Both luxury cars tested, the Infiniti Q50 and Maserati Ghibli, offered good overall protection. The Infiniti scored 86 percent for adult occupants, 85 percent for child occupants and 67 percent for pedestrians. The Japanese model also received an 81-percent rating for safety assist.
Just tested by the IIHS, the Ghibli was awarded the highest score (95 percent) for adult occupant protection of the 11 cars assessed by EuroNCAP. Child occupant protection was rated at 79 percent, pedestrian protection at 74 percent and safety assist at 81 percent.
EuroNCAP gave good ratings to both compact cars tested, the Mazda3 and Peugeot 308. The Japanese car scored 93 percent for adult occupant protection; 86 percent for child occupant, 65 percent for pedestrian and 81 percent for its safety assist systems. The Peugeot got a 92 percent rating for protection offered to adult occupants, 79 percent for child occupants, 64 for pedestrians and 81 percent for safety assist.
The Ford Tourneo Connect passenger van was equally impressive, with a 94 percent rating for adult occupant protection, 85 percent for child occupant protection, 62 percent for pedestrians and 70 percent for safety assist.
Finally, EuroNCAP also awarded five stars to the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which was rated 88 percent for adult occupant protection, 84 percent for child occupant, 64 percent for pedestrian and 81 percent for safety assist.
By Dan Mihalascu
The testing procedure it was put through in order to achieve the title “simulates a side impact with a large SUV or pickup truck, front moderate overlap impact, roof-crush consistent with a rollover, and a rear collision capable of inducing whiplash.” It achieved the maximum “good” rating for each one and made use of all its seven standard airbags and splashes of high-strength lightweight materials like aluminum and hot-formed steel.
Video evidence for two of those staged crashes, the moderate overlap and side impact tests can be found after the virtual jump, below.
By Andrei Nedelea
The stand features the entire Ghibli range, a model which marks a turning point in Maserati’s history - for the first time ever Maserati has simultaneously two four-door sedan models in its lineup.
The Ghibli will be offered in the U.S. with a choice of two 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbocharged gasoline engines, mated to an automatic eight-speed transmission with either rear wheel drive or Q4 all-wheel-drive. The Ghibli S features the more powerful of the two engines, which produces 404 HP at 5,500 rpm and 406 lb-ft (550Nm) of torque from only 1,750 rpm.
When fitted with Q4 all-wheel drive, the Ghibli S sprints from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 4.7 seconds, while the RWD model takes is 0.2 seconds slower. Top speed for the Ghibli S Q4 is 175 mph (282 km/h).
The base model’s engine features 345hp and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque, pushing the Ghibli from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 5.5 seconds. Both engines feature parallel turbochargers and have been developed by Maserati Powertrain in collaboration with Ferrari Powertrain. Both are produced by Ferrari in Maranello. Maserati has yet to announce U.S. pricing for the Ghibli.
Another Maserati North American debut is the exclusive Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition concept that features an unique color scheme, mirror polished rims and an upgraded interior upholstered in fabrics made in cooperation with the prestigious Italian fashion house.
By Dan Mihalascu
The Grugliasco plant currently builds Maserati’s two sports luxury sedans, the Quattroporte and Ghibli. The facility is capable of a daily production of about 140 cars of both models, as it has two daily shifts.
Since the start of production, which coincided with the unveiling of the new Quattroporte, the plant has built about 8,200 units of the brand’s flagship sedan. The rest of over 1,800 units are Ghiblis, as production of the midsize luxury sedan only began at the end of July 2013.
The 10,000th vehicle built in Grugliasco was a grey Ghibli. Speaking of the Ghibli, Maserati recently released a new video showing the midsize luxury sedan testing in the wind tunnel. It’s a good excuse to once again check out the elegant lines of the Ghibli, just like the video which showed the car in the climatic tunnel.
The footage also serves to show how wind tunnel tests are performed and their contribution to reducing fuel consumption and noise levels in the cabin.
By Dan Mihalascu
