Maserati joins the electrified era

Just days after Maserati revealed a defiant petrol-snorting twin-turbo V6 petrol engine, the Italian carmaker has followed up with an even more jaw-dropping announcement – the company has its first hybrid.When it was revealed earlier this month, the Nettuno 463kW combustion-powered donk was apparently thumbing its nose at the rest of the automotive world’s transition into electrified drivetrains, but just two weeks later, Maserati has unveiled the Ghibli Hybrid.

But don’t get too excited (or perhaps you should) because Maserati’s adoption of electrification is relatively benign for now.Instead of the 3.0-litre V6s that power the rest of the Ghibli range, under the newest variant’s bonnet is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder, which elbows out the slow-selling diesel.

The new engine replaces the diesel with comparable efficiency, but power, torque and performance more akin to the entry Ghibli turbo V6 petrol.The secret? It’s relatively diminutive displacement is boosted by a single turbo and backed up by an electric supercharger.

As per some other manufacturers including Audi and Mercedes, the Hybrid has a 48-volt electrical subsystem, which provides its eBooster with enough grunt to eliminate turbo lag at low engine load and revs.

Unlike the Nettuno engine destined for the imminent MC20 sportscar, the new hybridised four-pot is not a ground-up new engine and is instead a re-engineered and repurposed version of the 2.0-litre that powers some Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio variants.

Power stored in its battery under the boot is used to drive the eBooster electric supercharger.Despite the extra electric hardware, the new Hybrid weighs less than the petrol V6 versions and a significant 80kg lighter than the diesel.

Significant attention was given to the exhaust system to deliver “the distinctive growl of every trident model”.Like all other Ghiblis, power is sent to the rear wheels via a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, alloy double-wishbone suspension supports the front end with a five-link system at the tail end, and Brembo has provided the stopping power.