Maserati shrinks the Quattroporte and slaps in a V6 diesel.

In the past, if you wanted a mid-sized luxury sedan, there was only the likes of BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Audi and Lexus to turn to. Now though, you may add Maserati to that list. By shrinking the Quattroporte, Maserati hopes that the new Ghibli will appeal to those who’d like something to distinguish them from the masses. This is one of the key cars which Maserati hopes will help them reach global sales of 50,000 cars per year by 2015. 

Exterior-wise, the car looks pretty much looks like a mix of the Grand Turismo and a shrunken Quattroporte; the combination has produced a car that is dotted with sleek lines and sexy curves. The same cannot be said about the car’s rear end; the Kia Cerato-esque lights just do not fit the curvature of the Maserati bodyshell.

To prevent potential customers getting a ‘culture shock’ when they enter the cabin, the interior has to be on par or be of better quality than the exterior. Inside, leather has been spread just about everywhere. Not only that, the leather helps tie in with the futuristic looking centre console, which finishes with a BMW-like gearstick. Only the finest-quality hides will be used, supplied by Italian specialist Poltrona Frau. There is also an optional Bowers & Wilkins system for any audiophiles out there.

A choice of three engines will be available to shift that gorgeous body around. The entry-level powerplant is a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel, developing 271bhp – Maserati’s first ever oil-burner. If you prefer petrol power, Maserati\'s turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine will be available in two states of tune. The top of the line Ghibli S will develop 410bhp and sprint from a standstill to 100km/h in just 5.0sec, and continue ploughing along until it hits 285 km/h. A V8 petrol is expected to follow at a later date. All engines will be coupled with a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters.

The Ghibli is shaping up to be a decent contender in the mid-sized luxury car segment. A mixture of the finest Italian materials with exquisite Italian design means that the car not only looks good, but it should feel good too. Being a Maserati, one would expect the car to be capable on a stretch of empty road. Although nobody has driven one yet, one only has to look at Maserati’s back catalogue of sports cars to get an inkling that the Ghibli will probably be a decent steer on track.