Maserati->ke51 has unveiled today the first teaser image for a new model set to be unveiled at the end of this month at the Shanghai Auto Show. No other details have been revealed, but the teaser image came with the confirmation that the new model represents the “newest addition to its lineup and that it not only borrows from the past but also looks to the future."

This statement make us think the model Maserati is referring to is the new Ghibli sedan we have seen testing in the past few months. Also, the model hidden under the sheet seems to feature a long hood and coupe-like fastback design - a reminder of the original Ghibli.

The new Ghibli will be built on the same platform as the new generation Quattroporte and will be offered with the same engine as the larger sedan: turbocharged V-6 engine and the new V-8 engine. Both engines will be mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox.

Full details on the new Ghibli will be unveiled at the end of the month during its official debut in Shanghai.

Click past the jump to read more on the Ghibli

What’s the Ghibli Mean to Maserati?

With the larger Quattroporte, Maserati is aiming at models, like the Aston Martin Rapide and the Porsche Panamera. But the Quattroporte is a large luxury sedan takes a ton of money to procure. With Maserati looking to have a larger footprint in the luxury market, it needs a cheaper and smaller sedan to help compete.

Competition

With the new Ghibli, Maserati hopes to steal clientele attention from models, like the BMW M5 and the Jaguar XFR. We think it will manage achieving this goal, if the price stays in the $70k area.

BMW M5

Under the M5's hood it houses a 560-horsepower 4.4-liter V-8 engine that twists out 502 pound-feet of torque. This rockets the M5 to 60 mph in only 4.4 seconds and up to an electronically limited 155 mph top speed. On the outside, the M5 is a little boring, but it has enough character to set it apart from the other 5-Series models. The M5 is super expensive at $90,695, so the Ghibli will likely have a leg up on it.

Jaguar XF-R

Under the hood of the XF-R you'll receive a supercharged 5-liter V-8 engine with 510 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque. This beast hits 60 mph in only 4.7 seconds and looks the part of a luxury sedan meets performance car without going too overboard. The only issues that are that the XF-R is a little pricey at $82,000 and Jag is still battling a history of quality issues.

History of the Maserati Ghibli

Maserati initially used the "Ghibli" nomenclature back in 1967 when the first generation arrived on the market. Unlike the new model set to be unveiled in Shanghai, the first Ghibli was a two-door, two-seater GT offered with a V-8 engine delivering a total of 330 horsepower.

The second generation Ghibli arrived in 1992. This time around, it was a two-door, four-seat coupe that was similar in appearance to the Maserati Shamal. This model was offered with V-6 engines with power ranging from 288 to 335 horsepower.