The Goodwood Test: Maserati Ghibli S

Heritage

Ghibli, Ghibli, Ghibli… so good they named it thrice. Or rather, gave the name to three different models (the word Ghibli carries on Maserati’s tradition of naming models after winds – this one a desert wind from Libya). There was the V8 grand tourer of 1967, designed by Guigiaro, a couple of which I spied at this year’s Revival in the carpark. Then the twin-turbo V6 coupe in 1992, and now this, the executive saloon from 2013 onwards
The latest Ghibli is a BMW 5-Series/Mercedes E-Class/Jaguar XF competitor, an entrant in the sporty executive segment. Although, as usual, in Maserati’s case, it is a model without parallel, on account of being so, well, Maserati-like. Who knows what goes into their cars - it’s the equivalent of the Kentucky Fried Chicken secret recipe. It’s just something unmistakable that means you could close your eyes and you’d know you were in a Trident-badged car.

Anyway, this is the S version, which gives it a harder edge and feistier spirit.

Design

Svelte, muscular, curvaceous, sleek… in the usual Pininfarina/Bertone/Guigiaro Italian coach-building manner, the Ghibli manages at once to exude serious practicality, elegant poise and outrageous power. How the Italians manage that, we still don’t quite understand, despite spending much of the Revival with Pininfarina boss, and Maserati designer, Lorenzo Ramaciotti.

Our test car was black, or Nero Ribelle, which all Maseratis should be, with a Nero interior. The shape is more coupe than four-door saloon, with a pronounced grille, headlights that dip down towards that badge and air vents behind the front wheels for extra sporty oomph.

Inside, a new cockpit-inspired design keeps things dynamic, while a new 8.4in touschcreen infotainment system with good satnav graphics and optional Bowers and Wilkins audio system and wifi should entice younger buyers inside.

The interior has that smartly stitched leather trim only found on Italian dashboards and seats, like a well-crafted Milanese suit. Speaking of which, we’d love to try out the Ermenegildo Zegna trim - silk inlays? Si, grazie.

Performance

The Ghibli in S form is a serious piece of kit, with a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 developing 410bhp and 406b ft of torque, and driving the rear wheels through an eight-speed auto box. It’ll do 0-62mph in 5.0 seconds while transporting four adults in comfort. Sport mode releases the exhaust valves for that unique Maserati growl, as well as giving the Ghibli maximum engine performance. Plant the throttle, and you get an extra shove up the road. Which is a lot of fun in a car so supposedly sober.

The Ghibli is also the only car in its class to use a standard mechanical limited slip differential in all versions; this is not a small car, and the extra traction is welcome as you plant your foot through a corner. Should you be a chassis aficionado, you can order the Skyhook adaptive damper system which electronically controls each of the four dampers.

Passion

It’s an Italian performance saloon: of course it’s got passion. If you don’t feel like belting out a bit of Verdi while at the wheel, you are without soul. Yes, it’s not the lightest or sportiest car to ever wear the Trident, but even its older sibling, the Quattroporte, still exudes heritage, culture, aesthetics, poetry… It feels a great deal like a GT, and makes us want to head for Turin, Pisa, Verona, Florence, Sorento, Taormina, Puglia, soaking up the miles down the famous boot until the air is warm and we have become drowsy on pasta, seafood, art, opera and duomos…

Price as tested: £79,372 (basic from £63,805)