Naza Italia Sdn Bhd, the official importer and distributor for Maserati in Malaysia today revealed Maserati’s first ever SUV called the Levante in a media preview event held at NAZA Tower in Kuala Lumpur.
The new model completes the existing range of saloon and sports cars, extending the offering together with the Quattroporte, Ghibli, GranTurismo and GranCabrio models in Malaysia.
According to the automaker, the SUV’s name is inspired by the wind: the Levante is a warm Mediterranean wind that can change from a light breeze to an irresistible natural force in an instant, mirroring the character of the first Maserati SUV.
It is built based on the Quattroporte and Ghibli architecture, and the technology applied to every Levante is designed to offer outstanding performance both on- and off-road, a terrain it will likely never, ever see… Sophisticated suspension – double-wishbone on the front axle and multi-link on the rear, combined with electronically controlled damping, four corner air-springs providing 5 dynamic ride levels (plus one additional park-position), play an essential role in the car’s handling.
Furthermore, with the lowest centre of gravity in its class, perfectly balanced weight distribution (50-50) between front and rear, high levels of dynamic torsional and flexional stiffness, and a mechanical self-locking rear differential as standard, when driven on-road, the Levante delivers all the performance typical of every Maserati.
Just like other SUVs, the height-adjustment of the body position particularly useful in off-road driving guarantees ride comfort at the top of the category; when set to the minimum ground clearance, it enables the vehicle to perform at its sporty best.
At launch, the Maserati Levante is available in a 3-litre V6 Twin-Turbo petrol engine with either 350hp or 430hp, and a 275hp 3-litre V6 Turbo Diesel. All engines are combined with the “Q4” intelligent all-wheel drive system – which can transfer torque between the axles instantaneously when required – and an 8-speed automatic gearbox, with integrated Start & Stop System.
Naza Italia has yet to announce the specification details for the Malaysian market which is expected to be revealed during its official launch by the end of this year.
The Levante’s cabin has been created with high-quality materials from optional premium leather to Ermenegildo Zegna silk, made in Trivero by the Zegna wool mill with a patented process. On the dashboard, the coupé-like SUV features an 8.4-inch high-resolution screen which can be operated – in addition to the touch system – by using the new rotary control in the central tunnel.
There’s a wide range of sophisticated advanced driver assistance systems available in the Levante, including adaptive cruise control with automatic Start & Stop function, forward collision warning, automatic brake assist system and lane departure warning. Further options include blind spot alert, surround view camera, a powerlift tailgate and a panoramic electric sunroof.
Built in a completely refurbished and modernized area of the Maserati’s Mirafiori plant in Turin, Naza Italia is already accepting bookings for the Levante and invites the public to head over to Naza Italia’s showroom in Petaling Jaya, where its sales team can provide them with more details of Maserati’s latest offerings. Estimated price at its launch in December this year is expected to be (well) below RM800,000.
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