Notable top speed increase for Maserati's four-door models.

Maserati has done what it does best in times of crisis and updated its offering of V8 engined family cars.

The Italian luxury and performance car brand might be struggling with sales, an ageing product portfolio and the issue of transitioning to SUVs, but there is nothing troubled with its design values.

In the market for desirable high-performance sedans, there are few rivals for the Ghibli or Quattroporte. These mid- and large format executive cars look elegantly purposeful in a manner that AMG, M-Division and RS-cars cannot match.

With its new Trofeo derivatives of the Ghibli and Quattroporte, there are restyled rear light clusters and finishing on the front quarter panel side vents.

On the Ghibli Trofeo you will also notice a reshaped bonnet stamping, with additional air intake ducts, similar to those on the Levante Trofeo SUV.

As with all special edition performance cars, there are new wheel options too, with both the Ghibli and Quattroporte Trofeo rolling on 21-inchOrione design hoops.

By far the most appealing part of this new Trofeo range expansion is the engine specification. Although Maserati has offered the Ferrari sourced 3.8-litre turbocharged V8 in its Quattroporte GTS for a while, the smaller and more agile Ghibli has never featured such a powerful engine before.

Boosting 435kW and 730Nm of torque, the Ghibli Trofeo has an abundance of engine power and typically dramatic Maserati exhaust acoustics. Power is channelled to the rear wheels via a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.

Acceleration times are not quite as quick as its all-wheel-drive rivals from north of the Alps, with the Ghibli Trofeo running a benchmark 0-100kph time in 4.3 seconds. Top speed is another matter, altogether, with the Ghibli Trofeo good for 326kph.

The Trofeo updates certainly make an interesting case for Maserati’s Ghibli as a more purposeful M5 and E63 AMG rival. Fans of the trident badge should act swiftly, though, as Maserati’s agreement with Ferrari for use of the twin-turbocharged V8 engine, will lapse in 2022.

Further Reading

Maserati Ghibli Hybrid Revealed

Maserati teases its new MC20

Maserati Ghibli S (2016) Review

Maserati Levante S (2018) Launch Review