SPIED: Full 2014 Maserati Ghibli Prototype!
by Teamspeed Spies

Early Ghibli development cars, wearing modified Quattroporte bodies, have been spotted several times in the past few months. But today, the first real prototype for the new, smaller Maser has been spied!

Maserati engineers have actually camouflaged this prototype to appear as one of the old Quattroporte test cars we saw early in 2012. However, a quick comparison reveals this Ghibli test car is not nearly as long as the Quattroporte test cars, with the most noticeable length difference in the rear doors. Much like the Quattroporte test cars from last year, this Ghibli test car also has fake camouflage panels on the rear half of the roofline.

The Ghibli, codenamed "M157," will be the start of a significant brand expansion for Maserati, and will aim to compete with the BMW 5-series and Mercedes E-class. Underneath the sheet metal, the Ghibli might be more Chrysler than Maserati. Sources indicate the Ghibli said to be utilizing a version of the Chrysler 300 chassis. Additionally, the base motor is rumored to be a turbocharged version of Chrysler's 3.5L Pentastar V6, good for 375-400hp. That said, we feel pretty confident a Ferrari-sourced V8 will also be offered. Both engines should be mated to an 8-speed, ZF transmission.

 

Well the article is probably wrong on the engine. The v6 turbo is probably the same one as in the new qp which was designed and built by Ferrari.

Also, the 300c chassis, if so used, is actually based on an e-class architecture.

 

Fair enough—but it's important to remember this is all speculation. And with Maser's attempt to transition from a micro to macro brew, it might make sense to utilize an engine which is produced in bulk.

 

The new maserati ghibli platform will be a smaller version of maserati's latest quattroporte platform and will have the options of the ferrari v6 and v8 like you also stated They wouldn't offer a Chrysler engine for the car. The only similarities between chrysler and maserati will be some knobs and navigation system

 

Maserati Hints at New Ghibli

Teaser image of veiled Ghibli surfaces as Maserati prepares for the Shanghai Auto Show. Later this month, Maserati is expected to unveil its new Ghibli at the Shanghai Auto Show. But while we wait for that to happen, a solitary teaser shot of a veiled car has found its way onto the internet. What we can see from the image is that the Ghibli will be characterized by a long hood (like the GranTurimso but longer than the Quattroporte’s) and a fastback roof similar to the original Ghibli, which was a two-door coupe while the new model is expected to take a four-door coupe form.

The nose also appears to protrude dramatically, with strong front fenders and high-mounted side mirrors. That’s about all we can tell from the image, but the Ghibli is expected to use the same twin-turbo V6 and V8 engines as the Quattroporte on which it’s based – as well as its eight-speed automatic transmission and available all-wheel drive – but in an even sportier form. We’ll have to wait to find out more as the show is scheduled to open on April 19, so watch this space.

 

Is this the new Ghibli?

 

Leaked image, reminds me Kia Optima Bad

 

New video, it sounds pretty good.