Test drive Maserati Ghibli Diesel: Braveheart

The current production of the Ghibli is the first car in the history of Maserati, which can be equipped with a diesel engine at the request of the customer

Maserati? Diesel?! For most die-hard fans of the legendary Italian luxury car maker, this combination will at first sound inappropriate, outrageous, perhaps even insulting. Objectively, such a reaction is understandable - the Maserati name is invariably associated with some of the most sophisticated creations of the Italian automotive industry, and the "profanity" of a myth of this magnitude with a deadly diesel heart transplant is somehow ... incorrect, or something like that. says the voice of emotion.

But what does the mind think? Fiat has big plans for the Maserati brand and plans to increase its sales to volumes that far exceed the biggest gains to date in this regard. However, this cannot be the case with just offering cars for absolute enthusiasts. Maserati strategists have long known that a new car needs a diesel engine to successfully position a new car in the Ghibli segment in the European market. Thus, this model can appeal to a much wider range of people, whose passion for sophisticated Italian design goes hand in hand with pragmatism. This is why Maserati took a revolutionary step by launching the first ever diesel engine.

Diesel, and what!

The bone of contention in this car embodies a V-shaped six-cylinder unit that works on the principle of self-ignition. The engine is produced at VM Motori (a company that recently officially joined Fiat) in Ferrara. Its main characteristics sound promising - a displacement of three liters, 275 hp, 600 Newton meters and a standard consumption of 5,9 l / 100 km. We can't wait to test the most important thing in practice: whether this car feels like a real Maserati on the road or not at all.

The combination of the enormous 600 Nm thrust of the diesel V6, the eight-speed automatic transmission with torque converter and the sports exhaust system is not only successful but also impressive. Even at idle, the V6 thunders like a cross between the powerful taste of gasoline and the power plant of a massive vessel, the acceleration is energetic for any driving style, the eight-speed automatic shifts gears smoothly and quickly, and the four muffler tailpipes accompany the sprint with a dull jerk. sound.

And as if all that wasn't enough, a single press of the Sport button to the right of the gear lever makes the Ghibli not only squeeze every gear, but emit a thick roar that will completely make you forget that there is a diesel engine under the hood. If you choose to use the manual shift mode and start shifting with the steering wheel's elegant aluminum plates, you'll get extra support from the hoarse cough of automatically delivered interstitial gas. Well, some naysayers will probably point out that much of this show was artificially created with two sound generators between the ends of the exhaust system - and that's a fact. And what of it - history almost knows no other case when the sound of a diesel engine created such hot emotions. Since then, it doesn't matter exactly how such a brilliant end result was obtained.

Classic Italian elegance

Ghibli shapes delight the eye not only for fans of Italian style, but also for any connoisseur of elegant shapes. The five-meter Ghibli is 29 centimeters shorter and 100 kilograms lighter than its bigger brother, the Quattroporte, and does not have a single curve or edge that does not harmonize perfectly with the brand's tradition. From the monumental grille to the gently curved fenders, including the small gills, to the light aerodynamic edge at the rear. In our country, the price for Ghibli Diesel starts at just over 130 leva.

For this money, the client receives a high-quality, but austere interior. Soft leather alternates with carefully fitted open-pore wood inlays. There are also classic Maserati watches in traditional style. There is plenty of space, especially in the front row of seats, and ergonomics in general are also at a good level - with a few exceptions that affect the menu control logic of the infotainment system with a large touch screen on the center console. Maserati has not allowed itself weak points in terms of cargo volume - a deep trunk holds as much as 500 liters. Bi-xenon headlights, a self-locking rear axle differential and a well-functioning ZF eight-speed automatic transmission are also standard.

With a more comfortable than sport setting, the two-ton Maserati remains neutral through corners and can be steered precisely thanks to fairly direct steering. The lack of an all-wheel drive system in the test version should not be taken as a disadvantage - the combination of the Ghibli's lively rear end and gigantic torque is an excellent condition for exciting controlled drifts, which, in turn, are completely in tune. with Maserati expectations.

And some say they are tired of diesel cars ...

Conclusion

Maserati Ghibli Diesel

Maserati? Diesel ?! May be! The Ghibli diesel engine impresses with its sound, matches very well with the ZF automatic transmission and has a powerful clutch. The car delivers true driving pleasure, is made in a unique Italian style and in general fits very well with the tradition of the brand. The car represents a different and truly high quality alternative to popular models from the upper middle class segment.

Text: Bozhan Boshnakov

Photo: Miroslav Nikolov