There's something rather fitting about driving through some of Yorkshire's finest countryside in an elegant Maserati Ghibli, with the majestic views only matched by the car's awe-inspiring engine note.

And the open road that leads from Pickering over the moors past RAF Fylingdales and on towards Whitby was certainly a fine place to let the twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 petrol machine stretch its legs a little and use some of its 350hp.

The Telegraph & Argus was among a select group of motoring journalists invited to North Yorkshire recently to test out the Italian luxury vehicle manufacturer's latest offerings.

After the initial circular loop, which also included a run across the picturesque Blakey Ridge near Kirbymoorside, it was time to jump out of the Ghibli and into the Levante for a bit of off-roading as Maserati aimed to show off the full breadth of abilities within its range.

And it's fair to say that both the on-road and off-road aspects of the experience were mighty impressive.

In terms of the Ghibli, this premium saloon offers top-quality performance and a thrilling yet comfortable drive, with terrific acceleration and confidence-inspiring handling that were well suited to the roads around the North York Moors.

The vehicle has been enhanced by extra high-tech content in the area of on-board comfort and driver assistance.

Meanwhile, would-be buyers now have more customisation options thanks to the new Luxury and Sport packages, which appeal to motorists with different tastes and driving styles.

In terms of looks, the exterior design has coupé-like styling, with eye-catching features including the c-pillar that bears the iconic “Saetta” logo, the frameless doors and pronounced grille designed to resemble memorable Maserati cars of the 1950s.

The car's look is nicely finished off by the four exhaust chromium-plated pipes, which are fitted to all versions of the Ghibli.

Once inside, the sumptuous interior has been beautifully crafted and has been given a number of upgrades.

The central dashboard has been redesigned to accommodate a high resolution 8.4” screen with multi touch function, which I found to be very user-friendly.

The new infotainment system is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring functions. The central, lower console has also been redesigned and now hosts a rotary knob to control volume and functions, a new lid and a new phone storage compartment.

There's no shortage of space for the driver, with the Ghibli providing class-leading front legroom and, despite its coupé-like silhouette, comfortable head and leg room for all occupants.

In terms of engines, both versions of the petrol range, the Ghibli and Ghibli S, feature the Ferrari built, twin turbo-charged 3.0-litre V6 engine with the 8-speed ZF automatic transmission.

The Ghibli's current offering of 350hp is 20hp more than in the previous model year. If, for some reason, that isn't quite exciting enough, then the Ghibli S has a power output of 410hp.

The Ghibli Diesel, with its Euro 6, 3.0-litre V6 engine, produces a power output of 275hp, which is among the best in its class.

Turning to the Levante, which we tested on an off-road course at the Duncombe Park estate in Helmsley, home to one of Yorkshire’s foremost historic houses, it's fair to say the vehicle has competitive capabilities in muddy and tricky terrain.

The spacious vehicle represents something of a turning point in Maserati’s history, with the new model, unveiled at last year's Geneva Motor Show, allowing the company to make inroads in the largest luxury segment in the world.

In that sense, the Levante makes a major contribution to the creation of the most complete product line-up in Maserati’s history.

Based on the evolution of the saloon platform, the chassis has been specifically developed to offer unique on-road drivability and competitive off-road capability, with day-to-day comfort and practicality.

The premium Italian SUV combines classy design, an exclusive feel and great performance.

In the challenging muddy tracks around Duncombe Park, it didn't seem to struggle at all, gaining plenty of traction on some fairly steep gradients and providing reassurance on downhill sections thanks to the excellent hill descent function, which allows the driver to use the cruise control button to knock the speed up or down 1mph at a time.

In terms of looks, the Levante’s design is distinctive and attractive.

After the off-road section, there was a chance to try out the Levante on the tarmac, where its handling was superb, especially in Sport mode.

The vehicle agility through twisty sections of road seemed especially impressive.

Indeed, the vehicle is capable of exciting any sports car driver who may be craving performance-oriented features, such as use of lightweight materials, balanced weight distribution and what amounts of a lowest in class centre of gravity.

In terms of pricing, the Maserati range stretches from £49,850 for the entry-level Ghibli, up to £125,675.

Clearly, that's beyond the reach of many people, although the company is offering some attractive finance deals, including a package that means the Ghibli is available for £430 a month to business users.

Peter Denton, Region Manager for Maserati in North Europe, stressed that the company was determined to retain "brand exclusivity" with its current range.

He said Maserati was proud of its pedigree of building grand tourers and added that the company had effectively "invented the concept of a four-door high-performance saloon."

Mr Denton was keen to point out Maserati's Italian ethos, with vehicles "designed, developed and produced" in Italy.

"We're entirely Italian in all that we do and the way that we think," he added.

Mr Denton said Maserati already has "global brand awareness" and he was clearly confident in the company's ability to push its message even harder in the years to come.

He said Maserati had a "growth plan" to build 70,000 cars a year by 2018, which is a serious statement of intent when you realise that figure was just 6,300 in 2012, raising to 33,500 in 2015.