SPORTS SEDAN EXCELS IN STYLE, PERFORMANCE
Despite Maserati Ghibli Q4’s opulent features, back seat space is limited
You have to love a guy like Harald Wester. At the introduction of the then-new Ghibli sport sedan at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show, the normally hardened hearts of the assembled auto journalists were softened by an impassioned speech from the Maserati chief executive, who decried the loss of trumpeting exhaust notes and inspired design. The car was then unveiled, replete with a banner above it reading, “The absolute opposite of ordinary.”
There is little that is ordinary about the Ghibli, especially in allwheel-drive S Q4 garb (rear-drive is standard). It is a bon vivant among the uptight clique that is the German-dominated luxury/ sport four-door coupe/sedan segment. (Mercedes’ CLS 550 4Matic, BMW’s 640i xDrive and the Audi S6 would be the Ghibli S Q4’s primary rivals. You could also throw Jaguar’s XF S, Cadillac’s CTS V-Sport and the Lexus GS F into the mix.)
It’s a tough crowd, though, one with powerful engines, slick looks (for the most part), beaucoup luxury content and an extensive menu of modern conveniences. The new kid on the block has to show up with more than an Italian accent and sharp tailoring. The simple grille with the bold trident emblem and those lovely triple vents along its fenders are flourishes that add to the car’s exotic nature.
The Ghibli shares much of its core architecture — including chassis, suspension and engine — with the larger, flagship Quattroporte sedan, though it is 50 kilograms lighter, 173 millimetres shorter in the wheelbase and 291 mm shorter overall.
That engine, exotic in its own right, is a Maserati-developed, Ferrari-produced 3.0-litre, twinturbocharged V-6. Yes, owners can brag about having more than a little of Maranello’s expertise under the hood (Maserati is owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles). Churning out a robust 404 horsepower, the S Q4 will, according to Maserati, hit 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, accompanied by a deep exhaust note that will plaster grins on motor heads of all ages.
Said engine is coupled to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. While the initial park, neutral, reverse actuation can be confounding if one is not paying attention, the automatic is a delight once underway. Naturally, there is a Sport mode with which to indulge your inner scofflaw, as well as a manual mode. The tester was also equipped with the optional Sport Package, which includes, among other items, oversized paddle shifters with which to flick through the gears. There’s plenty of performance at play even with the shifter in Drive, though Sport does sharpen the car’s reflexes, and Sport combined with manual shifting makes the Ghibli very playful. Despite the Maserati’s overall muscular demeanour — and its 1,870-kg weight — it will move with a catlike quickness when pushed.
Conversely, if you pussyfoot it, you can achieve reasonable fuel economy for a high-performance sedan, at least on the highway. I averaged 11.6 L/100 km on a run up north, about 90 per cent of which was at cruising speeds. A new stop/start system will make city driving more fuel efficient.
Featured on the Ghibli, the Q4 AWD system delivers superior levels of grip that make the sport sedan more functional for our Canadian climate — and more competitive with its competition. Typically, when experiencing normal road conditions, the Q4’s technology provides the dynamic benefits associated with rear-wheel drive. However, when the wheels start to slip, traction is immediately transferred to the front wheels — up to the point where torque is split 50/50 between the two axles. The system is electronically controlled and constantly analyzes the Maserati’s dynamics and varies the way torque is distributed to all wheels.
Sliding behind the wheel is to be rewarded with a cabin that looks good, feels good and, when using the various controls, switch gear and displays are easy to live with. Two-tone stitched leather, wood and satin metal trim bits, and comfortable, supportive seats are included in the $100,000 tester.
The dashboard’s centrepiece is the traditional Maserati clock, replete with blue face and aluminum details. A large 8.4-inch touchscreen display resides underneath and is the access point for the entertainment features and control centre for most of the onboard devices.
The one negative is a paucity of rear-seat legroom. Front-seat accommodations were more than adequate for my 6-foot-2 frame, yet there was no way I could sit in the back unless I moved that front seat forward a fair bit. However, the trunk’s cargo capacity is a generous 500 L, with a new power lid.
Maserati is an intriguing contrast. Its motorsport history is rivalled by only a few other automakers, yet it’s most definitely a boutique brand. Canadian sales of all models — Ghibli, Quattroporte and GranTurismo — were little more than 500 in 2015.
For the extrovert with a taste for Italian flair, the Ghibli is a bold, exciting sport sedan.