Maserati Ghibli on Stage in Los Angeles at the Start of the "Opposite of Ordinary" Era

North American Debut for the Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition Concept

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Nov 21, 2013, 12:22 ET

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Maserati celebrates the North American roll out of the all-new Ghibli at the Los Angeles International Autoshow, following the highly successful worldwide launch of the Quattroporte in January. Also making its North American debut is the exclusive Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition concept featuring an unique color scheme, special mirror polished rims on tone and an elegant interior upholstered in fabrics made in cooperation with the prestigious Italian fashion house.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131121/DE21644)

Maserati celebrated the introduction of the all-new mid-size Ghibli sport-sedan at the LA Auto Show, also unveiling its new brand look and marketing communication emphasizing the brand position "The Absolute Opposite of Ordinary." The Ghibli features a V6 twin-turbo engine and an 8-speed transmission with either rear or Q4 all-wheel-drive and starts at under $70,000. The shape gives this four-door sedan a coupe-like appearance, and the sinuous grill and headlights a feline aggression. Inside, the Ghibli sets itself apart. Its elegant design and comfort perfectly matches its sportier, more youthful character without losing any of the luxury expected from Maserati. (PRNewsFoto/Maserati) (PRNewsFoto/MASERATI)

The complete Ghibli range graces Maserati's all new display, and simultaneously begins deliveries to the vastly expanding Maserati retail network. The four-seat GranTurismo MC, first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, also takes its bow in North America. All models will bridge Maserati towards the real challenge within the next few years in terms of product range expansion, production volumes, commercial and marketing strategy.

As Maserati embarks on its 100 years of car crafting in 2014, one very important promise that keeps popping up in discussion for the next 100 years: that we will forever reject, forever deny, forever revolt to the uniformity of car making: we will always be the absolute opposite of ordinary.

Maserati chose to unveil its new brand look and marketing communication in Los Angeles because this modern, trend-setting ever-changing, and artistic city inspires Maserati. It inspires us to continue to be the absolute opposite of ordinary. While some automobiles are inspired by basic geometry, our cars are simply … inspired.

And while the fully new Maserati stand is an artistic interpretation of our brand image and its future, this art also stems from us tackling modern world efficiencies, technologies and quality manufacturing, head on.

North American Roll Out For Ghibli

The all-new Ghibli marks a turning point in Maserati's history; for the first time ever Maserati presents simultaneously two four-door sedan models.

The Ghibli's design emphasizes its more dynamic driving characteristics and expresses an altogether more aggressive personality while still maintaining clear links with the larger Quattroporte.

The outline of the body gives this four-door sedan a coupe-like appearance, and the sinuous grill and headlights hint at feline aggression. The grill takes its inspiration from the current GranTurismo but traces its origins back to the classic A6 GCS of the 1950s.

The Ghibli also maintains Maserati's distinctive C-pillar, which delivers much of the car's coupe-like stance and carries the classic trident logo, carrying on a tradition dating back to 1963.

The side profile is dominated by a swage line that runs from the traditional Maserati air intakes behind the front wheels and finishes at the rear lights.

Inside, the Ghibli sets itself apart from the Quattroporte. Its unique dashboard design perfectly matches its sportier and more youthful character without losing any of the luxury expected from Maserati. The Ghibli nevertheless succeeds in combining its sporty nature with the typical spaciousness of an executive model.

The design of the Ghibli is based on a far sportier concept than the larger Quattroporte. The car offers a choice of two 3.0 liter V6 twin turbo gasoline engines, coupled to an automatic eight-speed transmission with either rear wheel drive or Q4 all-wheel-drive.

The more powerful of these V6 units is installed in the Ghibli S: this develops 404 SAE HP at 5,500 rpm and delivers 406 lb-ft of torque from only 1,750 rpm. This unit is found on the Ghibli S Q4 with all-wheel-drive.

The Ghibli S Q4 with all-wheel-drive accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds, while the S version with rear wheel drive takes just 0.2 seconds more. The Ghibli S Q4 has an indicated top speed of 175 mph.

Thanks to an impressive 345 HP of power and 369 lb-ft of torque, the Ghibli's second 3.0 litre V6 turbo gasoline engine option also delivers 0 to 60 mph acceleration in just 5.5 seconds.

Both engine options are equipped with parallel turbochargers and have been developed by Maserati Powertrain in collaboration with Ferrari Powertrain: both are produced by Ferrari in Maranello.

The Ghibli's V6 gasoline engines share much of the technology found in the 3.8 litre V8 power unit of the Quattroporte, including direct fuel injection from a 200 bar injection system, two parallel, low inertia turbochargers and four continuous phase variators, one for each camshaft.

This advanced technology enables the V6 engine of the Ghibli S, which redlines at 6,500 rpm, to put out 90 percent of its torque under 1,500 rpm.

All the Ghibli versions are equipped with an automatic eight-speed transmission, which allows for maximum comfort and shift speed to guarantee top performance levels.

The Ghibli's superb handling is the result of a combination of near perfect weight balance, double-wishbone front suspension, and multi-link rear suspension, that can provide great driving pleasure and safety under any road condition.

Like the Quattroporte, its bodyshell is built around a rigid and extremely secure steel safety cell that employs an array of different steel and aluminium alloys to deliver precise strengths and minimal weight.

The front section of the bodyshell is obtained from an aluminium casting with reinforced cross-strut that delivers outstanding rigidity in all directions. The rear section is made from rolled steel.

Ghibli is the only car in its category to offer as a standard a limited slip differential to provide better grip in all driving conditions.

The Ghibli's wheelbase of 118" is about 8 inches shorter than the Quattroporte. Overall length is 195.7 inches, 11 inches shorter than the new Quattroporte.

The Ghibli S is equipped with 360 mm x 32 mm dual cast, ventilated and drilled brake discs at the front and 350 mm x 28 mm ventilated discs at the rear. The front wheels feature Brembo six-piston fixed calipers while the rear wheels are fitted with four-piston calipers. Stopping distance from 100 km/h to zero is only 36 metres.

The standard Ghibli is fitted with 18" wheels and tires while the Ghibli S variants have 18" wheels with tires of different widths at the front and rear. 19", 20" and 21" wheels are available as options. Like the Quattroporte, the Ghibli too can be equipped with a Bowers & Wilkins high end premium audio system, one of the finest hi-fi systems in the automotive sector.

The choice of system components, the positioning of the 15 speakers, the perfect configuration of the Harman QuantumLogic™ Surround Sound processor and the effective integration of the whole system are the result of long and exhaustive testing and endless hours of listening by the audio industry's top engineers. The system perfectly reproduces every nuance of sound with the highest levels of dynamic purity and realism, and delivers a completely new level of music enjoyment on the road.

The key characteristics of the Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system are:

15 speakers
5 x 25 mm aluminium dome tweeters
5 x 100 mm Kevlar midrange units
2 x 165 mm Kevlar midrange/woofers
2 x 165 mm Rohacell woofers
1x 350 x 200 mm subwoofer
16-channel D-class amplifier with total output of 1280 W
QuantumLogic ™Surround Sound processing system

Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition

The Maserati Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition concept car unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt motorshow and on display in Los Angeles features a unique new look in color scheme, materials and finish. The car, presented as a limited edition concept, is intended for development into a production version with the same personality and quality of the current range, yet enhancing its exclusivity.

Ermenegildo Zegna's concept is the result of close collaboration between two companies that are linked by history, tradition and the spirit of exclusiveness.

The exterior of the Maserati Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition concept car features a special effect paint finish that simulates the fluidity and purity of metal, by using ultra-fine aluminium pigments. A gloss black primer amplifies the brilliance of aluminium pigments and creates a sensation of depth. The platinum metal color effect finish is warmly nuanced to express the car's classic and sophisticated, yet technically advanced character. The impressive liquid effect of the paint finish emphasises the sinuous lines of the body and accentuates the way in which one section flows into the next.

This special paint also applies to the 20" Mercurio rims, with an elegant mirror-polished finish that creates a chromatic contrast, both technical and sporty.

The material and chromatic research concept of the Maserati Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition is based on a play between the classical and the contemporary.

A leading role in this concept car is played by its interior. Classical warm hues like moka and Greyige are re-interpreted in a modern key to emulate Zegna's latest men's fashion collections, conveying a formal, sophisticated character. Interior components such as seats, door panels and roof lining are finished in genuine soft leather, in addition to a velvet-smooth, bright fabric that, due to Zegna's vast experience and know-how, guarantees the level of performance needed for automotive applications.

The most interesting challenge posed by the project was precisely to develop a fabric by "Zegna" for automotive applications, with the look of formal men's wear. The fabric therefore had to have a typical masculine herringbone pattern and traditional weave, and also needed to have the feel, softness and prestige typical of Zegna cloth. Thanks to the unique fabric created especially for the Quattroporte and offered in a warm Greyige color and soft moka and Greyige leather, and thanks also to a new warm titanium treatment and antique look matt walnut finish, the car's exclusive, harmonious and balanced interior is certain to satisfy the most refined and sophisticated customer.

Two precious plates obtained from aluminium ingot, bearing the words "Ermenegildo Zegna Exclusively for Maserati", announce and promote the collaboration between the two companies. One plate is located on the outside of the pillar while the other, personalized with a limited series number, is applied to the central console. Hidden behind the sun visor, a real fabric label, made exactly like those sewn into the linings of Zegna suits, provides the customer with another discreet but distinctive indication of the level of care and attention dedicated to the design and finish of every aspect of this car.

The Maserati Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition is equipped with V8 twin turbo engine with 523 hp and a torque of 524 lb-ft, capable of a top speed of 191 mph and acceleration from 0 to 60 mph, in just 4.6 seconds.

Maserati's First Nine Months

Maserati shipped a total of 3,953 vehicles during the third quarter, more than double the 1,492 units shipped in Q3 2012. That significant result was entirely attributable to the performance of the new Quattroporte. The brand posted significant year-over-year gains in nearly all markets. At the end of September, Maserati had 7,900 orders for the Ghibli, launched in September, and 9,900 for the new Quattroporte.

Revenues totalled €444 million for the quarter, more than double the Q3 2012 level. Trading profit and EBIT came in at €43 million, representing a €30 million year-over-year increase. The significant year-over-year improvement was primarily driven by the sales result for the new Quattroporte.

For the nine months to September, brand shipments were up 63% over the same period in 2012 to 7,548 vehicles and revenues were 58% higher at €883 million. Trading profit and EBIT were €48 million, up €4 million over the nine months to September 2012.

In North America, Maserati set a new all-time sales record of 623 units in the month of October, nearly tripling the North American sales total for the same month last year. The introduction of the Quattroporte S Q4, the first All-Wheel-Drive car to be offered by Maserati, helped increase brand sales in the US by over 186% versus Oct, 2012, and by 29% Year-to-Date. In addition, Maserati has already sold more vehicles in 10 months in the US than it sold in all of 2012. Continuing its expansion, the Maserati dealer network has reached 77 locations across North America.

SOURCE Maserati