Maserati Ghibli review - can the Italian exec live with the German elite? - Design
Charismatic, good looking and distinctive - but lacking in substance compared to German rivals
Design
We understand the notion of beauty being in the eye of the beholder here at evo, but sometimes a design is right by its very nature. The Ghibli works due to being based on the sound aesthetic principles of good proportions and slick detailing.
The low long bonnet carries the typical Maserati grill well, with the sleek headlights looking better integrated into the overall design than the bloated looking Quattroporte. The profile is highlighted by more of a cab-rear design than other rivals, with frameless doors and a subtle use of chrome pointing out Maserati design trademarks like the triple vents behind the front wheels and high mounted trident badge on the C-pillar.
The rear is perhaps a little less resolved, being quite tall and a little chunky. This is accentuated by the rising hip line, another Maserati design trademark, meaning that the Ghibli can easily overwhelm smaller wheel choices. Like the interior, the exterior definitely benefits from a dive into the options list, helping raise the Ghibli above usual executive car blandness.
Overall the design is far more distinctive than the dull new 5-series and E-Class, but perhaps lacks the overall cohesiveness and perfect detailing of older models like the Pininfarina designed GranTurismo and previous generation Quattroporte.
