When you hear the Maserati name, you think old-world luxury, old-world values, old-world durability. Alas, modern economic viability intrudes, thus the company's introduction, or more accurately, its re-introduction of the 2014 Ghibli 5-seat touring-oriented midsize sedan. Designed to compete, pricewise, with the likes of BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz, this overwrought family auto targets the merely well-heeled, as opposed to the super-wealthy.

Toting the usual array of posh features, European agility and a Ferrari powerplant, the new Ghibli comes in 2 trims, the self-descriptive Base and the performance-tuned S Q4. Both versions pack a useful 18 cubic feet of trunk space, lots of leather, performance tires and that Maserati panache, while the top-shelf S Q4 additionally boasts standard on-demand all-wheel drive (AWD).

Both editions of the re-issued Ghibli are delivered with a standard twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine which mates with a well-conceived 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission. But there the similarity ends. The rear-wheel-drive only (RWD) Base trim’s drivetrain is rated to put out 345 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, while the S Q4’s powertrain is further tweaked to pound down 404 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Estimates have the Ghibli Base reaching 60 mph in about 5.4 seconds from a stop, while the S Q4 is slated to make the same journey in 4.5 seconds. With top speeds of 163 mph (Base) and 177 mph (S Q4), there are no excuses for being late to work with this baby. Mileage, by the way, is a ho-hum 15 mpg city/25 highway for both trims, though those mirrored figures seem a bit optimistic for the up-powered AWD S Q4. In any case, said S Q4’s AWD system allows cruising in RWD while standing by to instantly transfer torque to all 4 wheels when roads become slippery.

Features-wise, look for the Base to tote 18-inch alloy wheels and performance tires outside, while premium leather upholstery and cabin accents, power-adjustable front seats and full power accessories grace the inside. Of course, cruise control is expected to be standard, as is telescoping tilt-wheel steering, while all of this should come bolstered by a remote garage door opener and a rear-view camera. Bluetooth hands-free calling, meantime, is slated to complement a 280-watt stereo flaunting a single-CD player, 8 speakers, satellite radio, an 8.4-inch video monitor and a memory-card slot.

To this, the up-featured S Q4 is expected to add a power sunroof, heated front seats, memory for driver's settings, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and a hard-drive-based navigation system.

The Base, meanwhile, can be fitted with a number of features found standard in its S Q4 sibling as options, while both trims can be delivered with available personal touches to the interior and exterior accents. Additionally, the S Q4 is expected to be eligible for an available mobile WiFi and/or an upgraded Bowers and Wilkinson audio system.

Notable standard safety equipment adorning both 2014 Ghibli trims, finally, includes 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and active front headrests. LED daytime running lights also come standard on both trims, as do high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights, a post-collision safety system and a remote antitheft alarm. The S Q4, meantime, is in line for standard high-power headlight washers.