Maserati has revealed the first images of its upcoming Levante ahead of the model’s debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month.
The first SUV in the manufacturer’s history, the Levante will sit alongside Maserati’s existing range of luxury saloon and sports cars, including the Quattroporte, GranTurismo and Ghibli models.
Despite its obviously larger proportions, the Levante still retains much of that signature Maserati design, with an aggressive front that sports a wide grille and the famous trident badge.
Hallmark Maserati styling
On the side, it also inherits Maserati’s hallmark trio of air vents on the front wings and trapezoidal C-pillars, while the rear features a sports car-style streamlined and a tapered back window.
Not much is known about the exact details of the Levante, but while it was originally planned to be built in Detroit on the same platform as the Jeep Grand Cherokee, that plan was swiftly scrapped.
According to the manufacturer, after going back to the drawing board the Cherokee’s underpinnings were swapped for all-Italian chassis which delivers “outstanding” performance in typical Maserati form.
Four-wheel drive and new eight-speed gearbox
As standard, the Levante gets electronically-controlled air suspension, intelligent four-wheel drive and a new eight-speed automatic transmission designed specifically for the SUV.
Engine specifics haven’t been released yet, but Maserati says that it will come with both petrol and diesel engines, all of which are compliant with the latest Euro 6 emissions standards.
Currently being built at Maserati’s Mirafiori plant in Turin, the new Maserati Levante is due to launch in Europe later this spring, with prices estimated to start from around £60,000.
