Maserati North America has chosen the background of New York City to unveil a new special Ghibli model, the “Nerissimo” black edition, of which only 450 will be produced strictly for the United States and Canada. The debut of the Ghibli Nerissimo at the New York International Auto Show will showcase an edgier vehicle with a deep black palette. The name Nerissimo is based on the Italian expression for “extremely black.” The Nerissimo will be unveiled for the first time at the Javits Center during the auto show.
The Nerissimo will be available as Ghibli, Ghibli S and Ghilbi SQ4, and will include Glossy Black finish 20-inch Urano wheels, black door handles, trim and grille features, as well as Sport Package and Premium Package elements with an Extended Leather interior featuring red stitching and gear-shift paddles, red brake calipers, Dark Mirror interior trim, Sport Seats and a Sport Steering wheel. The Ghibli S and SQ4 versions of the Nerissimo will additionally be equipped with Harmon Kardon stereo systems.
Each Nerissimo vehicle will have a plaque recognizing the build-number of the unit, with a badge located on the center console highlighting the unique number out of 450 total produced.
For 2017, the Maserati Ghibli takes a further step towards satisfying individual taste with the introduction of two new packages, Luxury and Sport, enhancing the standard features of every Maserati. The packages are designed to appeal to customers with differing tastes.
In terms of engines, the Ghibli features the acclaimed, Ferrari-built, Twin Turbo-charged 3.0-liter V6 engine with an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission, featuring a Start & Stop function.
The Ghibli SQ4 Nerissimo on display in New York delivers 404 horsepower and the handling agility of Maserati’s Q4 intelligent all-wheel drive, gripping the road for maximum performance. It accelerates from 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds, reaching a top speed of 176 mph.
The Ghibli is the most accessible Maserati, with pricing starting at $71,600. The Ghibli SQ4 is priced beginning at $79,700.
The “black package” Nerissimo configuration will be available beginning as a MY18 car. Pricing for the Ghibli Nerissimo will start at an MSRP of $77,250, with the Ghibli S and Ghibli SQ4 available at $84,000 and $86,500, respectively.
Additional new and varied offerings on display at the New York International Auto Show include two S versions of the Modena-based company’s first SUV, the Levante, as well as the Quattroporte SQ4 GranSport and GranTurismo Sport Special Edition.
Levante S
The Levante, Maserati’s first SUV in its more than 102-year history, has distinctive Italian style and breathtaking design features. It continues to impress by showcasing Maserati’s key characteristics of design, exclusivity and performance.
Engine-wise, the Levante is equipped with the latest evolution of the Maserati 3.0-liter V6 engine. The two versions of the Twin-Turbo engine are acclaimed for their unique Maserati signature sound and for their exceptional performance.
The Maserati V6 engine with twin turbochargers is available in two versions with different horsepower: the top of the range, Levante S, delivers 424 horsepower and the exciting Levante delivers 345 horsepower. The most powerful Levante sprints to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds and has a top speed of 164 mph, while the figures for the 345 horsepower version are 5.8 seconds and 156 mph, respectively.
The technology applied to every Levante is designed to offer outstanding dynamic performance both on- and off-road; sophisticated suspension – double-wishbone on the front axle and multi-link on the rear, combined with electronically controlled damping, four corner air-springs providing 5 dynamic ride levels (plus one additional park-position), play an essential role in the car’s handling.
The Levante is currently available in U.S. dealerships with a starting price of $72,600 for the 345 horsepower Levante and $83,800 for the 424-horsepower Levante S model, the latter of which is on display at the Javits Center in two stunning colors, Blu Emozione and Blanco Alpi.
Quattroporte SQ4
After three and a half years of unprecedented success in international markets, the Quattroporte has undergone a substantial restyling to accentuate its elegance without altering its signature Maserati personality. With the restyling of the flagship Quattroporte, Maserati has launched a new range strategy to offer its highly demanding clientele the additional choice of two unique trim options emphasizing the two key pillars of the brand’s DNA: GranLusso and GranSport.
The vehicle on display in New York, the Quattroporte SQ4 GranSport, features the GranSport trim, underscoring the sporty character of the Quattroporte while enhancing the aggressive appearance of the car. Thanks to new exterior design cues and interior content that reflect the legendary racing heritage of the Maserati brand.
On the front of the Quattroporte GranSport, the dedicated restyling for the center and side air intakes improves the cooling function while showcasing an aggressive front area. The lower fascia is linked to the grille with aerodynamic inspired splits. The back is characterized by an evident composition between a center fuselage and two side pockets that focus the attention on the exhausts.
With a 404 horsepower V6 engine, the Quattroporte SQ4 can go from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds before reaching its top speed of 176 mph.
The Quattroporte is also available as a two-wheel-drive S version, as well as with a 523-horsepower V8 engine as the Quattroporte GTS, the latter of which has a top speed of 193 mph.
Quattroporte SQ4 pricing starts at $109,500.
GranTurismo Sport Special Edition
Maserati’s GranTurismo and GranTurismo convertible celebrate the 60th anniversary of the 3500 GT, the very first GT car that segmented the market in 1957, with a Special Edition. The GranTurismo and GranTurismo Convertible Sport Special Editions celebrate the 60th anniversary of that important step in Maserati history by commemorating one of Maserati’s iconic vehicles while embodying the entire legacy of the brand.
Only 400 units will be produced of the Special Edition, which is based on GranTurismo and GranTurismo Convertible Sport versions. The main unique features of these new and exclusive versions include the New Rosso Italiano three-layer exterior paint, reinterpreting the red of Fangio’s 250F – F1 champion in 1957 and emphasizing the link with Maserati’s heritage. The vehicles will also be equipped with MC-design 20” alloy wheels with a new Glossy Black finish that matches the Special Edition logo on the wheel center caps.
The interiors have also been reimagined. The new interior design revolves around Poltrona Frau leather or leather/Alcantara upholstery and new interior stitching available in four different combinations. Other distinguishing interior details are the door sills in carbon fiber featuring the Special Edition logo and the dedicated plate on the central tunnel with a carbon fiber holder, commemorating the anniversary and the limited production run of 400 units.
Both the GranTurismo and open-topped version have a 4.7-liter, 460-horsepower V8 engine. Top speed capability reaches 186 mph with a 0-62 mph time of 4.7 seconds in the GranTurismo Sport outfitted with an MC Shift Transmission.
