255km/h and it'll hit 100km/h in 5.7 seconds. Maserati says that it has gone for a mild-hybrid system, for now, because adding a full hybrid, or plug-in hybrid, would have made the car too heavy. On the WLTP fuel-economy test, the Ghibli Hybrid returns a claimed 8.5 litres per 100km, or 33mpg. The car has a specially designed exhaust system to try and capture as much as possible of the traditional Maserati aural experience.
Lighter than an equivalent diesel
Maserati says that not only does the Ghibli Hybrid weigh around 80kg less than an equivalent diesel model, but that it is the: "Perfect trade-off between performance, efficiency and driving pleasure."
Style-wise, you'll spot a Ghibli Hybrid from the little flashes of bright blue scattered around. It's on the brake calipers, in the little 'portholes' on the front wings, in the headrests, and in the seat stitching. The trident badge, mounted on the rear pillar, also gets a little blue flash below the fork. There are new tail-lights too, with a 'boomerang' profile said to be inspired by the 3200 GT model of the early 2000s.
Android software
The Ghibli Hybrid also gets a new infotainment system, with a bigger 10.1-inch screen, and some software input from Google's Android Automotive software arm. It gets the new Maserati Connect online connectivity package, and the screen's menus and layout are fully customisable by the driver.