More details have emerged regarding Maserati's new mid-sized sedan, the Ghibli. Set to be launched at the 2013 Shanghai Motor Show in April, the Ghibli will go on sale before the end of the year.

The Ghibli is based on a shortened version of the Quattroporte platform. It is expected to measure around 4.9m in length, which is about 300mm shorter than the new Quattroporte. This means that the new model will have a more or less similar foot print as its class rivals such as the BMW 5 Series and Audi A6.

At launch, the Ghibli is available with a twin-turbocharged, direct injected V6 3.0-litre. It is similar to the unit found on the Quattroporte but detuned to 385bhp. The other petrol engine choice will be a version of the 3.8-litre V8 found in the Quattroporte which is good for about 480bhp. Both engines are designed and built by Ferrari. A diesel option is also available and reports indicate that it could be a highly-tuned version of the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel found in the Jeep Grand Cherokee. All engine choices will be mated to a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.

The rear-wheel driven Ghibli is said to be a much more aggressive car than the Quattroporte.