Simply Abu Dhabi XXX

Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Active Blind Spot Assist (ABSA) and Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR). The Ferrari-built, three-litre V6 used in the Ghibli S develops 580Nm of torque at 2250rpm and is good enough to get it to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds but unlike its competitors such as the BMW 5-Series, Mercedes E-Class, Jaguar XF and Audi A6, it’s not speed restricted, so can carry on under the right conditions to 286km/h In Sport, it was best to crack a window and let the noise from that V6 pour through, as it still thankfully sounded glorious on full song. Not as seductive as the outgoing V8 used in the GranCoupe and GranCabrio but still offered plenty to smile about when I buried the throttle. Having that much torque also meant that when in Sport mode, it didn’t require constant changes of the eight-speed automatic box, as it had enough grunt to pull it through the rev range. Through city traffic in Comfort mode however, it was a different story and the eight- speed hunted up and down, often in search of the most economical path, which was irritating in the afternoon rush-hour crawl. The Ghibli has been around for a few years now but for 2018 it has been given a slight makeover to not only add a few features that were missing compared to the abovementioned rivals, but also bring the brand’s badging into alignment by introducing the GranLusso and GranSport badges used on the coupes, Quattroporte and also recently adopted by the face-lifted Levante. A new grille that was first shown on the Alfieri concept car at the Geneva auto show in 2014 as well as modified bumpers with revised cooling ducts and new LED headlights are the major visual changes made to the front. The changes are even more subtle at the rear with just a mildly restyled bumper differentiating it from the earlier model; however, Maserati said it’s been good enough to improve the aero efficiency by seven per cent, bringing its drag co-efficient down from 0.31 to 0.29 In true Maserati tradition, the Ghibli retains the pillarless doors which look great but have previously tended to increase wind noise; however, that’s mostly been eliminated with the MY18 model range and provided a quiet interior when in Comfort mode. While the GranLusso was all chrome and timber trim with the inclusion of Ermenegildo Zegna silk or leather upholstery, the GranSport was all about the piano black and carbon fibre look, offset against contrasting leather. Other models in the range include the 250bhp and 271bhp diesel versions, the standard 350bhp Ghibli petrol V6 and the S which all run as rear-wheel drive only. Only the flagship Q4 we tested has power going to all four wheels. Overall, the Ghibli remains the most emotive choice of the luxury four-door saloons when compared to the Germans with a glorious engine note, Zegna levels of interior opulence and stunning looks, though it comes at a price premium with our test car hovering around dhs375,000. Just remember you’re paying for exclusivity because even though Maserati is on a massive ramp up of volume, it won’t match the heady numbers of the Germans and so therefore, thankfully, remains the lusty, niche alternative in the executive saloon arena. 2 8 6 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I