There are performance cars; fun-to-drive cars; reliable cars. Then there is the Maserati Ghibli Modena, an amalgamation of all three. At the risk of sounding biased, I must confess that taking a Maserati out for a test drive has always been one of the favourite aspects of my job. I got a taste of the Italian marque around 10 years ago and the excitement I felt then is pretty the same even now when I get behind the wheel of a Maserati. So, when Alfardan Motors, the dealer for Maserati in Oman, decided to give the zippy Maserati Ghibli Modena for a weekend, I was thrilled.
The week had been a hectic and almost trying one. I don’t know about you, but a long drive and Pink Floyd is the panacea for this scribe’s weary soul. The thought of spending the weekend with the Maserati Ghibli Modena was soothing, to say the least. And it wasn’t only a drive that Maserati had planned; they had an Italian experience organised for the weekend. After picking up the car, I was off to the Royal Opera House as a guest of Maserati to watch Italian composer, Gaetono Donizetti’s Masterpieces.
It was peak hour traffic, not to mention the weekend rush. Needless to say, traffic moved at a snail’s pace. The usual reaction to this would be irritation and impatience. But Maserati always works magic on me – I was happy to be ensconced in a cocoon of comfort and aesthetics. Plus, I had the entire weekend to put the Ghibli Modena to the test.
If you are wondering about the Modena tag, Maserati decided to launch its fleet in three different trims. Modena is the sporty, fun-to-drive, and chic trim from the marque. The Quattroporte and Levante come in the Modena version too. The Ghibli Modena features a dynamic styling that is hard to miss. The interiors pack a sporty vibe, and the variant comes with 20-inch alloy wheels.
Gaetono Donizetti’s Masterpieces was a wonderful experience featuring his arias, duets, and overtures. Coming back to the Ghibli Modena in the parking lot of the Opera House, I pause in my step to stare at the beauty that it is. The chiselled, low-slung hood gives it a sporty, almost two-door coupe feel. What also adds to the sporty exterior are the angled LED headlamps, together with the LED turn signals. The Ghibli Modena also has quite a lot of carbon fibre thrown into the mix. Now, who doesn’t like a generous splash of carbon fibre!
The next day I decided to take the Ghibli Modena for a rather long spin. The interior is as plush as you would imagine it to be inside a Maserati with oodles of luxe elements to boot. One of my favourite features was the fully integrated touchscreen console in the centre that had the controls for just about every important function in the car. Maserati has one of the most comfortable seats in its class, a feature that is evident in the Ghibli Modena as well. This is a sporty everyday car and Maserati has left no stone unturned to ensure a smooth, comfortable drive.
On the road, the Ghibli Modena is second to none in delivering a fun, sporty and excellent drive. Albeit a little cliched, the constant expression that came to mind was ‘smooth sailing’. A Maserati is often effortless to drive while giving the driver the exceptional experience that the engineers of the marque have mastered. In the Ghibli Modena it is even more pronounced – the feeling of gliding while being in complete control and having fun in a sporty car. The paddle shift is smooth and adds to the heightened drive experience of the Ghibli Modena
A weekend seemed less with this exquisitely crafted sporty sedan. Maserati has always been at the forefront when it comes to beautiful cars that are an absolute pleasure to drive and the Ghibli Modena is a fine addition to the list.