It isn't easy, for anyone. Let alone for a brand that has always tied its image, and its cars, to performance and emotion. To rivers of petrol. And yet, it concerns everyone. Progressive electrification is no longer an option for car manufacturers. A transition that for Maserati – a brand destined to become the symbol of performance electrics within the Stellantis group – began in 2020 with the Ghibli Hybrid, the first electrified car from the iconic marque, "the link between past and future" as they like to call it in Modena. And this is only the beginning.

On the horizon is Folgore, the name chosen to identify the brand's electrification programme (and future electric model range). A programme that envisages the arrival, as early as 2022, of further models – this time fully electric – which will draw on technologies developed in Formula E: the Gran Turismo and Gran Cabrio coupé and spider, the high-performance sports car MC 20, and, by 2023, the electric SUV Grecale as well. Maserati's electrification is entirely Made in Italy, including the batteries destined for the new electric models which – a statement from the Modena-based manufacturer assures – "will be produced at the Mirafiori battery Hub assembly plant in Turin".

48-volt hybrid system and 330 horsepower

In the meantime, we decided to tell you about the first time. That is, the Ghibli Hybrid that Maserati chose for its first step towards greater efficiency. A starting step, a road taken without too much upheaval (or revolution, to tell the truth…). But it is a strong signal, nonetheless. The idea of offering a niche audience a high-performance car with a commitment to reducing its impact is no simple matter.

So it begins with a smaller engine (2 litres – for Maserati, that is "small", four cylinders) paired with a 48-volt hybrid system, the so-called mild hybrid. The power output has remained considerable: 330 horsepower. The driving pleasure, intact. The engine sound – an indispensable aspect for those who love the passion and have not yet grown accustomed to the pleasures of silent electric driving – still thrilling (albeit less so than the V6 engine). In short, the Ghibli Hybrid has remained a Maserati, just more efficient and connected. A first step towards sustainability.

Ghibli Hybrid, lighter and more efficient

Adding performance while cutting consumption was the mission. No easy exercise. And yet, Modena pulled it off. How? Simply put, by recovering energy during deceleration and braking. Recharging the battery hidden beneath the boot and then reusing that energy to make acceleration more responsive, especially at low revs. It works! As we said, the Ghibli Hybrid is not the revolution, but the beginning of a revolutionary journey – that it certainly is. Made lighter – another crucial aspect on the path towards that "sustainable lightness of the car" which has by now become a mantra for every manufacturer – with better weight distribution. Even more nimble and fun to drive. And that is precisely the point. There are many drivers who still love to enjoy themselves behind the wheel, but who have come to understand that the environment and the planet can no longer be the ones to pay the price.

A few blue details to mark the differences

Don't go looking for major outward signs of change. The Ghibli Hybrid is not very different from the other models, whether petrol or diesel. A few details, in blue – a colour that is somewhat overused but still carries a strong symbolic charge. Blue air intakes on the front wing. Blue brake callipers. Blue, again, on a small lightning bolt set within the badge. That's it. Inside, too, not much changes. A sports steering wheel with aluminium gearshift paddles. Sports seats, cooled or heated. Artisanal care, lavished everywhere. USB ports go without saying; the wireless phone charger is handy (standard or optional depending on the market) and sits inside the phone storage compartment. The driving position is perfect. Space is adequate, ideal for four.

Leather on the seats is still there, everywhere. Unfortunately. And it isn't "eco"… These "subtleties" take time. There is, however, if you wish, a natural silk fibre option. From the large frameless touchscreen, elegantly borderless, everything that can be controlled is controlled. The Maserati connect app is naturally present. There is even a personal virtual assistant. Traffic information updates in real time, as do the navigation maps. The bare minimum, you might say. Quite.

Then there are other aspects. An air conditioning system capable of detecting external air pollution levels, power-assisted door closing, and a boot that opens electrically with a foot gesture (perfect when your hands are full).

Bosch technology behind Maserati's electrification

We asked Bosch, which supplies the key components for the Maserati Ghibli Hybrid's 48 V hybrid system, to explain in depth the technology involved. From the "48 V lithium-ion battery to the converter and the electronic control unit, this technology package helps to boost performance and reduce CO2 emissions by recovering energy during deceleration and optimising the use of the electric motor in support of the combustion engine," Bosch told us.

Also contributing to a significantly improved level of efficiency in the Ghibli is the Boost Recuperation System, which stores energy captured during braking in the 48 V battery and releases it when the driver accelerates, "in this way, less fuel is required, consequently reducing the amount of CO2 in the exhaust and keeping consumption in check."

In addition to hybrid technology, the German company also developed the driver assistance functions for the Ghibli Hybrid — the Adas — which improve safety by regulating the vehicle's speed, acceleration, braking and steering, and in practice make autonomous driving possible, albeit partial. Radar and cameras monitor what is happening around the car, minimising the risk of collisions, (unintentional) lane departure, or exceeding speed limits. The result is a remarkable sense of safety and driving confidence.

The (not easy) challenge: reconciling efficiency and driving pleasure

Combining efficiency and driving pleasure is no simple feat. But a marque like Maserati could not give up one of the characteristics that made it famous around the world. It is no surprise, then, that this hybrid version of the Ghibli also respects "tradition": an eight-speed automatic gearbox usable in manual mode as well, a "Sport" mode to exploit the full power output (at the expense, naturally, of fuel consumption), and electronically controlled suspension (the comfort level is truly remarkable). The hybrid has taken nothing away from the Ghibli's appeal or driving pleasure — if anything, it has added to it. The turbocharged engine, thanks to the electrified component (albeit a modest one), is even more responsive and quick. The brakes and steering are equally impressive, at the very top in terms of technology and efficiency.

The result is a car that exceeds common expectations — in other words, a car that delivers notably high levels of comfort, safety and performance. This is also thanks to a system capable of acting predictively on the driving experience, adapting braking and power to different situations. Performance figures? 0–100 km/h acceleration in 5.7 seconds, top speed 255 km/h. These correspond to (declared) fuel consumption of 8–9 l/100 km — highly variable depending on driving style — and emissions of 183–213 g/km, figures set to improve progressively with the ongoing electrification process and in line with the commitments made by the group on sustainability.