Geneva Motor Show 2016 is over. MNW shortlisted the most exciting premieres as usual, but… Do you ever happen to have the feeling of having forgot something you can't remember? Something you supposed to be extremely noteworthy? Well, usually isn't anything special.
On the contrary, sometimes it is. Definitely.
On the contrary, sometimes it is. Definitely.
The Maserati Levante.
When Maserati released studio pics of their 5 meter long SUV just ahead of the Motor Show, we didn't got impressed. We agreed that even if the car didn't look bad at all, it didn't impress anybody of us.
After the first glance we noted the beautiful Italian style and the consequent correct proportions but no...peaks. We had the feeling that -as happened for the Ghibli- Maserati's designers went conservative about the style. We believe that a Maserati should be not for all, and its design should exude the strong and fine character of its mechanics. And the mechanics are excellent: the V-6 petrol and diesel engines are borrowed by the rest of the Maserati range (and the 500hp V-8 will be also available) while the chassis is developed starting from the Ghibli.
By the way, have to admit that when me and my colleagues saw the Maserati Levante in person, we changed our mind because the style appear much more bold and personal.
Remains to be said that usually luxury SUVs are a posh version of a larger diffusion model produced by a generalist manufacturer. At the beginning the Levante should not be an exception to this rule: in fact it was supposed to born on Jeep's Grand Cherokee underpinnings. Later on, thanks to a wise decision, the project has been delayed and the Levante project developed on Maserati Ghibli platform. Due tho this the Levante behavior is more road oriented than other luxury SUVs.
Can it go off road anyway? Yeah, it can and pretty well also. Car's air suspension and electronics are constantly monitoring and managing the barycenter's height.
When Maserati released studio pics of their 5 meter long SUV just ahead of the Motor Show, we didn't got impressed. We agreed that even if the car didn't look bad at all, it didn't impress anybody of us.
After the first glance we noted the beautiful Italian style and the consequent correct proportions but no...peaks. We had the feeling that -as happened for the Ghibli- Maserati's designers went conservative about the style. We believe that a Maserati should be not for all, and its design should exude the strong and fine character of its mechanics. And the mechanics are excellent: the V-6 petrol and diesel engines are borrowed by the rest of the Maserati range (and the 500hp V-8 will be also available) while the chassis is developed starting from the Ghibli.
By the way, have to admit that when me and my colleagues saw the Maserati Levante in person, we changed our mind because the style appear much more bold and personal.
Remains to be said that usually luxury SUVs are a posh version of a larger diffusion model produced by a generalist manufacturer. At the beginning the Levante should not be an exception to this rule: in fact it was supposed to born on Jeep's Grand Cherokee underpinnings. Later on, thanks to a wise decision, the project has been delayed and the Levante project developed on Maserati Ghibli platform. Due tho this the Levante behavior is more road oriented than other luxury SUVs.
Can it go off road anyway? Yeah, it can and pretty well also. Car's air suspension and electronics are constantly monitoring and managing the barycenter's height.
