Maserati Levante Australian pricing and specification

Maserati has announced the Australian pricing and specification for its first-ever SUV, the Maserati Levante.

Available in three variants, all powered by a 202kW/600Nm Turbo Diesel Engine, driving through an eight-speed automatic gearbox to the Maserati Q4 intelligent four wheel drive system. Allied to the standard Skyhook adjustable air suspension, which can vary the ride height by up to 8cm and five different drive modes, the Levante is said to have a level of off road ability that has not been previously offered by Maserati.

“Maserati has not designed an SUV,” says Glen Sealey, Chief Operating Officer of Maserati Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

“First and foremost Maserati has designed a new Maserati. A new model that delivers, like all its predecessors, superlative style, performance, handling and road holding combined with unique levels of personalization to produce a true Maserati. At the same time it adds the space and flexibility of an SUV with real off road ability without compromising any of those essential Maserati attributes.”

“This remarkable range of abilities and attributes for a Maserati is very accessible,” says Mr Sealey.

The range kicks off with the Levante Turbo Diesel at $139,990 plus on-road costs, while the Levante Sport and the Levante Luxury are both priced at $159,990 plus on-road costs.

The Levante is based on the Ghibli and Quattroporte platform. The car chassis is said to have been developed to offer unique on-road drivability and competitive off-road capability, with day-to-day comfort and practicality.

Maserati says the Levante has the ability to excite every sports car driver counting on performance-oriented features, such as the extensive use of lightweight materials, ideal 50-50% weight distribution and its lowest in class centre of gravity.

The aluminium double wishbone/five link suspension layout comprises standard Air Springs and electronically controlled Skyhook shock absorbers. In cooperation with the intelligent Q4 All-Wheel-Drive system and the newly introduced Torque Vectoring system which deliver GT on-road behaviour and surprising – for a Maserati – off-road capabilities.

Engine-wise, the Levante is equipped with the latest evolution of the Maserati common-rail, direct injection turbodiesel V6 with reduced dwell time injectors. The 3.0-litre engine generates 202kW and delivers 0-100 km/h in a claimed 6.9 seconds and a 230 km/h maximum speed while promising fuel economy as low as 7.2L/100.

Its 8-speed automatic ZF gearbox comes with four drive modes, “Normal”, I.C.E., “Sport” and “Off-road”. Each altering engine, transmission, suspension and electronics characteristics.

Its range of equipment includes the availability of Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Forward Collision Warning and Brake Assist System, Lane Departure Warning, Surround View camera, 8.4″/20 cm Touch Screen display with brand new rotary control, an addition to the Maserati Touch Control Plus which extends the AM and FM choice with DAB digital radio as well as Apple CarPlay and Android control software.

The new model is on sale in Maserati dealers now with the first deliveries at the end of the year.