2024 MASERATI GHIBLI

It leaves the Ghibli’s character a bit confused, as if it’s not quite sure what it’s trying to be. Yes, it steers with a healthy degree of precision and conviction, and its pliant ride and noise suppression make it a fine, polished tourer. But surely if you forgo the technical sophistication of its German rivals, you want an Italian super sedan that, when prodded, becomes a bit of unhinged nut job. Instead, the Trofeo seems oddly fixated on snuffing out extroverted brio with clinical efficiency. Yes, you can turn the ESC off and get it to reveal a sideways alter-ego, but it’s never a completely natural duality. And given the Ghibli is in the twilight of its model cycle, time has run out to engineer in some of the sorely missing Latin mongrel.

It's a physically comfortable experience, but also one that's mentally comforting. I had to notice the myriad changes in road surfaces, which in other cars appear quite obvious. In saying that, it doesn't ever feel overly disconnected or vague, and just strikes a fantastic balance of keeping you in the loop – like a good PA. An hour out of town, on faster, coarser-chip stuff, it was again composed and quiet. It'll dig in and carry speed, never becoming fussed when having to manage 1900kg and the inertia that follows. Steering is direct and as expected from a brand that's primarily manufactured sports cars.

The Maserati Trofeo Ghibli is a very strange beast, but there's no doubt that it is a beast. Fast, loud and capable on a race track, and yet still closely resembling a classy, expensive Italian family sedan, it is genuinely unique. And genuinely strange, in a good way.

It’s hard to justify the hefty price of this Special Edition, but as a standalone the hybrid powertrain works surprisingly well in the Ghibli. It’s also satisfyingly rapid with good response and solid mid-range performance. Despite its near-1900kg heft, the Ghibli Hybrid hides its weight brilliantly with a sharp front end and a balanced chassis. You can’t deny Ghibli’s thoroughbred good looks. It’s stunning in the metal and a proper head turner over the German makes and models so common on our roads. It just needs more noise, or at least a button that dials it up a notch even when you’re cruising around.