Every supercar manufacturer is building a powerful SUV because it is the need of the hour.
Every supercar manufacturer is building a powerful SUV because it is the need of the hour. Maserati has made public their plans of building one. It’s also a name, Levante. Maserati Levante production will begin by the end of 2016 to be sold as a 2017 model and is expected to show the Levante in the road going avatar at the 2016 Detroit Motor Show.
Earlier spy shots revealed a test mule, but this time the covers have come off, only to be replaced by heavy cladding. Maserati does not intend to build a full blown SUV capable of off roading like the Range Rover’s but more a road-going luxury SUV that will give the comforts of a big utility vehicle with some rock climbing capabilities.
The Levante is expected to be offered in two engine options. A turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 and 3.8-liter V-8 units found in the Ghibli and Quattroporte with the V8 torque figures hovering over the 500 Newton-meter mark. Some reports say it will be 444 horsepower for the V-6 model and 572 hp for the V-8. All this power will be transmitted to the wheel via an 8-speed transmission. The Maserati Levante will have 0-100 km/h speed of about 5 seconds.
Earlier this year, the patent drawings of the SUV got leaked. They show that the Levante’s design has clearly been influenced by Maserati’s Kubang concept car of 2011.
Production is scheduled at FCA’s Mirafiori plant located in Turin, Italy, which has the capacity to build up to 300,000 vehicles per year. However, volumes for the Levante will be much lower than that, with initial sales estimated to be about 10,000 units per year. Key rivals will be high-end versions of the Porsche Cayenne and Land Rover Range Rover Sport as well as Bentley’s Bentayga.
Meanwhile, on the Indian front, Maserati opened its first dealership in New Delhi. Maseratis maiden showroom in New Delhi is located on Mathura Road and has all facilities possible following global Maserati standards. The showroom has been set up in partnership with AMP Supercars will showcase its flagship sedan, the Quattroporte and its latest E-segment sedan, the Ghibli as well as the company’s sports coupe and cabriolet, the GranTurismo and GranCabrio. The Maserati Ghibli is the one with lowest sticker price, Rs 1.1 Crore.
Pic Source: MotorAuthority
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