The 100,000th Ghibli is produced at the Avv. Giovanni Agnelli Plant at Grugliasco. The car in question is a Ghibli S Q4 in the GranSport trim with Blu Emozione exterior colour and interior in black natural full-grain Pieno Fiore leather. Externally, the Ghibli GranSport features Adaptive Full LED Matrix headlights and is also recognisable for the Black Piano inserts on the front bumper, the “GranSport” badge on the front wing, body-colour side skirts, red brake callipers and 20-inch polished alloy wheels. The car is destined for the Italian market, where the Maserati sports sedan has been a great success since its launch in 2013, due to its comfortable ride, exquisite finishes, sporty character and enjoyable driving experience. Thanks to the powerful 430 HP 3.0 litre V6 Twin Turbo engine, the Ghibli S Q4 with Q4 intelligent all-wheel drive delivers impressive performance: a top speed of 286 km/h and acceleration 0-100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds.
The Ghibli is available with V6 Twin Turbo 3.0 litre petrol engines with power outputs of both 350 and 430 HP. The range also includes the mighty V6 turbodiesel with the same displacement, producing 275 HP. The sports sedan can be customised with a choice of 10 different bodywork colours, including Blu Nobile, a tri-coat colour with sparkling glass flakes in the paint which shimmer in the sun, and five interior colours. There are no fewer than 150,000 possible combinations. The alloy wheels are available in six designs with various finishes, in sizes ranging from 18 to 21-inch.
As well as the GranSport, Ghibli is also produced in the GranLusso trim, with an emphasis on luxury and sophistication. In this case, the interior is by Ermenegildo Zegna and combines Full Premium natural leather with 100% natural fibre mulberry silk inserts on seats, door panels, roof lining, sunshades and the ceiling light fixture. The chromed bumper inserts, body-colour side skirts, “GranLusso” badge on the front bumper and 19-inch alloy wheels with black callipers complete the look for this trim.
Ghibli number 100,000 is a major milestone for Maserati and for the people who work at the Grugliasco plant. Since its launch at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2013, Ghibli has garnered positive reviews in the world’s top motoring journals, and has also found favour with many customers around the globe. The Maserati sports sedan’s main markets are the USA, China, Italy, Japan and Germany.
Since its debut the Ghibli, the first Maserati car to be fitted with a Diesel engine, has benefited over the years from a large number of continual updates covering every aspect of its design and engineering, to constantly increase its market competitiveness. It was at the Chengdu Motor Show in China in 2017 that the Ghibli GranLusso and GranSport trims were presented. New advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) were also introduced at the same time.
Important new interior features were presented at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed in 2018, including the new gearshift lever with more ergonomic, functional design and the full-grain Pieno Fiore natural leather seats in three different colours, as well as a number of completely restyled internal components. All the engines in the current Ghibli range (petrol and diesel) are Euro 6D Temp Evap and therefore comply with the latest international emissions standards.
Every single Ghibli that comes off the production line at the Grugliasco plant is meticulously inspected to guarantee impeccable quality throughout the production process, from ‘Body-in-White’ to painting, and from assembly to dynamometer, water and electronics testing. What’s more, every car is road-tested for approximately 40km by a professional test-driver, after which it leaves the production plant for shipment to the customer.
Meanwhile, In line with FCA’s €5 billion investment program for Italy, Maserati announces its innovation plan for production, electrification and autonomous driving technologies. With regards to production, Maserati announces plans for its lineup of new and electrified products at Modena, Cassino and Turin (Mirafiori and Grugliasco).
All of Maserati’s new models will be 100 percent made in Italy and will adopt hybrid and battery electric propulsion systems capable of providing both innovation and the high performance embedded in the brand’s DNA. Maserati’s all electric models will combine traditional highly appreciated Maserati driving dynamics together with next-generation battery electric technology, offering unique driving modes, extended range and ultra-fast charging capabilities.
An important step for Maserati innovation is the level of Autonomous Driving. All new Maserati including the updated current models, will offer a range of autonomous driving capabilities, starting with Maserati Level 2 enhanced Highway Assist progressing to Level 3 with hands-off offering close to full autonomy, having the ability to maneuver in and out of lanes or bring the vehicle to a safe stop at the side of the road if the driver is unable to take control of the vehicle.
In 2020, the Company will embark on electrification and the Maserati Ghibli, produced in Turin, will be the first hybrid electric propulsion for the brand. The first of the totally new Maserati to appear will be the eagerly-anticipated sports car – packed with technology and reminescent of Maserati’s traditional values. It will be produced in the Modena plant, where major production line upgrades are also underway to accommodate its electric powertrain.
Next up will be a new Maserati utility vehicle, set to be built at Cassino and destined to play a leading role for the Brand thanks to its innovative technologies. An investment of approximately €800 million has been earmarked for the construction of the new production line, scheduled to open at the end of the first quarter of 2020. The first pre-series cars are expected to roll off the line by 2021.
After many years of success, GranTurismo and GranCabrio remain part of the Brand’s roots and these models will herald the full electrification era for Maserati. The totally New GranTurismo and GranCabrio will be produced at the Turin production hub, where FCA is investing €800 million.
Production of the new models will complement that of the prestigious and continuously improving line-up of current Maserati range: Levante, Quattroporte and Ghibli. With the introduction of various product innovations, Maserati is reinforcing the importance of Italy with regards to its production — particularly Modena, which will also continue to play a strategic role as the Brand’s headquarters.
Construction has already begun in Modena on a paint shop, a new feature for the plant, which will be equipped with innovative, low environmental-impact technologies. The design of the paint shop will also allow Maserati customers to watch their car being painted. Finally, Maserati is developing an entirely new customization program for customers seeking a one-of-a- kind level of exclusivity. A dedicated customization workshop will be created within the Modena plant.
The 2019-2021 FCA investment plan for Italy, announced on 29th November in Turin, includes thirteen totally new or significantly updated FCA models and electrified versions of 12 new or existing models, including the Maserati products, the recently announced all-new electric version of the Fiat 500 to be produced at Mirafiori, and a new premium vehicle for Alfa Romeo to be produced at Pomigliano.
