Maserati unveils its first-ever SUV, the Levante

(L-R) The Soong family—Marc, Wellington, and Jason, principals of Philippine Maserati distributor Autostrada Motore Inc.—with Maserati Asia Pacific sales director Domenico Le Marte

Like the Mediterranean wind it was named after, the Levante was engineered to master any situation effortlessly.

Luxurious and adventurous, the Levante provides the highest levels of comfort while delivering outstanding performance even in the most extreme conditions. There’s no shortage of space or performance, either. All versions come with an eight-speed gearbox, Maserati’s sophisticated intelligent Q4 AWD and a torque-vectoring system.

Its elegant surfaces, spacious leather interior, intuitive on-board controls and exceptional engineering create a whole new class of SUV.

Maserati’s unmistakable design is showcased beautifully in the sleek, sporty silhouette that features the iconic air vents on the front fenders. The assertive style of the front grille references the great sporting Maseratis of the past, and features the legendary Trident badge.

The Levante embodies the passion, sophisticated engineering and exclusivity that have distinguished every vehicle engineered and crafted by Maserati in the heart of Italy since it was founded in 1914.

 Along with its groundbreaking Q4 intelligent all-wheel drive system, the Levante benefits from advanced active air suspension: five ride heights, six levels of capability and comfort. Combined with Maserati’s acclaimed Skyhook system, with shock absorbers featuring continuous damping variation, the Levante can prioritize comfort or assume a more sporty character depending on driving conditions or driver preferences.

Highly crafted interiors, unparalleled in elegance and refinement, boast limitless possibilities of personalization from premium leather coupled with carbon fiber trim to exclusive Ermenegildo Zegna silk interiors and the audio perfection of Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound. Maserati is aiming for a new benchmark in the category for interior comfort in an SUV.

Like a wave that’s been waiting to take shape, there is pure poetry in the sculpted lines of the Levante. More than just another example of Maserati’s superb automotive design, it represents a timeless design language that is set to create a new benchmark in its category.

Being a Maserati, the Levante unleashes prodigious amount of power, coupled with superior handling thanks to a low center of gravity, perfectly balanced 50-50 weight distribution and vehicle systems calibrated to increase driving pleasure. The Levante also features class-leading aerodynamics with standard active grill shutters and a sophisticated standard air suspension system that allows for five different dynamic ride heights.

Innovative, cutting-edge technology and engineering sophistication are the cornerstones of the outstanding 3.0 Twin Turbo V6 petrol engine, delivering incredible levels of performance, while providing reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. There is also a high-performance turbodiesel engine option available. - Photos by the author and Manny N. de los Reyes

STAR Motoring editor Manny de los Reyes with TV5 news anchor and Maserati ambassadress Ice Martinez pose beside the new Maserati Levante

 

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