Photo: Maserati
The Italians have confirmed that they will employ this powertrain configuration on other models, but the SUV got right of way to become the first production plug-in hybrid from the Trident brand.
Maserati affirmed the intention to launch a plug-in hybrid version of the Levante back in March 2016, when journalists were told it would use parts from the Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid.
The other Maserati models will receive a plug-in hybrid drivetrain by 2020, and this is expected to happen because of stricter emissions norms that will apply to all automobiles that will be manufactured starting with that date.
The plug-in hybrid Levante is expected to be launched in a few years time, with reports having placed the market release date somewhere between 2018 and 2020. We think that the former is closer to what will actually happen.
Chrysler is Maserati’s corporation partner, and the Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid is set to start manufacturing shortly. Evidently, fitting parts from a minivan to a premium SUV might seem like a stretch, but that is how the automotive industry works these days.
The idea behind this part sharing scheme is that customers will not get Chrysler Pacifica parts per se in a Maserati, but rather similar components, which will be restricted to the plug-in hybrid bits.
Just like the Levante, the Pacifica employs a V6 engine, but the two engine units are entirely different.
In other words, they cannot be swapped between cars, but the plug-in hybrid system from the Pacifica, in its conceptual form, will have no problems fitting in the first Maserati SUV.
The plug-in hybrid components from the Pacifica will likely be mated to Maserati’s 3.0-liter V6 engine, which is currently offered in two states of tune - 350 HP and 430 HP. The unit with the lower power figure is expected to get the system first, but it will eventually be offered for its big brother as well.
The resulting vehicle will not feature a dramatic increase in performance, but its fuel economy will be much improved, and its emissions will follow. The move will eventually happen to every Maserati launched after 2018, if legislation remains unchanged and the brand gets to continue its current plans.
Maserati affirmed the intention to launch a plug-in hybrid version of the Levante back in March 2016, when journalists were told it would use parts from the Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid.
The other Maserati models will receive a plug-in hybrid drivetrain by 2020, and this is expected to happen because of stricter emissions norms that will apply to all automobiles that will be manufactured starting with that date.
The plug-in hybrid Levante is expected to be launched in a few years time, with reports having placed the market release date somewhere between 2018 and 2020. We think that the former is closer to what will actually happen.
Chrysler is Maserati’s corporation partner, and the Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid is set to start manufacturing shortly. Evidently, fitting parts from a minivan to a premium SUV might seem like a stretch, but that is how the automotive industry works these days.
The idea behind this part sharing scheme is that customers will not get Chrysler Pacifica parts per se in a Maserati, but rather similar components, which will be restricted to the plug-in hybrid bits.
Just like the Levante, the Pacifica employs a V6 engine, but the two engine units are entirely different.
In other words, they cannot be swapped between cars, but the plug-in hybrid system from the Pacifica, in its conceptual form, will have no problems fitting in the first Maserati SUV.
The plug-in hybrid components from the Pacifica will likely be mated to Maserati’s 3.0-liter V6 engine, which is currently offered in two states of tune - 350 HP and 430 HP. The unit with the lower power figure is expected to get the system first, but it will eventually be offered for its big brother as well.
The resulting vehicle will not feature a dramatic increase in performance, but its fuel economy will be much improved, and its emissions will follow. The move will eventually happen to every Maserati launched after 2018, if legislation remains unchanged and the brand gets to continue its current plans.
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