New Maserati Ghibli revealed
* To be revealed at Shanghai motor show
* First Maserati available with diesel engine
Official photos of the new Maserati Ghibli have been revealed ahead of its launch at the Shanghai motor show this month.
Maserati has previously confirmed the car's name and basic details but has now revealed photos and further information on the production version. The Ghibli is one of five new cars that Maserati hopes will increase its sales tenfold by 2015 to 50,000 vehicles.
Company design boss Lorenzo Ramaciotti previously told What Car? that the Ghibli would have 'more aggressive styling and be more wedge-shaped' than the new Quattroporte. The new car will share a platform with its sister car, although it'll be suitably shortened to match rivals such as the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class.
From launch, the Ghibli will be available with a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine. It will also be the first Maserati to be powered by a diesel engine. Sources at the company have previously admitted that this is likely to be a modified version of the 3.0-litre V6 diesel used in the Chrysler 300C and Jeep Grand Cherokee. The two V6 engines will be joined by a V8 at a later date.
All engines will be mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters. UK cars are expected to be available with rear-wheel drive only, although the V8-engined Ghibli is expected to be offered with four-wheel drive in other markets.
Full details and specifications will be revealed in due course. The Maserati Ghibli is expected to go on sale to UK buyers towards the end of the year.
