New York show: Maserati blacks out in the Big Apple

MASERATI has used the 2017 New York auto show to unveil its limited-run Ghibli Nerissimo – Italian for extremely black – which adds a number of darkly coloured cosmetic flourishes to differentiate itself from the standard car.

Only 450 examples will be produced exclusively for the North American market, with unique badging on the centre console to notify occupants of its special status.

Available on the base Ghibli, Ghibli S and overseas market all-wheel-drive Ghibli Q4, the Nerissimo replaces the traditionally silver and chrome-coloured elements for a darker hue.

The new Ghibli receives gloss-black 20-inch wheels, as well as door handles, window trim and front grille finished in, you guessed it, black.

Inside, Maserati has fitted the special-edition Ghibli with dark leather, as well as a sports pack which includes pedals, steering wheel and seats.

However, contrary to its namesake, not everything on the car is ‘extremely black’. Brake callipers are finished in red, as is the interior leather stitching to give some contrast to the vast swathe of darkness that would make even Darth Vader feel at home.

All models will carry blind spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and remote start, while higher-spec S and Q4 versions also gain an uprated Harman Kardon sound system.

The optional Sport and Luxury packages – which were introduced on Aussie-spec Maserati Ghiblis late last year – are also now available on US-market versions which incorporate upgrades including a 10-speaker premium sound system and aluminium paddle shifters.

Accompanying the Ghibli Nerissimo on Maserati’s New York auto show stand was the Levante SUV, the brand’s first foray into the burgeoning SUV market, the Quattroporte large-sized sedan and the GranTurismo two-door sportscar.

In Australia, Maserati has sold just 43 Ghiblis in the first quarter of 2017, a 48.8 per cent drop over the year-on-year.

The Ghibli is trailing the Mercedes-Benz E-Class (547), BMW 5 Series (343), Audi A6 (84), Jaguar XF (65) and Lexus GS (56) in sales.