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Ghibli PHEV will launch Maserati's electrification offensive

The hybrid variant of the Maserati Ghibli  announced in 2019 is allegedly scheduled to make its public debut during the 2020 Beijing Motor Show. The yet-unnamed model will launch the Italian brand's electrification offensive. Sources familiar with Maserati's plans told Automotive News Europe the Ghibli hybrid will greet the public for the first time when the Beijing show opens its doors on April 21. Going hybrid in China makes sense on several levels. It's an important market for Maserati, the current-generation Ghibli (pictured above) broke cover at the 2013 Shanghai auto show, yet it's a country it has struggled to gain a secure foothold in. Adding electrified options to its range could give its annual Chinese sales a big boost because officials are promoting cars with a plug to curb pollution. There's no word yet on what kind of hybrid technology the Ghibli will receive, though Automotive News Europe speculated it will be a plug-in setup capable of powering the sedan on electricity alone for short distances. Similarly, it's too early to tell if the Italian firm will drop a hybrid powertrain into the Ghibli as we know it and push it to the market, or if it will also make visual, tech, and other mechanical updates to the seven-year-old model. Maserati hasn't commented on the report, and it hasn't announced when the Ghibli hybrid will make its debut; it only pledged to release the model in 2020. Similarly, we don't know if the sedan will be sold in the United States yet. We've reached out to the company for clarification, and we'll update this story if we learn more. Looking ahead, every model Maserati releases will incorporate a degree of electrification. Some will be hybrids, we expect the existing Quattroporte and Levante models will receive gasoline-electric technology, and we know the replacements for the GranTurismo and the GranCabrio due out in 2021 and 2022, respectively, will be the firm's first battery-electric models. There's a new sports car right around the corner, too, and rumors indicate it will be aimed at the Lamborghini Huracan Evo, but we'll need to be patient to find out what's under the camouflage. Related Video:

Maserati highlights its racing heritage with MC Edition models

Maserati is slowly renewing ties with its illustrious racing heritage. After returning to the supercar segment with the MC20, which should hit the track sooner or later, it released a competition-inspired version of the Ghibli, the Quattroporte, and the Levante called MC Edition. Fittingly, every MC Edition model starts life with a V8 engine under the hood. Buyers can select two colors called Giallo Corse and Blu Vittoria, respectively, names that mean Racing Yellow and Victory Blue in Italian. Maserati explained that yellow and blue are the colors of Modena, its home town. MC Edition cars also get specific exterior emblems, Piano Black trim, and 21- or 22-inch gloss black wheels depending on the model; the Levante rides on 22s while the sedans ship with 21s. Blue brake calipers add a finishing touch to the look. Inside, every MC Edition receives a sunroof, a Bowers & Wilkins sound system, and the very un-racing-like Driver Assistance package. The interior is just as striking as the exterior: Maserati added black leather upholstery with denim inserts, yellow and blue stitching, plus a number of blue carbon fiber accents on the dashboard, the center console, and the door panels. "MC Edition" is embroidered into the headrests. Nothing suggests that the racing inspiration permeates the powertrain; don't expect to pop the hood and be greeted by Weber carburetors with trumpets. Maserati hasn't published technical specifications, but the only V8 available in the Ghibli is a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged unit fitted to the Trofeo model and tuned to develop 580 horsepower and 538 pound-feet of torque. The Levante and the Quattroporte are offered with this engine as well. It develops 590 horsepower in the American-spec Levante, though European models settle for the Ghibli's output. Maserati will begin shipping MC Edition cars to customers in Europe, in Asia, and in China in February 2022. Pricing information hasn't been announced yet. And, there's no word yet on whether the special-edition models will be sold in the United States as well. Related Video This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2022 Maserati Ghibli, Quattroporte, and Levante MC Edition View 14 Photos Design/Style Maserati SUV Luxury Special and Limited Editions Performance Sedan

Consumer Reports no longer recommends Honda Civic

Consumer Reports annual Car Reliability Survey is out, and yes, there are some big surprises. First and foremost? The venerable publication no longer recommends the Honda Civic. In fact, aside from the walking-dead CR-Z and limited-release Clarity fuel-cell car, the Civic is the only Honda to miss out on CR's prestigious nod. At the opposite end there's a surprise as well – Toyota and Lexus remain the most reliable brands on the market, but Buick cracked the top three. That's up from seventh last year, and the first time for an American brand to stand on the Consumer Reports podium. Mazda's entire lineup earned Recommended checks as well. Consumer Reports dinged the Civic for its "infuriating" touch-screen radio, lack of driver lumbar adjustability, the limited selection of cars on dealer lots fitted with Honda's popular Sensing system, and the company's decision to offer LaneWatch instead of a full-tilt blind-spot monitoring system. Its score? A lowly 58. The Civic isn't the only surprise drop from CR's Recommended ranks. The Audi A3, Ford F-150, Subaru WRX/STI, and Volkswagen Jetta, GTI, and Passat all lost the Consumer Reports' checkmark. On the flipside, a number of popular vehicles graduated to the Recommended ranks, including the BMW X5, Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette, and Cruze, Hyundai Santa Fe, Porsche Macan, and Tesla Model S. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the hilariously recall-prone Ford Escape getting a Recommended check – considering the popularity of Ford's small crossover, this is likely a coup for the brand, as it puts the Escape on a level playing field with the Recommended Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Nissan Rogue. While Ford is probably happy to see CR promote the Escape, the list wasn't as kind for every brand. For example, of the entire Fiat Chrysler Automobiles catalog, the ancient Chrysler 300 was the only car to score a check – there wasn't a single Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, or Ram on the list. That hurts. FCA isn't alone at the low end, either. GMC, Jaguar Land Rover, Mini, and Mitsubishi don't have a vehicle on CR's list between them, while brands like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Nissan, Lincoln, Infiniti, and Cadillac only have a few models each. You can check out Consumer Reports entire reliability roundup, even without a subscription, here.