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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 to cap output at 75,000 cars

Maserati appears set to take a page out of corporate sibling Ferrari's playbook with the possibility that it may cap global annual output in the coming years. Ferrari announced in 2013 that it would limit itself to 7,000 vehicles a year to maintain exclusivity, and so far, it has stuck to the plan.
According to an unnamed Maserati executive speaking to Reuters, the Italian luxury car maker wants to cap its sales to 75,000 vehicles a year. However, it's hardly there yet. The company doesn't forecast reaching that production benchmark until 2018.
Dave Sullivan, an auto industry analyst for AutoPacific, thinks that limiting sales could be a smart move for Maserati. "If it is profitable at 75,000 and doesn't require a significant investment in capacity to get there, this appears to be sound," he said to Autoblog via email. "Alfa Romeo is intended to be the volume brand and by capping Maserati, it means that even if you opted to buy the 'entry level' Ghibli, you still have a level of exclusivity."

Maserati Levante Trofeo gets a twin-turbo V8 transplant from Ferrari

With 590 horsepower and 538 pound-feet of torque, the 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine powering the all-wheel-drive Levante Trofeo boasts more power-per-liter than any engine previously installed in a Maserati. Not surprisingly, the engine and its 156-hp-per-liter output are the product of the men from Maranello. The Ferrari-built V8 pushes the Levante Trofeo to 60 miles per hour in 3.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 187 mph. Big power isn't all that makes the Trofeo special. Maserati says its top-shelf Levante boasts a 50:50 weight distribution and a Corsa (race) mode, which means this 'ute ought to be a mighty fine steer. Launch control makes the ludicrous acceleration a repeatable affair, should drivers so desire to rearrange the faces of their passengers at every green light. Maserati Integrated Vehicle Control is supposed to seamlessly prevent driver mistakes instead of correcting them after the fact, as a traditional stability control system would do. In what we assume must be a joke, there's also an Off-Road mode. The interior of the Levante Trefeo is swathed in what Maserati calls "Pieno Fiore" natural leather that is supposed to wear uniquely with age. It's offered in black, red, and tan, all with contrast stitching. The limited launch edition you see here has massive 22-inch matte-finish wheels, matte black paint, glossy carbon fiber exterior bits and matte carbon interior trim. It'll come with a plaque featuring the owner's name and a serial number, but Maserati is only saying a "small number" will be built without giving an exact figure. We'll have to wait for official pricing information and availability, but we're sure it won't come cheap. Related Video: