The Maserati brand conjures up images of the height of Italian luxury. Say the name and you can almost picture a classic grand touring car gracefully running along a road that hugs the shore of Lake Como. The Maserati Ghibli is a model name that harkens back to a stunning coupe with a long hood that was produced from 1967 to 1973. It also refers to a fully modern 4-door sports sedan that arrived in the U.S. market in 2014 and now carries over to 2017.

The 2017 Maserati Ghibli features the classic layout of a car built for performance over long trips, and the four doors make for easier access compared to standard grand touring coupes. The name may be vintage, but the Ghibli's look is very forward-thinking. Angular, menacing headlights flank the large, gaping scalloped grille, which is mimicked by the series of accents in the LED headlights and set off by the large Maserati Trident logo. Maserati claims the grille is inspired by the A6 GCS of the 1950s, again bridging the old and new.

Maserati design the Ghibli to be visually connected to the Quattroporte ultra-luxury sedan, but the Ghibli is 11.5 inches shorter, 0.8 inches lower to the ground, and 110 pounds lighter. It comes standard with 18-inch wheels, and 19-, 20-, and 21-inch designs are all available. Aft of the front wheels are the three vents that have become recognizable cues on fellow Maserti models. Another fetching detail is the “Maserati” cursive logo emblazoned across the trunk lid handle.

Craftsmanship is king in the Ghibli. The feeling of comfort and luxury is immediately present once you slide behind the wheel. A combination of soft-touch materials, carbon fiber accents, and the latest cabin technology dominate the interior aesthetic. There are plenty of available interior swatches and stitch patterns, including a very unique red design--according to Maserati, no amount of personalization is too much. For the less discerning luxury buyer, standard features include leather seating, dual-zone climate control, an 8-speaker audio system with an auxiliary audio jack and UBS port, and a standard navigation system.

The navigation and audio systems are accessed through an 8.4-inch touchscreen display located in the center of the dash. This vivid, responsive, and easy-to-use screen represents the fruits of Fiat’s ownership of both Chrysler and Maserati; while it sometimes seems uncouth for a luxury maker to use any features from a volume brand, the tech brought to the table by the FCA family yields one of the best infotainment systems on the market today, with large icons and standard Bluetooth connectivity.

Optional features include a faux-suede headliner, heated steering wheel, power rear sunshade, and 15-speaker Harman/Kardon premium audio system.

Under the sculpted hood resides a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 making 345 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. An S trim utilizes the same engine, but boosted to 404 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Both the base and S send power to the rear wheels, while the S Q4 trim features all-wheel drive. No matter which trim you choose, power is sent through an 8-speed ZF transmission with a manual shift mode.

The Ghibli has a double-wishbone front and 5-bar multi-link rear suspension for superb cornering. The available Skyhook suspension system features adaptive damping and, with the push of a button, can go from a hardened performance feel to a comfort-oriented ride. You get Skyhook if you opt for the S or S Q4, along with a sport exhaust system, a limited-slip rear differential, and even Wi-Fi connectivity. For the true driving enthusiast, a race-style suspension is also available on the range-topping S Q4, lowering the car by 10mm and incorporating stiffer springs and special variable-damping hydraulic shocks.

The Ghibli has claimed 0-60 mph times of 5.5 seconds for the base, 4.9 seconds for the S, and 4.7 seconds for the S Q4. Fuel economy for the base Ghibli comes in at 17 mpg city/24 highway/19 combined. The S and S Q4 achieve the same fuel economy, but with one less mpg city.

Standard safety features include antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, anti-slip regulation, a motor-spin regulator (to prevent wheels from locking up when downshifting on slippery surfaces), and a full array of front- and side-impact airbags. More advanced safety features include a backup camera and an available blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic detection, which will alert you of approaching vehicles when you're backing out of a parking spot.

Pricing for the 2017 Maserati Ghibli has not yet been announced, but expect it to be in a similar price range to 2016, at $70,000-$80,000 or over, depending on your personalization plans.

With a menacing front end accented by classic design cues, the Maserati Ghibli paints a picture of the past and present. Its incredibly unique interior designs will please the luxury aficionado, while a raucous exhaust note, strong acceleration, and superb handling will equally impress the hardcore driver. Put these features together in one car and you have the ultimate blend of performance and luxury.