cars news 10: 2017 Maserati Levante Revealed Ahead of Geneva Debut

Maserati has unveiled the 2017 Levante ahead of its official debut at the 2016 Geneva auto show. This is the first SUV to wear a Maserati badge, and rounds out the automaker’s lineup, which also includes the Ghibli and Quatrroporte sedans, and the GranTurismo coupe and convertible.

Originally previewed by the Kubang Concept that debuted at the 2011 Detroit auto show, the 2017 Levante is clearly part of the Maserati family thanks to its front fascia resembling that of the Quattroporte and Ghibli sedans. Both headlights are connected to the radiator grille by an LED strip while the trident is embedded proudly into the grille. The rear, on the other hand, features a raked rear window, taillights connected by a chrome strip, and quad exhausts similar to Maserati’s cars. From the side, the Levante’s swoopy, coupe-like silhouette is evident thanks to a roofline that descends quickly at the back and its cab-rearward design while the “Saetta” logo and the three air vents clearly identify it as a Maserati.

Maserati says that the Levante’s chassis has been designed for on-road performance and handling, and ride comfort without sacrificing off-road capability. Standard on all models are electronically controlled damping and air suspension systems with multiple settings, Maserati’s Q4 all-wheel drive system, and an eight-speed automatic transmission that’s been specifically tuned for the Levante. Under the hood, the Levante is expected to come with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 in two states of tune for the U.S. market. The base models should have 350 hp while the more powerful variants could have over 400 hp. A diesel engine will also be offered in Europe but is unlikely to come to the U.S.

The 2017 Maserati Levante will be built at the Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy, near FCA Italy’s headquarters. Europe will be the first region where the Levante will launch this spring and will be followed by the rest of the world.

Maserati Kubang Concept pictured below.

Source: Maserati