Maserati had put on display the
Maserati Levante from October 5-7, 2017 at DLF Emporio mall in New Delhi. The
vehicle was to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2017. The new Maserati
Levante SUV is expected to be offered in a choice of petrol and diesel engines---a
3.0 litre Twin Turbo V6 petrol engine and a V6 Turbo Diesel. The 2987cc diesel
engines on offer produce a peak power of either 250hp or 275hp. The 2979cc V6 Petrol
engines produce a peak power of either 350hp or 430hp.
The Maserati Levante can do 0-100km/h
in 6.0 seconds with a top speed of 251 km/h . There is extensive use of
aluminium in chassis, body and suspension. With a double-wishbone/five-link
suspension layout, an air Spring Suspension with variable ride height, it has electronically-controlled
Skyhook shock absorbers as standard. It also comes with electric Power Steering
enabling active ADAS, highway assist, active Blind Spot Assist and Traffic Sign
Recognition
The MY18 Levante made its
world premiere at the 2017 Frankfurt Motorshow with a new range strategy and an
array of hi-tech features, including Electric Power Steering and the addition
of new active functions to the existing driving assistance systems.
Complementing the technical
sophistication and inspired aerodynamic design is an electric Air Shutter in
the front grille. The interior design features an array of innovative solutions
in line with Levante’s SUV character, with an extra focus on sportiness in the
new GranSport trim.
The dashboard and the central
console are designed to accommodate the 8.4” Maserati Touch Control Plus (MTC+)
display, the driving modes button cluster, the user-friendly, aluminium rotary
knob and the air suspension height setup switch.
The Levante is near the top of
its class in terms of interior space. The rear seats comfortably accommodate
three passengers and provide extremely generous headroom. The luggage
compartment has a versatile load space of 580 litres, which is ideal for large
items.
The 3.0-litre 350 hp engine
has been designed to offer an outstanding driving experience along with low
fuel consumption. It delivers 500 Nm torque from 1,750 rpm up to 4,750rpm. All
versions of the Levante are fitted with the same eight-speed ZF automatic
transmission, Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive and standard mechanical
limited-slip differential (LSD).
The Maserati Q4 Intelligent
All-Wheel-Drive comes as standard in all versions of the Levante. It is based
on an electronically-controlled multi-plate wet clutch, installed into a
transfer case that is linked by a driveshaft to the front axle.
The system is developed to
deliver a typical Maserati rear-wheel drive experience, even in low-grip road
conditions. It acts on demand by transferring traction to the front wheels with
an immediate response. In a matter of 150 milliseconds, it can alter the
front/rear torque split from 0:100% to 50:50%.
The Levante is the only car in
its class equipped with a mechanical LSD at the rear axle. Fitted as standard,
it guarantees optimal traction in all driving situations. The asymmetric
locking feature offers 25% lock-up under power and 35% under release.
The torque-vectoring function
has been further developed for the Levante to increase the SUV’s sportiness and
driving pleasure. Whilst performing a cornering manoeuvre, the system
distributes more torque to the outer wheels by applying a slight braking force
to the inner wheels.
3.0-litre V6 diesel engine
The 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine
is manufactured by VM Motori and develops (275 hp of power and a crushing 600
Nm of torque, 90% of which available below 2,000 rpm. The Levante Diesel
accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and reaches 230 km/h.
Other significant features are
a ball-bearing variable-geometry turbocharger with variable nozzles and a
fabricated exhaust manifold with Air Gap technology. Rotating the turbo shaft
on ceramic ball bearings reduces friction by 50% and, as a result, turbo lag,
and improves boost and torque.