- Maserati moved away from the V-8 engine, celebrating the powertrain with two final special editions fitted with twin-turbo 3.8-liter units.
- The Ghibli 334 Ultima unlocks a new top speed of 208 mph, wears more serious performance tires and comes in a bright azure blue.
- The Levante V8 Ultima features plenty of carbon fiber accents and special badging to signify its limited production status, with only 103 of each built.
When Maserati revealed the new generation of its slinky GranTurismo coupe last fall, the sports car lost the roaring V-8 that made previous iterations so memorable, instead offering either a twin-turbo V-6 or an electric powertrain. The move implied a wider death knell for the eight-cylinder engine, and now Maserati has announced two special editions—the Ghibli 334 Ultima and the Levante V8 Ultima—at the Goodwood Festival of Speed that mark the end of the line for the V-8.
Is the Ghibli Ultima 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 its limits. No details on the V-8 were given, but we assume the Ultima packs the 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged unit from the Trofeo model, rated at 572 horsepower. The “334” in the name refers to the top speed in kilometers per hour, with Maserati upping 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 above Bentley’s 207-mph Flying Spur Speed.
Maserati also says weight savings and new tires help cut the zero-to-62 mph time from 4.3 to 3.9 seconds but doesn’t say what rubber the 334 Ultima uses, calling it only “a new performance tire created using a special compound.” Carbon fiber rear spoiler and 21-inch wheels said to improve aerodynamics.
The bright blue paint—nicknamed Scià di Persia—recalls the first Maserati to be fitted with a V-8: the 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 the “334” is painted in red called Rubino on the front fenders. The cabin is finished in Terracotta Pale leather with Maserati’s Trident logo and “334” stitched into the headrests.
All about the Levante V8 Ultima
The 2024 Levante V8 Ultima has the same 572-hp twin-turbo V-8 as the special edition Ghibli and also comes in carbon fiber nine, with exotic materials adorning the front and rear bumpers and side skirts. The Levante will be offered in two colors, Nero Assoluto (black) and Blu Royale, with “V8 Ultima” painted in Rubino on the front fenders.
The V-8-powered SUV rides on 22-inch wheels, and the interior mirrors the Ghibli with Pale Terracotta leather on the seats and an embroidered “V8 Ultima” logo on the headrests. Both special editions also sport “una di 103” badges on the transmission tunnel between the seats noting their limited production status.
Maserati will build just 103 examples of the Ghibli and 206 examples of the Levante, with 103 units in each color. No word on pricing, but we’re betting the Ultima edition will cost more than the Ghibli Trofeo’s $125,195 and Levante Trofeo’s $168,495 base prices. Maserati has yet to release pictures of the full car, but we expect to get a better look at the Ultima edition before it goes on sale in the fourth quarter of this year.
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Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller started blogging about cars at age 13, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure cars, aspires to own something outlandish like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsport fan.
