Photo: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
Like all luxury brands, Maserati has to rely a lot on the design of its models. These are not cars bought for their practicality, just like you don't buy a Longines watch because you need to know the time. They are status symbols, and status symbols need to look good.
We don't think that Maserati received any complaints about the appearance of its lineup, but that doesn't mean the Italian company can just leave things as they are and carry on. Nope, after a few years since their launch, Maseratis can do with a mid-cycle facelift just as much as the rest of the cars out there.
The refreshed Ghibli - now called Ghibli GranLusso - has been revealed last month and shown in person a few days later at the Chengdu Motor Show in China. Now it was time for Ghibli to take its bigger brother, the Quattroporte, and make their first appearance on European soil since their successful intervention.
The Ghibli update brought discreet visual alterations, the most obvious change being the larger chromed radiator grille. The bumper underneath it, as well as the one at the back, are also new, and that pretty much sums up the aesthetics part.
The wonderful 3.0-liter V6 engine that's fitted on both models has received a power buff gaining 20 hp and 22 lb-ft (30 Nm) for a new total output of 424 hp and 428 lb-ft (580 Nm) of torque. The diesel V6, where available, remains untouched.
All these are rounded off by a host of new technologies, particularly those meant to help the driver stay safe out on the road. One of the more fun-oriented of these is the Integrated Vehicle Control, which enhances the car's dynamic abilities while leaving the ESP on.
By dropping the hydraulic power steering system for an electric one, the Maseratis can now receive a full set of semi-autonomous features including the Highway Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control or Active Blind Spot Assist - precisely the kind of safety systems you would expect from a modern car in this segment.
The good news is that the base price for the two vehicles should remain the same, which means they still provide a good alternative to the German triumvirate of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Actually, it's not just a "good" one, but above everything, a very different one.
The refreshed Ghibli - now called Ghibli GranLusso - has been revealed last month and shown in person a few days later at the Chengdu Motor Show in China. Now it was time for Ghibli to take its bigger brother, the Quattroporte, and make their first appearance on European soil since their successful intervention.
The Ghibli update brought discreet visual alterations, the most obvious change being the larger chromed radiator grille. The bumper underneath it, as well as the one at the back, are also new, and that pretty much sums up the aesthetics part.
The wonderful 3.0-liter V6 engine that's fitted on both models has received a power buff gaining 20 hp and 22 lb-ft (30 Nm) for a new total output of 424 hp and 428 lb-ft (580 Nm) of torque. The diesel V6, where available, remains untouched.
All these are rounded off by a host of new technologies, particularly those meant to help the driver stay safe out on the road. One of the more fun-oriented of these is the Integrated Vehicle Control, which enhances the car's dynamic abilities while leaving the ESP on.
By dropping the hydraulic power steering system for an electric one, the Maseratis can now receive a full set of semi-autonomous features including the Highway Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control or Active Blind Spot Assist - precisely the kind of safety systems you would expect from a modern car in this segment.
The good news is that the base price for the two vehicles should remain the same, which means they still provide a good alternative to the German triumvirate of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Actually, it's not just a "good" one, but above everything, a very different one.
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