2014 Maserati Ghibli Preview: 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show

We know. The 2014 Maserati Ghibli is, to some extent, old news. Nevertheless, we were on hand for the car’s North American unveiling at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show, the city in which a fair number of the new entry-level Maseratis will be sold, and most likely for much higher than its $70,000 base price tag.

Yep, the new 2014 Ghibli starts where a loaded Mercedes-Benz E350 ends, and will give buyers of luxury sport sedans such as the Audi S6, BMW M5, Cadillac CTS-V, Jaguar XFR, and Mercedes E63 AMG an exotic and seductive alternative to consider. As Maserati likes to say, it is “the absolute opposite of ordinary.” And that’s why it matters.

What’s New for the 2014 Maserati Ghibli:

• Midsize 4-door sport sedan
• Ferrari-built twin-turbocharged engines
• Available all-wheel drive
• Near perfect weight balance
• Optional Bowers & Wilkins audio
• Optional mobile Wi-Fi connection
• Base price under $70,000

New 2014 Maserati Ghibli: Styling and Design

Nobody asked me, but I think the new 2014 Ghibli is better looking than the redesigned Quattroporte, which is almost a foot longer than this new entry-level Maserati model. The Ghibli looks more aggressive and chiseled compared to the softer, flowing Q-ship. You might like that, and you might not. Either way, it looks like nothing else in its price class.

Like high-end, exclusive European cars, the more accessible Ghibli offers an impressive degree of customization in terms of paint colors, wheel selections, and interior décor. Buyers can mix-and-match upholstery, carpeting, headliners, steering wheels, and dashboard trim to create a cabin that reflects their individual tastes.

New 2014 Maserati Ghibli: What’s Under the Hood

Initially, three versions of the 2014 Ghibli are available in the U.S. The standard model is equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine making 345 horsepower, driving the rear wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission. Horsepower peaks at 5,000 rpm, and engine’s 369 lb.-ft. of torque is available from 1,750 rpm to 4,500 rpm. Maserati expects this version of the new Ghibli to accelerate to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds.

That’s the slow version of the car. The Ghibli S also has a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6, but this one is massaged to produce 404 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 406 lb.-ft. from 1,750 rpm to 5,000 rpm. It, too, is paired with an 8-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive, and Maserati expects the Ghibli S to rush to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. Furthermore, Maserati says this engine delivers 90 percent of maximum torque as low as 1,500 rpm, which ought to ensure that the Ghibli S feels powerful almost from the moment the driver flattens the accelerator.

The Ghibli S can be optioned with an all-wheel-drive system, and adds a “Q4” designation to identify itself. Thanks to the added traction, this is the quickest version of the Ghibli, taking just 4.7 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph, and topping out at 175 mph.

New 2014 Maserati Ghibli: Features and Technology

There’s no shortage of upgrades for the new Maserati Ghibli, and they’re offered primarily in packages including the Premium Pack, Cold Weather Pack, Technology Pack, Executive Pack, and Sport Pack. Highlights include a choice between two premium audio systems, a navigation system, a mobile Wi-Fi connection, remote engine starting, front and rear parking assist sensors, and adaptive headlights. Additional upgrades include nicer leather, an extended leather treatment, power adjustable pedals, ventilated front seats, a heated rear seat, and a power rear window shade. You can even get velour carpeting and a water-repellent windshield treatment.

New 2014 Maserati Ghibli: What Autobytel Thinks

Maserati is making a big push to increase sales and market share, and the new 2014 Ghibli is one of the models that the automaker will rely heavily upon to draw new buyers to the brand. We think the Ghibli’s got what it takes to move the needle for Maserati. In fact, on the day this preview is written, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 16,000 for the first time in history. Maserati might want to make sure it has a plan to rapidly ramp Ghibli production. We’ve got a feeling demand is going to outstrip supply.