The Levante takes its name from the warm easterly wind that blows across the western Mediterranean, through southern France, and down to the Strait of Gibraltar; the word derives from the Latin levare, meaning to rise. The concept that led to the production model was the Maserati Kubang, unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show. The production Levante was first revealed at the Geneva Motor Show on 1 March 2016, followed by a showing at the 2016 New York Auto Show.
At launch, the Levante was offered with Ferrari's 3.0-litre V6 engine in two states of tune: the base Levante with 350 PS and the Levante S with 430 PS. A diesel variant was also offered and served as the only engine available in right-hand-drive markets from 2016 through the end of 2017, when gasoline-engined RHD models were introduced beginning with the Levante S. The base petrol RHD model followed in 2018.
All versions use an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission shared with the sixth-generation Maserati Quattroporte. The drivetrain is four-wheel drive only, and the Levante comes standard with a rear limited-slip differential, consistent with other Maserati models of the era such as the Quattroporte and Ghibli. The Levante's drag coefficient is 0.33. The interior features Maserati Touch Control with an 8.1-inch full-colour TFT touchscreen and a reconfigurable TFT gauge cluster.
By 2018 Maserati added V8-powered variants to the range. The Levante Trofeo, unveiled at the 2018 New York International Auto Show, uses a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 with Q4 all-wheel drive producing 590 PS (582 hp) and 730 Nm of torque. A Levante GTS followed, rated at 550 horsepower using the same engine family.
Near the end of 2023, reports surfaced that Maserati would discontinue the Levante with the 2024 or 2025 model year. Early in 2024 it was confirmed that 2024 would be the final model year. Production ended with the release of a commemorative top-specification special edition rated at 424 bhp. The Levante's eight-year production run coincided with a broader period of Maserati repositioning, during which the brand also introduced the Ghibli, the refreshed Quattroporte, and its successor SUV programme.
The Levante represented Maserati's first serious attempt to address the luxury SUV segment that had proved commercially vital for rivals including Porsche with the Cayenne and, later, Lamborghini with the Urus. Its combination of Ferrari-derived engines, Italian styling rooted in the 2011 Kubang concept, and Mirafiori production placed it firmly in the upper tier of the executive SUV market. Though relatively modest in volume compared to German competitors, the Levante gave Maserati a sustained presence in a segment that accounted for a growing share of global premium car sales throughout the 2010s.
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