Maserati Bids Arrivederci to the V-8 with Special Edition Ghibli and Levante
Maserati is transitioning away from V-8 engines, celebrating the powertrain with two final special editions fitted with the twin-turbo 3.8-liter unit.The Ghibli 334 Ultima unlocks a new top speed of 208 mph, wears more serious performance tires, and comes in a vibrant shade of turquoise.The Levante V8 Ultima features lots of carbon-fiber accents and special badges denoting its limited production status, with only 103 of each being built.
When Maserati revealed a new generation of its slinky GranTurismo coupe last fall, the sports car was missing the roaring V-8 that made previous iterations so memorable, instead offering either a twin-turbo V-6 or an all-electric powertrain. That move hinted at a broader demise for the eight-cylinder engine, and now Maserati has announced two special editions—the Ghibli 334 Ultima and Levante V8 Ultima—at the Goodwood Festival of Speed that mark the end of the line for the V-8.
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Will Ghibli Ultima Be the World’s Fastest Sedan?
The 2024 Ghibli 334 Ultima takes the brand’s smallest sedan—set to be phased out in the coming years—to the limit. No details on the V-8 were provided, but we presume the Ultima packs the twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter unit from the Trofeo model, rated at 572 horsepower. The “334” in the name references the top speed in kilometers per hour, with Maserati raising the Vmax from 203 to 208 mph for the special edition. Maserati claims this makes the Ghibli the fastest sedan in the world, putting it just beyond the 207-mph Bentley Flying Spur Speed.
Maserati also says weight savings and new tires helped cut the zero-to-62-mph time from 4.3 to 3.9 seconds but didn’t specify what rubber the 334 Ultima rolls on, only calling it “new performance tires created using a special compound.” A carbon-fiber rear spoiler and 21-inch wheels are said to improve aerodynamics.
The vivid blue paint—dubbed Scià di Persia—recalls the first roadgoing Maserati fitted with a V-8: a 1959 5000 GT painted Blu Sera for the Shah of Persia. The 334 Ultima wears carbon fiber on the front bumper, side-view mirrors, window pillars, and door handles, while “334” is painted in a red shade called Rubino on the front fender. The cabin is decked out in Pale Terracotta leather with Maserati’s Trident logo and “334” stitched into the headrest.
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All about the Levante V8 Ultima
The 2024 Levante V8 Ultima packs the same 572-hp twin-turbo V-8 as the special-edition Ghibli and also comes dressed to the nines in carbon fiber, with the exotic material adorning the front and rear bumpers and side skirts. The Levante will be offered in two shades, Nero Assoluto (black) and Blu Royale, with “V8 Ultima” painted in Rubino on the front fender.
The V-8-powered SUV rides on 22-inch wheels, and the interior mirrors the Ghibli with Pale Terracotta leather on the seats and the “V8 Ultima” logo embroidered into the headrest. Both special editions also wear an “una di 103” badge on the transmission tunnel between the seats that notes their limited production status.
Maserati
Maserati will build just 103 examples of the Ghibli and 206 examples of the Levante, with 103 units in each color. There’s no word on pricing, but we bet the Ultima editions will cost a decent chunk more than the Ghibli Trofeo’s $125,195 and the Levante Trofeo’s $168,495 base price. Maserati has not yet released photos of the full cars, but we’re expecting to get a better look at the Ultima editions before they go on sale in the fourth quarter of this year.
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Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
