2019 Maserati Ghibli: First impression

The 2019 Maserati Ghibli ranks among the highly sought-after cars in the luxury automobile space. Plus, with the market for such cars developing, the company is getting more active by introducing facelifts and updates every now and then.

And it was within this span of activeness that Maserati introduced the facelifted 2018 Ghibli back in March last year. Following this, the company has now introduced a slightly updated version in the form of the 2019 Ghibli with better things to offer.

And with this new 2019 Maserati Ghibli is already up in Malaysia, let’s have a look at its offer list.

The pricing

First up, it is very significant to know that the 2019 Maserati Ghibli, with some functional updates, does not have any changes in the pricing. The previous facelift had a starting price tag of RM 619,000 and the updated model carries the same. In fact, even the top-of-the-line model has the same pricing, without charging anything extra for the added kit and improvements.

New things in the 2019 Maserati Ghibli

One of the most notable differences in the 2019 Maserati Ghibli is the new electronic gear lever. The revision now comes with a dedicated button for ‘Park’ at the top. This looks similar to the one seen on the BMWs. The revision manages to free up some space on the console to accommodate re-organisation of the control panel.

Besides this, the updated car also has a revised MTC+ infotainment system (Maserati Touch Control Plus) and better climate controls. The upholstery is new too and gets the Pieno Fiore leather cover. This material is considered to be extremely popular for its softness and comfort.

There are many other changes made on the 2019 Ghibli, which includes new carbon fibre twill and a wooden trim of Rovere Veneer. There is also the Blu Nobile triple-paint. Plus, the 20-inch Teseo wheels are done in light and dark finish.

Remember the Adaptive matrix LED headlamps offered on the bigger GranLusso and GranSport variants? The same are now made standard across the range.

No mechanical changes

Exactly! As mentioned earlier, the new 2019 Maserati Ghibli is all about functional and aesthetic updates. It still has the same configuration on the mechanical front. The updated car continues to be powered by the same 3.0-litre V6 engine that is capable of churning out a maximum power of 350 hp at 5,500 rpm along with a peak torque 500 Nm, which comes at 4,500 rpm.

With such power on the wheels, the car can go at a top speed of 267 kmph and can do the 0-100 kmph acceleration in 5.5 seconds. The average fuel economy that the owners can expect is of around 9 kmpl.

The Nerissimo Edition

Barring the functional changes mentioned, Maserati also brings the Nerissimo Edition. This edition is finished in complete black paint and gets attractive dark chrome inserts. However, besides the dark chrome, there are some gloss black inserts too.

The buyers can customise the wheels - opt for either 20-inch Urano or bigger 21-inch Titano. Complementing the dark color, the alloy wheels are done in black paint too. The front seats are heated as a standard fitment while the rear row gets sports seating. The window glasses are tinted and there are powered sun blinds for the rear as well.

What else to know about the car?

The Maserati Ghibli was initially unveiled way back in 1966 at the Turin Motor Show. It has the race sport DNA perfectly wrapped in sheer class and elegance.

Mechanically, the Maserati Ghibli continues to have the ZF 8-speed automatic transmission gearbox. The mechanical configuration of the automatic gearbox along with the V6 engine is set up on the intelligent Q4 all-wheel-drive system that works wonders on both the race track and roads.

The cabin looks sporty and classy at the same time, including the stacked-up setting on the dashboard and centre console. The Maserati logo on the 3-spoke steering wheel entices the overall look of the cabin.

That said, the GranLusso works towards the luxury class while the GranSport takes the centre stage in the sporty feel.