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Maserati Ghibli gets blacked-out Nerissimo special edition

Following in the footsteps of the Nissan Midnight package and the Chevrolet Midnight Edition trucks, Maserati is jumping on the bandwagon, and its smallest sedan, the Ghibli, is now available with a limited-edition black trim package called "Nerissimo." In English, that translates simply to "extremely black." The package is available on the base Ghibli, Ghibli S, and Ghibli S Q4 models, and only 450 cars will come equipped with it. On the outside, it adds the following black-painted items: 20-inch wheels, door handles, window trim, and grille. Inside, the car gets black leather with red stitching, and a badge indicating that the Ghibli is one of 450. A few other features sweeten the deal beyond appearances. All Nerissimo models include blind spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, and remote start. The S and S Q4 models also get a Harmon Kardon sound system. The powertrain remains the same 404-horsepower twin-turbo V6 and eight-speed automatic found in the normal Ghibli. With that in mind, you pay quite a bit for what boils down to an appearance package. Turning a standard Ghibli into a Nerissimo model will add $5,650 to the $72,850 base price. Doing the same for a Ghibli S or S Q4 will add $6,800. So you had better really like the look and the exclusivity to spring for a Nerissimo. Others should probably spec out a more common version. Related Video:

Maserati Levante Launch Edition debuts with pretty matte blue paint

Maserati has some small fish news today for the Geneva Motor Show: It plans to introduce a Levante Trofeo Launch Edition and ultimately sell 100 across the globe to kick off sales of the high-performance crossover. We're mostly taken by the Blu Emozione matte paint on the one shown here. Carbon fiber inserts on the bumpers, side skirts and hood make up the exterior changes for the Launch Edition. If you don't opt for the purplish blue (but why wouldn't you?), then Giallo Modenese and Rosso Magma are also on the table. For the less Italian inclined, that means yellow and red. Only 22-inch wheels will be fitted to the Launch Edition, with the choice being either a glossy or matte finish. Brake calipers are then painted in blue, yellow, red or silver. We'd have to recommend the blue calipers to go with the blue paint. Unique interior elements include a special, full-grain black leather. The Trofeo logo is embroidered on the headrests, and there's color-contrasting stitching throughout. The stitching's color corresponds to the exterior paint color you chose. The Trofeo is the hottest version in the Levante lineup, fitted with the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 assembled by Ferrari in Maranello — note, the V8 is Ferrari-derived but not identical to the V8 out of the 488. We drove it awhile back and found it to be more than enticing as a performance SUV. Pricing for the Launch Edition is not currently available, but a normal Trofeo starts at $171,475. Related video:

Alfa Romeo Giulia to get Ferrari-related engine

Alfa Romeo has a long, proud history of using V6 engines in its coupes, sedans, and sports cars over the years, but as the new Giulia sedan approaches, the Italian marque is allegedly turning to Ferrari for its next six-cylinder. This is obviously not the first time a Ferrari-sourced or derived engine has been found under an Alfa's long hood. While 8C Competizione famously used a version of Ferrari's F136 V8 during its short run, the Giulia's new V6 will be offered on a much larger scale, slotting in above an entry level, four-cylinder turbo (likely the next-gen version of the 4C sports car's 1.75-liter engine). According to Autocar, the new V6 will be "specially developed for Alfa Romeo," and will be built at the Termoli engine factory alongside the new turbo four-cylinder. As for the rest of the Giulia, Autocar has been able to shine a light on a number of other details about the new midsizer. It will, thankfully, be rear-wheel drive, and designed to counter the "mostly cold and clinical" and soulless cars of the German competition, Maserati chief Harald Wester told AC. Some of the new sedan's structural elements will even be shared with Maserati's entry level model, the Ghibli. Most notable of all, though, is what the Giulia means for American consumers. After the limited-run 8C and the niche 4C, the new sedan will lead Alfa Romeo's long-awaited, large-scale return, where it will combat the popular BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, not to mention rivals like the Cadillac ATS and Lexus IS. Look for more on the Giulia next week when it's officially revealed in Milan.