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In Maserati’s 101-year history, the Italian automaker has never built an SUV. In recent years, however, sports and luxury brands have turned the corner, realizing that the booming SUV and crossover segments make their bank accounts very happy, affording them the financial stability to finance low-volume performance cars and other symbols of opulence. Meet the newest entrant to the SUV class — the Maserati Levante.
Revealed ahead of its debut at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, the Levante features heavy styling similarities to the rest of the Maserati lineup, which currently includes the Quattroporte, Ghibli, GranTurismo, and GranCabrio models. The narrow headlights and unique fender vents are a clear reference to the Ghibli and Quattroporte, as is the large hexagonal grill and heavily contoured hood.
From the side, the Levante looks athletic and streamlined, with pronounced rear haunches, a heavily tapered rear window, and a roofline that peaks directly above the driver. It’s a significantly different aesthetic than its main rivals, the Porsche Cayenne and Range Rover Sport, which look stocky and sinewy by comparison.
Technical details are still under wraps at the time of this writing, but Maserati has revealed that every model will feature electronic suspension with controlled damping and air springs, all-wheel drive, and an eight-speed automatic specifically tailored for the SUV.
Related: Maserati says it will go hybrid because it has to, not by choice
As far as engines go, the Levante will offer both gas and diesel powerplants, with unconfirmed reports claiming that the vehicle will boast two V6 engines rated at 350 and 450 horsepower. A V8 option is also likely, with a rumored output of 580 hp aimed squarely at the range-topping Cayenne Turbo S and Range Rover Sport SVR. Prices are expected to start around $100,000.
The Levante will initially launch in Europe this spring, with debuts across the globe following soon after. Stay tuned to DT Cars for the vehicle’s full reveal in Geneva on March 1.
- Maserati’s Cayenne-fighting Levante will finally break cover in Geneva
- Maserati says it will go hybrid because it has to, not by choice
- First Drive: 2016 Range Rover Td6
from Planet GS via John Jason Fallows on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1PY78V4
Andrew Hard
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