Maserati facelifts & adds gear to portfolio for 2021

BY NEIL DOWLING | 29th Jan 2021

MASERATI Australia has unveiled its freshly updated 2021 portfolio which has seen all variants across its Ghibli, Quattroporte and Levante model lines receive a mild facelift, new-generation Android multi-media system and improved driver-assist system as well as a few fairly major pricing adjustments.

Due in local showrooms immenently, the core portfolio will be joined by the MC20 supercar later in the year with the brand’s first electrified model, the Ghibli Hybrid, also due to touch down soon.

Pricing for the Levante SUV starts at $127,000 plus on-roads for the base 350 variant (+$2000) and stretches all the way through to $336,990 for the range-topping Trofeo (+$6990).

By contrast, the Ghibli range has seen prices both rise and fall with the model-line now opening from $144,990 for the self-named base model, marking an entry-price increase of $5000, something that was shared by the mid-range GranSport and GranLusso twins ($168,990).

Further up the range however, the sticker price of the S GranLusso and S GranSport has fallen by a hefty $9990 to $175,000.

The Quattroporte line-up has also seen its entry-price drop, with the range now opening from $210,990 (-$4000) for the base model however the mid-range GranLusso and GranSport have both gone up $3000 to $227,990.

At the top of the range, the S variants have both decreased in price by $5000 to $269,990 apiece.

Maserati attributed the pricing changes to various factors including the model year update, life-cycle of the cars and currency changes.

No changes have been made to drivetrains of any of the models with the styling updates designed to unify the portfolio.

The major changes consist of a new grille and “boomerang” tail-light clusters that serve as a nod to the Guigaro-penned 3200 GT coupe of the 1990s.

The Ghibli GranLusso and GranSport retain their different features, with the Sport having black piano inserts on the front bumper, body-coloured side skirts, red brake callipers and 20-inch polished alloy wheels.

Inside the Ghibli and Quattroporte is a new-generation multimedia system dubbed ‘Maserati Intelligent Assistant’ based on Android Auto which features a new, bigger 10.1-inch touchscreen (up from 8.4-inches) while the Levante retains the previous-gen 8.4-inch display but gets improved resolution and graphics.

The three models also get subtle changes to the instrument cluster which now boasts a larger tachometer and speedometer with a central 7.0-inch TFT display and improved graphics.

Maserati said a lot of plastic used in the previous models’ dashboard had been removed, replaced instead with features like anti-dazzle flat glass over the instruments.

All three model lines have also inherited updated advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) with the main addition being active driving assist – an evolution of the highway assist system that was added in 2018.

It includes a “hands-on” function – the driver is required to stay in control of the car at all times – intended for use on any kind of well-maintained road that centres the car in a lane at speeds up to 145km/h.

The system uses a radar and forward-looking camera and works with the electric-assist steering to control the direction of the car.

The camera detects horizontal road markings and calculates the distance and speed of the preceding vehicle.

Highway assist includes a radio that provides road information, and a “hands on wheel” detection system. The driver can override the system at any time.

The new Ghibli Hybrid – intended to replace the defunct diesel options – uses a mild hybrid system based around a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine featuring an electric supercharger. The electric motor is for assistance and cannot independently drive the car.

Maserati Australia and New Zealand chief operating officer Glen Sealey said “with these new models, the imminent arrival of the Ghibli hybrid and full complement of high-performance Trofeo editions, and the arrival of the all-new MC20 supercar, 2021 is set to be an exciting year for Maserati.”

The brand sold 467 new vehicles last year with the Levante doing the bulk of the heavy lifting (296) followed by the Ghibli (114), down slightly on the 482 units shifted in 2019.

2021 Maserati Levante pricing*