Maserati Ghibli updated for 2017

Having released the first pictures of the Ghibli GranLusso a week previously, Maserati has now unveiled the facelifted Ghibli range in full at the Chengdu Motor Show in China.

Much like the larger Maserati Quattroporte saloon, the new Ghibli is set to be made available in two trims – luxury-focused GranLusso and sportier GranSport. Each gets its own look, styled to be elegant or aggressive as appropriate.

The GranLusso has been seen already. Visual differences between it and the last-generation Ghibli include a new grille and front bumper with chrome inserts, a reworked rear bumper and a smattering of GranLusso badges. According to Maserati, the bodywork tweaks aren’t just intended to pull the four-year-old Ghibli into line with the brand’s current family look, but also to improve its aerodynamics. Inside, the interesting addition of Ermenegildo Zegna silk upholstery adds to the luxury feel.

Meanwhile, the GranSport gets more aggressive front and rear-end styling, along with unique multi-spoke alloy wheels and a racier interior.

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Equipment updates include features that have been absent from Maserati’s BMW 5 Series rival until now – adaptive full LED headlights are a welcome addition, while the ADAS (Advanced Driving Assistance System) will see the both Ghiblis gain semi-autonomous driving capabilities – Maserati's lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control all feature as part of the Drive Assistance package. Maserati has had to make a switch from hydraulic to electric power steering on the Ghibli to make this new technology work.

The top-spec Ghibli S model (in either of the new trims) is powered by a Ferrari-built 3.0-litre V6 engine as before, now producing nearly 20bhp more. This brings power to 424bhp, making for slightly brisker acceleration and a top speed of nearly 178mph.

An on-sale date and price have yet to be released, but the Ghibli remains as the entry point into Maserati ownership. It’s joined in the range by the larger Quattroporte saloon, along with the Levante SUV, GranTurismo coupe and GranCabrio convertible.