What we know about the 2018 Maserati Ghibli

Most, if not all luxury automakers keep news of imminent vehicle releases confined to a few hand-picked executives that cross several company departments. You typically hear veiled references to 2018 models at auto industry shows, especially the big ones held in Tokyo and New York

Therefore, we have to rely on rumors to patch together a description for the 2018 Maserati Ghibli.

Maserati Raises the Luxury Vehicle Bar

Auto industry analysts closely follow Maserati because the luxury automaker, along with Ferrari, consistently design and manufacture high performance vehicles, such as the legendary Bora and the more recent MC12 hyper car. The connection with Maserati’s celebrated past deepened when Maserati launched the executive vehicle, Ghibli, as well as the 2016 unveiling of the first SUV ever offered by the company, the Levante. 

With the Ghibli establishing a track record of high-end perfection, expectations for the 2018 version of the luxury vehicle run high.
What are the Visual Expectations for the 2018 Maserati Ghibli?

Ghibli generates more sales revenue than the sales revenue generated by all of the other Maserati models combined. Strong sales for the Italian luxury model represents the primary reason Maserati’s sales have doubled since introducing the Ghibli. Since 2013, Ghibli has attracted car aficionados that love the sleek shape of the powerful luxury vehicle. Discrete photographers have taken shots of the 2018 Maserati moving through crowded streets in a select few Italian cities.

From what we can tell from the photographs, the 2018 version of the Ghibli is car design masterpiece in line with the appearance of the Quattroporte. The spy shots reveal a more expressive grille that includes thicker slats. Most of the shots present images of the Ghibli’s front and sides. With limited evidence, we believe the rear bumper might look more aggressive than the rear bumper styles of previous Ghibli models. We do not expect much change in the cabin, as Maserati upgraded the 2017 Ghibli to include a new 8.4-inch touchscreen. However, we do not rule out slight modifications for the 2018 Ghibli interior.

Rumored Performance Changes

The 2017 Maserati Ghibli operates on a 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged v6 engine at 350 horsepower for the standard version and 410 horsepower for the S version. There is speculation that Maserati might up the horsepower on the S version to 450, which should reduce the amount of time it take for the S version of the Ghibli to reach 60 miles per hour. We have not received any information that demonstrates Maserati plans to change the eight-speed automatic transmission or increase the horsepower for the standard version of the Ghibli.

We expect Maserati to release the 2018 Ghibli sometime during the second half of 2017, most likely close to the holiday season. We do not know much at this point expect a few interior and performance spec changes. However, we do know one thing, without needing a rumor to provide us with the information. The 2018 Ghibli will remain the most stylish and attractive vehicle offered in the sedan class. 
 

About The Author

Don Potochny

Don Potochny is a freelance writer and editor from St Louis, MO.