Maserati has released the first official images of its upcoming four-door saloon ahead of its debut at the 2013 Shanghai Motor Show next week. The photos reveals a sportier character compared to the larger Quattroporte, which was launched earlier this year.

The Ghibli will be available with either a gasoline or diesel turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission making the Ghibli the first production car in the brand's history to be powered by a diesel engine. Drive configuration can be had in either a rear-wheel drive or the new 'Q4' all-wheel drive system.

The all-new Ghibli is set to break new ground for Maserati and will be a significant model in the carmaker's growth plan to sell 50,000 cars per year by 2015. Reports also indicate that Fiat is investing a significant amount of money in Maserati to expand its product range to help meet their goals.

Once launched, the Ghibli will be Maserati’s first saloon in this segment that aims to cater to customers looking into premium executive cars and compete with the likes of the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, and Mercedes-Benz E Class.

Watch out for more details once the official launch happens in Shanghai next week.