Exclusive Launch - Maserati Levante

Maserati recently pulled the wraps off of their latest offering in South Africa, the Levante. It marks the entry of the century-old marque into the luxury SUV segment and it is poised to create quite a stir.

Based on the Kubang Concept car that has been seen at numerous auto shows in past months, the Levante is a full-sized luxury SUV, complete with 4-wheel drive. While a somewhat radical departure from the brands usual sports offerings, the Levante promises to combine the technology and experience of Maserati performance with a flexibility and versatility unseen before from the Modena-based firm.

The greasy bits.

The Levante will only be available in South Africa in a diesel format, with no immediate plans to bring the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol to our shores.

The 3.0-litre turbodiesel with Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT) produces 205kW (275hp) and 600Nm torque to propel the Levante to 100km/h from a standstill in a mere 6.9-seconds and on to a top speed of 230km/h. Maserati claims consumption figures of 7.2-litres/100km with 189g/km CO2 emitted.

Drive is sent through an automatic 8-speed ZF gearbox that features an auto-adaptive software package to learn the driving style of the driver and ensure that shifts are timed to perfection. Four driving modes are selectable, including: Normal, Sport, Off-Road and I.C.E.

This is then sent to all four wheels via Maserati's Q4 all-wheel drive system and standard air suspension that has no fewer than eight settings. This allows for additional ground clearance for off-road situations as well as a lowered ride height for performance driving and improved aerodynamics and an Easy-Entry mode that lowers the car an additional 45mm over Normal to aid with ingress and egress. It benefits from Maserati's Skyhook technology as well with active dampers that either place an emphasis on comfort or performance, depending on the drive mode selected.

Regular road driving will see up 100% of the power being sent to the rear wheels with up to 50% being sent to the front in the event of front wheel slippage, cornering or in off-road conditions. Combined with a perfect 50/50 weight distribution, the Levante captures the sporty nature that Maserati offerings are renowned for.

The styling

The Levante offers the size and practicality of a full size SUV with best-in-class interior space with the outward appearance of a coupe. The muscular shoulder lines and frameless doors lend themselves to creating a shape that appears to be in motion even when standing still.

With an aggressive front end, the Levante creates an imposing presence on the road while still managing to look sporty. The raked rear window and long bonnet further add to the impression of a coupe. The Bi-Xenon headlights feature Adaptive Front Lighting with LED daytime running lights to ensure exemplary illumination of the road while the concave grille and Trident emblem ensure that all who you approach, know that you're in a Maserati.

The Levante is distinctively Maserati, complete with signature fender venting. 19-inch alloys will be fitted to South African models with optional 20-inch wheels available on request. It features best-in-class aerodynamics with an extremely low drag coefficient of Cx 0.31.

Interior

It goes without saying that the interior of the Levante is an opulent affair with expanses of rich leather and raised stitching taking center stage. Two trim levels are available, Luxury and Sport with the former seeing the implementation of woodgrain surfaces while the latter sees these panels trimmed in carbon fibre. In total, 28 colour combinations are available at launch.

Leather seats are a standard feature of the Levante are 8-way electrically adjustable for the driver and 4-way manually adjustable for the passenger. The optional Comfort Seat offers 12-way adjustment while the Sport seats form part of the Sport Pack and are 12-way electrically adjustable as well, with additional support.

An 8.4-inch touch screen infotainment system features the latest in connectivity, including Apple CarPlay. It's augmented by an 8-speaker Base audio system with options to fit a premium Harman Kardon or high-end Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system.

A host of driver and passenger safety aides are fitted including Blind Spot Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning and rear view camera.

Pricing

Speaking with Amaury La Fonte, Marketing Director of Maserati Middle East, India and Africa, he indicated that the Levante is marked to retail for R1 650 000, which places it well within the reach of the prospective X5, X6, Land Rover Range Rover buyer.