Green machine: Eco innovation and the Maserati Ghibli Hybrid

Can a performance car be green? Combining power and sustainability is a challenge that the world’s most luxury car marques have been working on over the last decade or so.

Among the first off the block were Porsche and Mercedes - and now, Maserati has launched its Ghibli Hybrid.  The new model will replace the brand’s diesel versions to provide consumers with better performance and even better fuel efficiency. From turbocharged 4-cylinder engine unleashing 330 horsepower, to anodised blue trims, this sports saloon is unmistakably a Maserati. 

“Innovation does not always mean starting from scratch,” says Valentina Boarini, Product Manager at Maserati.  “It is fundamental to respect a brand’s heritage, to bring the best from the past into the future. In the automotive industry, innovation is the constant improvement of performance and technology. Anticipating and satisfying desire is important to sustain luxury.”

With its 4-cylinder 2.0L 330hp, the Ghibli Hybrid has been developed at the Maserati Innovation Lab in Modena, northern Italy.  The 48V Hybrid system has three parts:

belt starter generator (BSG) which recovers energy during braking and charges the battery, the battery itself and the e-Booster, whose role is to back up the turbocharger.  It’s the combination of the BSG and e-Booster that provides the extra power and makes this hybrid so exclusive, according to Ms Boarini.

The model’s target market is in Europe and China where concerns about sustainability, emissions and fuel efficiency are most prominent.  “The younger generations have definitely been the early adopters when it comes to electrification and sustainability,” she says.  “However, this situation is changing, as these values are becoming important among diverse generations.”

maserati.com