Maserati is reintroducing the "Ghibli" name in a Ferrari powered sport sedan that will cost $65K-$75K.
Maserati is hoping to expand their line to a lower market segment and compete with Audi, BMW and Mercedes for the somewhat wealthy customer who is willing to pay $75K for a car.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-...65-600-lures-bored-bmw-buyers.html?cmpid=yhoo
Maserati is hoping to expand their line to a lower market segment and compete with Audi, BMW and Mercedes for the somewhat wealthy customer who is willing to pay $75K for a car.
Maserati, the Italian maker of exotic cars driven by the likes of U2 frontman Bono and designer Ralph Lauren, is shifting its focus from the elite to the merely wealthy with a mid-sized sedan called the Ghibli.
The new car, which will start at $65,600 when it hits U.S. showrooms in September, represents a direct challenge to mainstay German models like the BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6. The Fiat SpA (F) unit is betting the car can offer something the Germans can’t: Italian sex appeal backed by the power and cachet of engines from sister brand Ferrari (FERI).
The four-door Ghibli exudes sportiness with glaring headlights, a low-slung front end and high rear haunches. The base version features a Ferrari 330-horsepower V6 engine and its interior is accentuated by leather from 101-year-old Italian furniture maker Poltrona Frau SpA (PFG).
Maserati is counting on such luxurious touches to convince buyers to pay some 20 percent more than they would for similar-sized German sedans. The top-of-the-line Ghibli S Q4 pushes performance with a 410-horsepower engine and a top speed of 284 kilometers (177 miles) per hour. The $75,700 all-wheel-drive model accelerates to 100 kph in as little as 4.8 seconds, beating the $61,400 402-horsepower Mercedes E550.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-...65-600-lures-bored-bmw-buyers.html?cmpid=yhoo