It would appear that the Germans have the executive saloon formula cracked. A quick scout around any business car park reveals hordes of Audis, BMWs and Mercedes. And why not? All three produce accomplished kit. For those who want something a bit less, well, German the new Maserati Ghibli S is an interesting alternative.

First impressions

The Maserati Ghibli was launched back in 2013, but has since had several facelifts to keep it competitive with the likes of BMW’s 5 Series. A new addition for 2018 is the GranSport trim that adds a hint of aggression to the Ghibli’s sophisticated shape. Wider grills on the front bumper are accompanied by piano black details giving the car a wider and more aggressive appearance. LED lights are integrated into the chiseled front end while a reworked rear bumper completes the design. Red brake calipers peer through the 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels hinting that this isn’t your average Ghibli.

The 3-litre, Ferrari-developed V6 that lives under the bonnet gets a 20bhp hike over last year’s car, bringing total output up to 424bhp and 443lb ft of torque. That grunt allows this Maserati to do 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds and go onto a top speed of 177mph. An all-wheel drive Q4 variant will do the sprint even faster, but sadly it’s forbidden fruit for the right-hand-drive market.

GranSport models get a set ...