Photo: Maserati
Maserati has yet to announce that the Levante will debut in Geneva. However, a teaser photo has landed in our lap, and it looks very official. We got some old patent sketches out from the mothballs, and they perfectly match what's being shown in this dark and mysterious preview.
The front end is defined by a large hexagonal grille that's placed upside down compared to Audi's. This makes the Levante look like it's angry and wants to kick you in the face. The headlights connect to the grille, and their LED brow contributes to the anger.
There's something we can't see in the teaser, and that's the rounded fog lights underneath the headlights. Test prototypes don't have them either, so they are either gone or optional as part of an off-road package.
Even though Maserati may reveal the Levante soon, it won't enter production straight away. So Porsche's Cayenne can breathe easy. We haven't heard a lot of great things about Maserati recently, and demand for the sedans has been diminishing. But if SUVs are the end-all weapons of market domination everybody says they are, the Levante will put the Italians in the green.
Three years ago, a preview concept for the vehicle was shown. Immediately, speculation suggesting that it's based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee surfaced. But over a year of mule testing has revealed the Ghibli is what underpins the Levante. The first SUV made by the company will be able to rely on Maserati's trademark Q4 AWD system and existing ZF 8-speed automatic gearboxes. On the engine front, we'll see a twin-turbo V6 powerplant with 350 and 425 ponies, joined by a twin-turbo V8 developing 560+ horsepower. Diesels will range from 250 to 340 PS, all coming from the same 3-liter V6.
If the Levante does debut indeed at the Geneva Motor Show in March, it will bolster the ranks, as SUVs like the Audi A2, Skoda Vision S and SEAT Ateca will also be presented. However, there are a couple of auto shows coming in April where Maserati can get more attention.
There's something we can't see in the teaser, and that's the rounded fog lights underneath the headlights. Test prototypes don't have them either, so they are either gone or optional as part of an off-road package.
Even though Maserati may reveal the Levante soon, it won't enter production straight away. So Porsche's Cayenne can breathe easy. We haven't heard a lot of great things about Maserati recently, and demand for the sedans has been diminishing. But if SUVs are the end-all weapons of market domination everybody says they are, the Levante will put the Italians in the green.
Three years ago, a preview concept for the vehicle was shown. Immediately, speculation suggesting that it's based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee surfaced. But over a year of mule testing has revealed the Ghibli is what underpins the Levante. The first SUV made by the company will be able to rely on Maserati's trademark Q4 AWD system and existing ZF 8-speed automatic gearboxes. On the engine front, we'll see a twin-turbo V6 powerplant with 350 and 425 ponies, joined by a twin-turbo V8 developing 560+ horsepower. Diesels will range from 250 to 340 PS, all coming from the same 3-liter V6.
If the Levante does debut indeed at the Geneva Motor Show in March, it will bolster the ranks, as SUVs like the Audi A2, Skoda Vision S and SEAT Ateca will also be presented. However, there are a couple of auto shows coming in April where Maserati can get more attention.
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