The 2014 Maserati Ghibli debuts in Shanghai with over 400hp - and a diesel engine

The Maserati Ghibli debuted on the internet earlier this month but with the ongoing Shanghai Motor Show in China – the Italian sport-luxury automaker has revealed the full details on a car that should go a long way in helping them reach their lofty sales goals over the next few years.

We have known what the 2014 Maserati Ghibli would look like since the company rolled out a handful of images along with a very light amount of information in early April. However, what little information was provided then was not only vague but it was also a bit abridged – although the Shanghai debut is accompanied by all of the important details for the new midsized luxury sedan.

The most important bit of information that was excluded – or should we say abridged – in the original online debut of the 2014 Maserati Ghibli pertains to the engine lineup. The original statement led us to believe that the Ghibli would come with two turbocharged V6 engines with one running on gasoline while the other would be the first diesel engine ever offered in a Maserati vehicle. In actuality, there will be three turbocharged engines with two running on gasoline in addition to the new diesel option. All three of these engine options come mated to a new 8-speed automatic transmission and as an extra bonus, all 2014 Ghibli sedans are equipped with standard mechanical limited slip differentials to allow the midsized Maserati to make the most of the available power in a variety of weather and driving conditions.

The base model 2014 Maserati Ghibli sedan will be powered by a twin turbocharged 3.0L V6 that packs 330 horsepower and 369lb-ft of torque while also offering an impressive figure of 28.8 miles per gallon (likely on the European cycle – American figures may vary). Maserati expects that the entry level Ghibli will be able to dash from a stop to 62 miles per hour (100kmh) in just 5.6 seconds.

The next step up is the 2014 Maserati Ghibli S, which packs a similar twin turbocharged 3.0L V6 to the base model but the S package ups the output to 410 horsepower and 406lb-ft of torque. When fitted to the same 8-speed automatic transmission as the base model with “only” 330 horsepower, the Ghibli S rockets to 62 miles per hour in just 5 seconds flat en route to a top speed of 177 miles per hour. That 5 second 0-62 time is presumably win rear wheel drive form although the Ghibli S is also available with Maserati’s Q4 intelligent all wheel drive system. This high performance all wheel drive setup functions as a rear wheel drive vehicle with 100% of the power going to the rear wheels under many driving situations but when greater traction is needed – the Q4 system sends as much as 50% of the power to the front wheels under hard acceleration or cornering. Also, joining the optional all wheel drive and the added power, the Ghibli S features a high performance Brembo braking system with 6 piston calipers up front clamping down on 14.2 inch rotors while four piston calipers handle the 13.8 inch rotors out back. The Ghibli S rides on standard 18 inch rims but buyers will be able to opt for 19, 20 and even 21 inch rim choices when this midsized sedan hits the market later this year.

Finally, the 2014 Maserati Ghibli will be the first ever Maserati car equipped with a diesel engine and that new mill offers impressive fuel economy and power. The new 3.0L V6 turbo diesel engine provides 275 horsepower and 406lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels via the 8-speed automatic transmission but more importantly – this rear wheel drive diesel sedan is expected to offer better than 47 miles per gallon in the European market. Should that engine option arrive in the United States, it may not offer that same high level of fuel economy but it should still be among the most efficient luxury sport sedans in the US…while still packing enough power to be deserving of the “sport” designation.

The 2014 Maserati Ghibli will likely be the most inexpensive model in the company lineup along with being the most efficient – both of which are features that are likely to attract new buyers to the Maserati brand. That is exactly what the company is hoping for as they attempt to reach an annual sales figure of 50,000 vehicles in the coming years.