We all know that the Maserati Ghibli Trofeo won’t actually be as good as the BMW M5 by many measures at all, but it does at least have a sense of Italian exotica that the BMW cannot match. Due to hit showrooms in November, the Ghibli Trofeo is the quickest saloon that Maserati has ever made, with a 4.3-second 0-62mph time that eclipses that of the Quattroporte Trofeo with which it shares an engine. Click here to read about the Quattroporte.
At the heart of the whole thing is a twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 engine with 572bhp and 730Nm of torque peaking at just 2250rpm. Top speed is 202mph. Those stats mean it’s less powerful than the M5, which has 592bhp and 750Nm, and it's significantly slower to the 62mph benchmark with the German car getting there in just 3.4 seconds. Plue the more recent Competition version of the M5 shaves a further tenth of a second from that time. That said, where the M5 is limited to 155mph the Ghibli goes all the way up to 202mph, albeit both are meaningless numbers outside of an airstrip or empty German autobahn.
But these things are about more than just the numbers, of course, and we’re willing to bet that what the Ghibli Trofeo lacks in pace compared to its most obvious rival, it makes up for with raw personality. The Ghibli Trofeo is rear-wheel drive, unlike the M5 which has a four-wheel drive setup these days (albeit rear-biased), and it’s been fettled in a range of ways to make sure that it’s the most rewarding-to-drive Maserati ever made. We’d bet our brogues on it sounding better than God’s V8 espresso maker, too.
Those changes, then. The setup is wonderfully old school, with power going to the rear wheels through an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox (not a twin-clutcher), with a mechanical limited-slip differential mounted on the rear axle, meaning those with the skill and a suitably private bit of tarmac can power slide to their heart’s content.
The suspension is reworked comprehensively as compared to a standard Ghibli, including adaptive damping with settings specific to the Trofeo, stiffer springs, and new suspension geometry for the double wishbone setup front and rear. Drivers can adjust the driver aids through pre-set dynamic modes, including turning off the traction control completely. There’s also a launch control mode, and the tyres are sticker than those you get with a standard Ghibli. They’re Continental Sport Contacts of 21-inch girth.
Visual changes are plenty, including a massive vent on the bonnet, 21-inch forged alloy wheels, air ducts on the front wheels with contrasting accents, a deeper front splitter and a carbon fibre rear diffuser. Inside, and as per the Quattroporte Trofeo, the Ghibli gets perforated leather upholstery, lots of carbon fibre trim, a 10-inch infotainment setup, a Harmon Kardon stereo and, unusually, a pair of analogue instrument dials; most manufacturers are switching to digital instrument panels now.
The price for all this: £104,000. Damn. That’s actually £10,000 more than a BMW M5, and even a few grand more than the Competition version of that car, which could prove problematic when it comes to the reality of spending actual money on one of these things: the M5 is quicker, more spacious, arguably more technologically advanced, and arguably more likely to keep working properly. And despite Maserati's storied and colourful brand heritage, the M5 badge specifically has a more prestigious provenance than the Trofeo one.
Still, Italian super saloon. So…
Keyword: New Maserati Ghibli Trofeo is the ‘Italian M5’ your heart craves