LEADERSHIP
THE MASERATI IS somewhat of an automotive icon . Founded in 1914 in Italy , the brand is steeped in history both on and off the racetrack . From the GranTurismo to the Quattroporte , the marque is known for its luxurious design , power and speed , and until now , its eye-watering price tag . But that has all changed with the introduction of the Maserati Ghibli – a modern , more affordable offering from the Italian manufacturer .
Maserati has announced ambitious plans to sell 50,000 cars a year – and the Ghibli will do much to kick its sales figures up towards that number . It ’ s more affordable price tag , coupled with its contemporary design with appeal to a much larger audience .
As the Italian maker celebrates its centenary year , we see if the
Maserati Ghibli Accessories Range : a tailored experience
Ghibli can still shine brightly despite its ‘ down-market ’ label .
On the inside , the Ghibli doesn ’ t feel like a cheap alternative , in fact , far from it . For years , high-end Italian cars have been better than any other at making everything you touch and sit on feel special – and the Ghibli achieves just that .
The steering wheel is little different , the leather is soft and supple , and the Trident badge in its centre gives a chest-puffing sense of superiority that no Jaguar or Mercedes can come close to rivaling . Not only does it all look expensive , but it smells great too , a true telltale of expensive leather hide – far higher quality than anything you ’ d find in German car .
Italian tech trials Unlike so many Italian cars , the positives don ’ t stop when you get to the user experience side of things : the Ghibli runs a Maserati version of Chrysler ’ s u-Connect , which is the added convenience we have all come to expect .
The heated seat functions flash up for several seconds on start-up , too – which is handy because it means you don ’ t have to wait for the screen
10 M arch 2015