If you are afraid that the Maserati SUV Levante will be only “repackaged” Jeep Cherokee with a trident on the hood, the latest information indicate otherwise. Levante should have a lot in common with the models Quattroporte and Ghibli.
Maserati Levante will represent “the Latin version” of vehicles like the BMW X6 and Porsche Cayenne. This means that the SUV model will be preserved Maserati sportiness.
Body, whose shape will be derived from the concept Kubang 2011, will be made of aluminum, while the many important components and assemblies, such as the operating system, will be taken from the last generation of Maserati Quattroporte and the latest model of limousines Ghibli.
Part of the electronic system will provide Chrysler or Jeep, and the interior of Levante will have all the luxury of Maserati cars.
As for the engines, available are units that are built in the two latest sedans of Italian manufacturer. These are two petrol, 3.0-liter V6 with 410 hp and 550 Nm and 3.8-liter V8 with 530 hp and 710 Nm of torque, as well as the 3.0-liter V6 turbo-diesel unit that produces 275 hp and 600 Nm.
Motors should be connected to eight-speed automatic transmission, while the forces is transmitted to the all wheels with the system that was in charge of Jeep, which is its specialty.
Although it was originally planned to be produced in the United States, due to high demand for the Grand Cherokee and the occupancy rate of the factory in Detroit, Maserati SUV is likely to be produced in Italy. According to earlier information, Levante will be on the market in 2014 when Maserati celebrates 100 years of existence.
