Maserati Ghibli (2013) first official pictures

This is Maserati's new sports saloon: the Ghibli. The first ever Maserati to get diesel engine power, the Ghibli will go on sale in autumn 2013, and sit below the Quattroporte super-limo in the Maserati range.

All Ghiblis will be powered by Ferrari-fettled versions of Chrysler’s ‘Pentastar’ twin-turbocharged V6 engines, mounted up front and mated to eight-speed paddle-shift gearboxes. The 3.0-litre bi-turbo petrol engine will be offered in two states of tune, the lower-powered one totalling around 330bhp and the uprated car over 400bhp.

A V6 turbodiesel will also be offered, sporting around 300bhp. The diesel will be the cheapest Ghibli, at around £50,000, while the petrol models will cost upwards of £60k. By taking a bite out of the premium German saloon market, Maserati hopes to surge towards its target of 50,000 annual sales by 2015.

All UK-bound Ghiblis will be rear-wheel drive, while left-hand drive markets get the option of four-wheel drive. As with the Mercedes E63 AMG, UK buyers don't get an AWD option because of the cost of engineering the system for right-hookers.

These official pictures reveal a car that shares detailing with the larger Quattroporte, but looks far more compact. At 4.9m long, the Ghibli is BMW 5-series-sized, and seats five people inside. The cabin is clearly related to the Quattroporte, featuring cues like a large central touchscreen interface and flush-fitted button controls. Near-endless interior personalisation is a given: note this car's two-tone leather and carbonfibre centre console.

For CAR magazine's scoop on Maserati's upcoming 911-fighter and new GranTurismo, click here.

By Ollie Kew