Review of the 2017 Maserati Ghibli

The 2017 incarnation of the Maserati Ghibli adds a few accessories and a bit more power. It is exciting to jump behind the wheel, gun it into action and hit the road, as if there were not a care in the world. However, at over $140,000 there is some stiff competition around that may also be worth considering if you are in the market for sporty and cool.
There is always the line of thought that purchasing a Maserati Ghibli is making the statement that the Italian brand exudes style and offers plenty of street credential, and by association you, the owner, must be full of these qualities also. But then, the counter argument may come from your wallet, that may point to a range of cheaper options that deliver similar quality including the BMW 540i M Sport, the Mercedes-Benz E400 4Matic, and the Audi A6 Bi-Turbo diesel.
The Maserati Ghibli does have some added functionality such as the 8.4 inch touch screen media system and a bit more zip in the engine. The Ferrari built petrol engine is 3 litre twin turbo V6 that cranks out 257 kw of power at 5500 rpm. That equates to an additional 11kw in comparison to the previous model. Torque remains at a humming 500NM, albeit at the lower rpm of 4500. All this means a top end speed that maxes out at a reported 267 km/h and a reduction of 0 -100 km/h sprint time by about a tenth of a second.
The engine in reality is more than satisfactory providing excellent acceleration through automatic eight speed transmission. You will feel the surge pushing you back in the seat when you give it some proper toe. Above 4200 rpm in normal driving mode, the exhaust silencer flaps open and you will hear the beast roar. If you want to show off, then leave it in sports mode to keep the flap open.
Beyond show boating there are some actual benefits to operating the Maserati Ghibli in sports mode including handling through corners as the adaptive dampeners respond to the surface of the road. Direct steering provides the driver with an intuitive feel that means you can attack bends with confidence, despite the car weighing in over 1800 kgs. This potentially correlates with fuel consumption that is listed at less than 9L/ 100 km.