Photo: CarPix
The first sport utility vehicle in the history of Maserati definitely had to be something special, but the Levante went only halfway there.
With a powertrain lineup consisting of a couple of V6 gasoline engines and a six-cylinder diesel, it wasn't exactly the Porsche Cayenne-killer that everyone was expecting.
Maserati is working on rectifying the inconvenience of not having a Levante V8 with the upcoming GTS version, which should be unveiled in the first half of 2018.
Packing an upgraded V8 from the Quattroporte VI GTS, the 2018 Maserati Levante GTS should develop around 570 hp and over 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque. This amount of firepower would probably be enough to make it about as fast as the latest Cayenne Turbo, which brags with a top speed of 286 km/h (177.7 mph).
Sure, the Porsche is slightly better at hooking up and has more torque, which means that the Maserati will probably be a tad slower from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph).
That said, the Ferrari-designed 3.8-liter V8 that will go in the Levante GTS comes with a spine-tingling Italian V8 exhaust sound, so the two super-SUVs should out-handle each other from different perspectives. Keep in mind that Maserati engineers decided to use a BMW X5 M, not a Cayenne, to test the first Levante GTS prototype.
Even though it will send power to all four wheels through a modified ZF 8HP automatic transmission as standard, the Levante GTS will be even less off-road friendly than its lesser brothers. We wouldn't hold that against Maserati, though, because nobody in their right mind would take the Trident SUV off a paved road.
There is also a possibility that Maserati may delay the GTS version until the entire Levante lineup gets revamped with an early mid-cycle facelift, which should be unveiled sometime in the second half of 2018.
Either way, the Levante GTS is bound to come with an updated Maserati Touch Control infotainment system, a torque vectoring AWD system and some design upgrades over the standard SUV.
A mini-Levante SUV is also said to be in the works, but judging by how strapped-for-cash FCA is, you shouldn't expect it too soon.
Maserati is working on rectifying the inconvenience of not having a Levante V8 with the upcoming GTS version, which should be unveiled in the first half of 2018.
Packing an upgraded V8 from the Quattroporte VI GTS, the 2018 Maserati Levante GTS should develop around 570 hp and over 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque. This amount of firepower would probably be enough to make it about as fast as the latest Cayenne Turbo, which brags with a top speed of 286 km/h (177.7 mph).
Sure, the Porsche is slightly better at hooking up and has more torque, which means that the Maserati will probably be a tad slower from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph).
That said, the Ferrari-designed 3.8-liter V8 that will go in the Levante GTS comes with a spine-tingling Italian V8 exhaust sound, so the two super-SUVs should out-handle each other from different perspectives. Keep in mind that Maserati engineers decided to use a BMW X5 M, not a Cayenne, to test the first Levante GTS prototype.
Even though it will send power to all four wheels through a modified ZF 8HP automatic transmission as standard, the Levante GTS will be even less off-road friendly than its lesser brothers. We wouldn't hold that against Maserati, though, because nobody in their right mind would take the Trident SUV off a paved road.
There is also a possibility that Maserati may delay the GTS version until the entire Levante lineup gets revamped with an early mid-cycle facelift, which should be unveiled sometime in the second half of 2018.
Either way, the Levante GTS is bound to come with an updated Maserati Touch Control infotainment system, a torque vectoring AWD system and some design upgrades over the standard SUV.
A mini-Levante SUV is also said to be in the works, but judging by how strapped-for-cash FCA is, you shouldn't expect it too soon.
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