It’s been five years since Maserati promised the world an SUV, with the 2011 Kubang Concept. Now the Italians have officially introduced the production model, and it’s called Maserati Levante. The brand’s first ever SUV will show off its beautiful curves and features at the Geneva Motor Show, in just a couple of days, while production has already started at the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Mirafiori assembly plant.
Sales are scheduled to begin in Europe this spring, with the rest of the world having to wait for it a bit more. The luxury mid-size crossover keeps in line with the original Kubang study, coming with a dramatic snout, a large grille and aggressive headlamps. The sporty touch is complemented by flowing lines and the quad exhaust pipes.
Maserati is keeping the interior a secret, though, at least for now. However, a glimpse of the cabin revealed a familiar design, similar to that of the Ghibli; as such, we have to mention leather covering most surfaces, as well as a large screen on the center console that’s obviously part of the infotainment system.
The Italians were also quiet when it came to the technical specifications, although leaked engine specs confirm the same range as the Ghibli sedan, including two 3.0-liter V6 petrol engines for the Levante 350 and 430 versions, and a 3.0-liter V6 diesel.
With all that in mind, it’s supposed that the Levante 350 will do 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 243 km/h (151 mph), while the Levante 450 will take 5.2 seconds to accelerate and will top out at 264 km/h (164 mph). The diesel version is a bit slower, obviously – 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.9 seconds and 230 km/h (143 mph) maximum.
Maserati promises unrivaled handling and an excellent off-road performance and ride, as it has equipped its SUV with a state-of-the-art electronic suspension, with controlled damping and air springs, the firm’s “Q4” intelligent all-wheel drive and a specially-calibrated 8-speed automatic transmission. More to come, at Geneva!
