“In the next four years, Maserati is planning to electrify its century-long tradition of engineering excellence and passion!”
Last night, the Maserati Ghibli Hybrid was finally introduced in the country via an online launch on the automaker’s Facebook page.
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Hosted by Modena Motorsports Inc, the official and exclusive importer of Maserati in the Philippines, the launch strengthened the 108-year-old car brand’s presence in the country.
“This car is a milestone for Maserati. This model signifies Maserati’s first step into electrification,” says Modena Motorsports president Sam Verzosa. “In the next four years, Maserati is planning to electrify its century-long tradition of engineering excellence and passion!”
Verzosa points out that this journey did not begin yesterday, but was a culmination of nearly a decade of work.
The new Hybrid represents one of the most ambitious projects for Maserati. The choice to introduce the hybrid technology on the Ghibli sedan is no coincidence: this model, with over 100,000 units produced since its launch in 2013, embodies the Modena-based manufacturer’s DNA.
The challenge for Maserati was figuring out how to enter the world of electrification without altering its core philosophy and values. Its solution was to create this hybrid, which will retain the unmistakable sound that has always distinguished every Maserati.
Out of the blue
The Ghibli Hybrid’s design was developed by Centro Stile Maserati. It makes use again of the color blue, which has become the identifying marker of all of its models with hybrid technology.
On the exterior, the blue is seen on the side air ducts, the brake calipers and the thunderbolt in the oval that encloses the Trident on the rear pillar. This is mirrored inside the car, in particular on the embroidered seams of the seats.
Apart from this, the new Ghibli Hybrid also introduces new stylistic elements. The new front grille was redesigned to look like a tuning fork, a musical device that emits a sound of extreme purity. There are significant changes at the rear, where the light clusters have been completely restyled, with a boomerang-like profile inspired by the 3200 GT and the Alfieri concept car.
As mentioned, Maserati has chosen a hybrid solution focused primarily on improving performance, while also reducing fuel consumption and cutting emissions. The hybrid technology exploits kinetic energy the car accumulates when in motion, recovering it and transforming it into electricity during deceleration and braking, and storing it in a battery.
Powerful tech
The powertrain, the outcome of in-depth engineering development work by the technicians and engineers of the Maserati Innovation Lab in Modena, combines an internal combustion engine (4 cylinders, turbo, displacement of 2.0 l) with a 48 volt alternator and an additional electric supercharger (e-Booster), supported by a battery.
Its battery is mounted in the rear of the car, with benefits in terms of improved weight distribution. This version weighs about 80 kg less than the Diesel.
With a maximum power output of 330 hp and torque of 450 Nm delivered from just 1,500 rpm, the new Ghibli Hybrid has a top speed of 255 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. Those riding the car will still hear the unmistakable sound that characterises all Maserati models, thanks to the optimised exhaust, which includes specially designed resonators.
Inside, the car makes use of the latest-generation of the Maserati Intelligent Assistant, which is based on inputs from the Android Automotive software that figures out the driver’s preferences. The system’s more user-friendly HD screen grew to 10.1 inches, and has fresh graphics and a new instrument panel.
This new Ghibli Hybrid is the first step in a plan that will lead to the electrification of all new Maserati models. The brand’s first all-electric cars will be the new GranTurismo and GranCabrio.
For more information, visit Maserati.com or the Maserati Philippines Facebook page.
