After having unveiled it with the spectacular (digital) reconstruction of a lightning bolt hitting the Trident on the tower that houses the Modena headquarters, now is the time to evaluate the behavior of the Ghibli Hybrid, Maserati's first electrified model, on the road.
This debut is truly a disruptive, thunderous event, also because it will be followed (and amplified) by the arrival in the next models of the 100% electric Folgore architecture that takes the House of the Trident into the engine revolution.
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Ghibli Hybrid, the first electrified remains a real Maserati
As we were able to appreciate in a detailed test around Modena, the Ghibli Hybrid therefore takes Maserati into the future without betraying the past, and it does so by enhancing with high-tech solutions - such as the e-Booster with 48 Volt electric turbocharger - which update the brand's DNA, project Maserati towards a more sustainable future.
The heart of this new Ghibli, which supports the other petrol and diesel engines in the 2021 range, is a MHEV engine that combines a 4-cylinder 2.0 turbo petrol engine with a 48 Volt Hybrid system that also allows you to recover energy in deceleration and braking .
The car has 330 hp and can sprint from 0 to 100 in 5.7 seconds, reaching 255 km / h where there are no limits.
Produced in the Giovanni Agnelli Plant (AGAP) of Grugliasco, the Ghibli Hybrid was designed by a working group of about one hundred people - divided between Turin and Modena - and is based at the body and chassis level on the evolution of the Ghibli V6.
In fact, if it weren't for the different sound of the exhaust, the difference between the 330hp 4-cylinder Hybrid and the 350hp 6-cylinder is really minimal.
Even in situations where you must be able to rely on a prompt delivery of torque, the Ghibli Hybrid maintains the same brilliance and performance of every Maserati model, but awaiting an equally 'qualifying' result, that of reducing fuel consumption and emissions more 25% compared to Ghibli Diesel according to WLTP data.
Ghibli Hybrid - explain the Maserati technicians - summarizes the best of the two other engines, offering the driver a fun car to drive, which combines the smoothness of a 6-cylinder engine with the low-end torque of a diesel.
Maserati's 48 volt hybrid system consists of four elements: Belt Starter Generator (BSG), battery, eBooster and DC / DC converter.
The BSG performs the function of an alternator, allows to recover energy during braking and deceleration and charges the battery.
This device, which works in series with the turbocharger driven by the exhaust gases, has a strategic function in the behavior of the Ghibli Hybrid as it supports the delivery of power at low revs.
In the road test this 'pairing' between BSG and eBooster gets the highest marks: it is a high tech solution that makes the difference and that allows you to give an extra boost even when the engine is running at full speed.
All with the contribution of a latest generation Bosch control unit that adjusts the electronic management of the engine.
After all, everything in the new Ghibli Hybrid is designed in search of better performance.
The hybrid car weighs less than the Ghibli V6, but above all it has a better weight distribution, thanks to the rear position of the battery.
The intervention on aesthetics is also appreciable: some details stand out (such as the three air intakes on the front fender, the Brembo brake calipers and the lightning bolt in the logo on the pillar) in blue color that has become a symbol of electrified mobility.
The grille is also new, characterized by a sign inspired by the Maserati tuning fork which is chromed in the GranLusso and Nero Black Piano versions in the GranSport.
The interior is characterized by a number of exclusive elements, such as the sports front seats in leather with 12-way electric adjustment and head restraints with integrated whiplash prevention system, the sports steering wheel with aluminum gearshift paddles and the sports pedals.
Even the Hybrid, has all the technological innovations presented in the MY21 Ghibli such as the latest generation Maserati Intelligent Assistant (MIA) multimedia system that exploits the power of the Android Automotive operating system for a completely new and more performing user experience, which can be customized according to the preferences.
The new 10.1 inch 4: 3 high resolution display stands out which features multi-touch function and a new HD screen graphic interface.
Ghibli Hybrid is constantly connected to the web thanks to the new Maserati Connect program, a solution that allows - among other things - to keep an eye on the health of the car and obtain traffic information in real time and always have updated maps.
