The first rumors about a new Maserati sedan placed under the current Quattroporte appeared at the beginning of 2010, but after a couple of months of heating up the air waves, the new car fell by the wayside while everyone made room for the new Audis, Ferraris, and such. Now, with just two weeks before the car's official debut in Shanghai, Maserati has dropped the first details on its latest addition to the lineup.

Based on the same platform as the new generation Quattroporte, the new Ghibli sedan features a sportier character when compared to its big brother. Also, unlike previous rumors, for the new Ghibli, Maserati will only use two V-6 engines, while the V-8 engine used in the Quattroporte won't be used.

Maserati revealed nothing on the car's price just yet, but considering the new Ghibli will play a significant role in Maserati’s growth plan to sell 50,000 cars per year, we expect the price to be kept somewhere in the $70k area.

Updated 03/26/2014: Maserati unveiled a new video showing the new Ghibli in action at the Nurburgring. Enjoy!

Updated 11/20/2014: The 2015 Maserati Ghibli made its debut at the 2014 Los Angeles and it came with a series of small updates. For the new model year, Ghibli received standard navigation and Bluetooth, plus new standard brake caliper finish and contrast stitching. Also, a three-month subscription to the SiriusXM "All Access" package is offered for all customers.

Hit the jump to read more about the future Maserati Ghibili.

2014 - 2015 Maserati Ghibli

Specifications

• Make: Array
• Model: 2014 - 2015 Maserati Ghibli
• Engine/Motor: V6
• Horsepower: 410 @ 5500
• Torque: 405 @ 1750
• Transmission: Eight-Speed Automatic
• [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Pros

Cons

2018 Facelift Spy shots

Exterior

The first official images reveal that the new Ghibli will adopt an exterior design similar to what we have seen in the Quattroporte. Maserati will combine the dynamic lines required by a sporty sedan with the specific elegance of the Italian models.

Up front, you will notice the same headlights and grille seen on the Quattroporte, while the rear appears to be slightly different. The exhaust system features oval end pipes and not trapezoidal as in the Quattroporte, while the trunk spoiler is a little bit more discrete in the Ghibli.

The Ghibli rides on a 118-inch wheelbase and it measures in at 195.7 inches in length. It comes standard with a set of 18-inch wheels, but you can opt for 19-, 20- or 21-inch wheels.

Exterior Specifications

New for 2015

- New standard brake caliper finish

Interior

For the interior Maserati will be offering the same level of luxury we have already seen in its entire lineup. There will be a three-spoke steering wheel, top-quality leather, carbon-fiber insertions and tons of new tech gadgets.

New for 2015

- Standard navigation and Bluetooth

- New contrast stitching

- Three-month subscription to the SiriusXM "All Access" package

Drivetrain

Previous rumors suggested that the new Ghibli will be offered with the same V-6 and V-8 engines used in the Quattroporte. Still, Maserati prepared a surprise for us, as it packs two gasoline-powered, 3.0-liter, turbocharged V-6 in the global market, and a 3.0-liter V-6 turbo-diesel in Europe, making it the first-ever Maserati model to use a diesel engine.

The base 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 engine hits the streets with 345 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. This engine will sprint the Ghibli to 60 mph in only 5.5 seconds while turning in a fuel-consumption rate of 19 mpg combined.

The Ghibli S Q4 will receive a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine that pumps out 404 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 406 pound-feet of torque from as low aw 1,750 rpm. This will rocket the sedan to 60 mph in only 4.7 seconds and up to a top speed of 175 mph.

For those that want a more eco-friendly option without sacrificing too much in terms of performance, Maserati offers up the Ghibli Diesel -- the first Maserati to ever use a diesel engine -- in Europe. This 3.0-liter V-6 turbo-diesel engine pumps out 202 kW (275 horsepower) and a massive 570 Nm of torque. This helps it hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in a fast-for-a-diesel 6.3 seconds. On top of great performance, the Ghibli Diesel also features a fuel-consumption rate of just 36.2 mpg urban, 57.7 mpg extra urban and 47.8 mpg combined.

The diesel variant also features Maserati's Active Sound system, which uses a pair of sound actuators next to the exhaust exits to accentuate the exhaust notes, giving them a more impressive sound when you hammer on the accelerator. A "Sport" button on the interior further enhances the exhaust note.

The engines will mate to an eight-speed automatic transmission and customers will have the choice of either rear-wheel drive or the new "Q4" all-wheel-drive system in the base model, while the S model comes standard with the Q4 system.

U.S.-Spec Drivetrain Specifications

Suspension and Brakes

Up front the Ghibli features a double-wishbone suspension and the back end hosts a multi-link setup with an optional Skyhook system to enhance handling. Additionally, a part-time all-wheel-drive system with a limited-slip differential help optimize traction in the twist.

Braking is equally important as handling and Maserati took car of this by fitting the Ghibli S with 360 mm x 32 mm (14.17-by-1.26-inch) ventilated and cross-drilled front brake discs squeezed by Brembo six-pot calipers, while the rear features has 350 mm x 28 mm (13.78-by-1.10-inch) ventilated discs with four-piston calipers. This will drag the Ghibli S to a stop from 100 km/h in just 36 meters (118.1 feet). There is no mention of the base Ghibli's braking system yet.

Handing and Braking Specifications

Pricing and Release

The new Maserati Ghibli will be put on sale early in 2014 at a starting price of $65,600. There is no information on the S Q4 model's pricing yet.

Competition

Jaguar XF

Unlike the Ghibli, the XF is offered with a choice of V-6 and V-8 engines. The problem is that the V-6 version only delivers a total of 340 horsepower, but it is considerably cheaper: $53,000. For customers with a bigger wallet, Jaguar also offers a supercharged version that gets a 470-horsepower, 5.0 liter V-8 engine. For this version, you will have to pay a total of $68,100, which is pretty much the same price we expect for the Ghibli.

BMW 550i sedan

By the time the new Ghibli is put on sale, BMW will also unveil the revised 5-Series. The model will receive updates to only the exterior and the interior, so the 550i will keep its usual engine: a 4.4-liter V-8 with an output of 400 horsepower. The current version 550i is priced at $62,700 and we expect a similar price for the revised version.

Conclusion

All we can say is "wow." the Ghibli definitely lived up to its hype -- on paper, at least -- and looks like it will give its rivals a true test. The Ghibli offers up a unique exterior look, plenty of engine options, stout performance numbers and even high fuel efficiency. You really can't ask for much more from a luxury sedan. Now we just have to wait for Maserati to release the pricing details.