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Maserati Ghibli Diesel: Prejudices Apart
MASERATI GHIBLI DIESEL
PREJUDICES APART
Words: Alessandro Marrone
Photography: Andy Williams
Every day, thousands of enthusiasts scream at each other dividing into different factions according to which each of them holds the truth tight in hand – or at least believes it. We do not accept half-measures, we do not accept any kind of reasoning and more and more often, especially in the fabulous world of the Internet, it degenerates into ridicule rushes into the barrage of ignorance. As part of the automotive world, from a journalistic point of view, it becomes increasingly difficult to translate on paper all the sensations we experience test driving a car, often mined by that halo of prejudices or false beliefs that has already settled in the minds of more and more people, sometimes resembling cold jokes that quickly become commonplaces in which to kill the desire to confront with other enthusiasts. We have heard stuff of all kinds, from the war between automatic gearboxes and manual gearboxes, what wheels have to drive the chassis, to the more classic one, where no diesel car deserves any kind of attention. Porsche and Maserati have been so literally assaulted when they “dirty” their badges of such shame, without however questioning the true interest of a brand in terms of marketing, sales volume and the likes. I’m not going to make a list of these same reasons and I do not even want to convince anyone that there is a good point even without a prominent petrol V8, naturally aspirated or not, but I wish and hope to get to those who are really hungry to know something about the new Maserati Ghibli Diesel in the best way, from a passionate to another passionate, because after all we do not always need 500 horses, but sometimes all we need to know is that we can rely on a good compromise, without turning around, without playing hide and seek behind a finger. Let’s ask ourselves two questions, without necessarily pretending to know the answers.
Here is the Maserati Ghibli of our days, just updated in 2017 and in the most unusual version you would have thought to find, the diesel one. Everything becomes more difficult and complicated – almost twisted – but having to do with a car, after all, it’s all just a simple matter – will it be a fun car to drive or not? That’s it – although there is no classic petrol engine to push and one of the best soundtracks in the automotive industry coming out from the exhausts, so I repeat: will it be fun? My experience with the Ghibli Diesel starts in Modena, where in front of the factory, our Ghibli stands out with its sleek Blu Emozione (Blue emotion) color, in perfect contrast with the tan leather interior and the large 20 inches GTS wheels. A spec that leaves no room for doubts about the quality and love for aesthetic taste, but of course we all know that. You can look at this from every angle not finding any detail that may lead you to the fact that under the bonnet there’s no petrol engine: there are no badges, the exhaust still is made of two classic pairs of tailpipes and everything is in perfect harmony between sportiness of the prestigious Trident and the elegance of a brand that has a hundred years of history. With the big and heavy key in my hand, I approach the driver’s door, and while I open it, I’m literally invested by a cabin that makes you want to sell your house and take up residence on these soft and comfortable leather armchairs – this specimen is crazy, with aluminum pedals, alcantara sky, a powerful Harman Kardon audio system and many other gadgets that will make my next few days with it even more enjoyable. In this case, we also have Skyhook suspensions, a must in order to bring the driving experience to another level, but we’ll talk about it shortly. I do not wait any longer and I sit at the wheel, greeted by the classic multifunctional steering that overwhelm those huge paddles, among the best in the market. The infotainment system, like last year’s Quattroporte test drive, is faster and more intuitive than before, with a fully customizable menu according to the driver’s preferences and a large and well-visible screen even under the sun’s rays. To control it, you can use the rotor located behind the shift lever, or directly through the touch display.
Finally I’m back at the wheel of a Maserati and during my test days I’ve felt so special, just like every occasion you climb on board a car from of the Trident – take for example the class of the analog clock in the middle of the dashboard. Seating position is perfect, thanks to the many available settings, and the overall look is very close to that of the bigger Quattroporte sister, but more homogeneous, especially in the rear three quarters, which looks more graceful and with the right proportions. You do not look at a Maserati, you just admire it as standing still with mouth open in front of a picture at the Louvre, the ideal place to sit and get lost in the contemplation of the details, of those chrome and of that front grille, a mouth that wants to devour miles and miles of roads, but this time with a different feeling than usual, without draining the bank account and above all, making this sedan ideal for any type of drive. I delayed a bit, I admit that, but after being bombarded with data, information and at the same time impressions and conclusions of any kind, it was the right thing to do – just take one minute more and reset your brain. On rare occasions, I sat and thought so much before understanding, before building an impression that it was the result of an analysis that took into account factors other than what we usually need to have fun on a sports car. Yes, a sports car, because Maserati, even if it represents the quintessence of luxury, goes hand in hand with sportiness, and here comes into play that mixture of sensations I experienced for the first time, putting the car in Sport mode. The steering response becomes more sensitive, even the throttle seems to be more brilliant, but above all I get a whole series of sensory inputs I’ve never felt on a diesel car. Maybe I have to thank the perfect wedding between the chassis and the gorgeous 8-speed automatic gearbox, or perhaps the exhaust valves, which almost completely eliminate the typical noise of a diesel engine and recall, albeit artificially, the sound of a petrol one. This V6 is black magic. Do not tell me it’s a mistake, because it would be crazy to have (capability) technologies available to help make a driving experience that you can live 365 days a year going to work, on holiday and to attack some winding roads, without having to regret the fact you’ve left your typical sports car home.
The last minute hairpins will not be a problem, so the weight – we’re talking about 1,800kg – but the balance is impeccable, the powerful brakes too and the always-available and generous 600Nm torque, which can be exploited from 2000 to 2600 rpm, are an ultimate joy. The thrust lasts as you would hope, the 275hp do a great job and the speed and precision of the gearbox contribute to the progressive and constant acceleration, ensuring ease in any overtaking maneuver. The 3.0cc is a jewel that likes to be treated abruptly, it will not betray you and it won’t make you ask for more than you need (5.9 l/100km), ready to play the role that you impose yourself. Ghibli is a beautiful woman in her forty, she has experience, knows what she wants and does not fear meeting with younger people, but at the same time wants the respect she deserves, she must be understood and will only give the maximum if you prove to be at her level. Take some of her small shades down and you will not understand her, not one bit. My passion for mountain roads does not want to stand aside and so I’m challenging a few dozen logical rules that would not look happy with the diesel sedan balance + bends + traction control off + mountain road as a playground. In fact, this is not the case and it is at this point that my appreciation for this car is raised to a higher level. As I leave the city chaos or the fast motorway lanes, I really find myself alongside the Ghibli in Sport mode – appreciating how the front communicates intimately with the road. Every little command that I impart on the steering wheel is immediately transmitted to the front wheels while the rear axle handles the large torque reserve and traction; out of a corner, forgetting to wear the clothes of a serious person, I go heavy on the throttle and the rear widens. The necessary movement is brusque, a decisive countersteering and the car straightens in the blink of an eye, with the nose pointing to the next curve – I do nothing else, not so much because it’s not the place and the right moment, but because I’m astonished by the precision, the dynamism, the ingeniousness, and all the feedbacks that I have received, allowing me to manage with ease a maneuver that certainly does not fit a sedan of this kind. Extraordinary, just like the feeling of applying three fingers on those big paddles and climbing up or down, or approaching and admiring it for hours, noting that nobody in the street knows how to withstand such charm.
It is time to refuel and it is here that I finally come to my personal facedown with the Ghibli Diesel. The only traces that point to the fuel type are on the engine cover, the fuel filler and the rev counter, which has the red line at 4,750. It does not leave any other traces, if you are concerned about this, but the point is that there is nothing disgraceful, because after having tested it on all kinds of roads and having used it as you would do with a petrol Maserati, you realize that it has all the cards in order to show off that symbol of luxury, elegance and sportiness. Let’s talk about it without prejudices – with € 68,000 there is a chance to take home a Maserati (brand new) and the real concreteness of being able to drive it every single day that God gives us on Earth. Practical, versatile, comfortable for four people (with 5 seats) and several luggage – and then damn sexy, unlike its major competitors, that despite being even more powerful (with the same engine) aesthetically do not have half the charm of this one. An Italian lady who, in addition to a beautiful dress, has so much substance and the ability to let you have fun at the wheel, criticizing in the best way possible the criticisms of those “enthusiasts” who abhor the idea of a diesel Maserati. Because facts are better than a thousand words.
CLICK HERE for Alex’s video clip
MASERATI GHIBLI DIESEL (2017-)
Layout – front-engined, rear wheel drive
Engine – V6 cylinder 2.987cc – turbodiesel
Transmission – 8-speed automatic gearbox
Power – 275 hp @ 4.000 rpm
600 Nm @ 2.000-2.600 rpm
Weight – 1.875 kg
Acceleration – 6,3 sec.
Top Speed – 250 kph
Price – from € 68.803
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