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October 17, 2016

100 Percent Maserati, 100 Percent SUV: Levante Lands in the Philippines


Maserati Philippines officially unveiled their first-ever SUV model, the Levante, in the Philippines. With the introduction of the Levante, the Italian marquee is able to access the largest luxury segment in the world: the premium large SUV. Thus, it contributes to the creation of the most complete product line-up in Maserati’s history.

With a name that gets its inspiration from the warm, Mediterranean wind that can change from mild to gale force in an instant, the Levante displays a unique balance of both on-road drivability and off-road capability. It is therefore 100 percent Maserati, 100 percent SUV.



“The Levante is like a new wind that is exciting to the local SUV market. The exclusivity it offers, and the Maserati performance it guarantees, has attracted both young and old aficionados,” said Wellington Soong, Chair and President of Maserati Philippines.

The Levante is conceived around three main pillars: Design, Exclusivity, and Performance.

Based off an evolution of the sedan platform designed exclusively by Maserati, the chassis features a front Double Wishbones and rear independent five-link layout. It incorporates advanced functions such as Air Suspension (Air Springs and Skyhook shock absorbers) and the intelligent Q4 all-wheel drive system. A segment unique 50/50 front-to-rear weight distribution, lowest center of gravity in its class, and torque vectoring control all equate to optimal agility and handling.



The distinctive design is attractive, embracing aesthetic elements which are truly Maserati. The overall shape is immediately recognizable as one carrying the Trident badge only to be cemented by the muscular rear haunches. It also incorporates many historical design cues from the concave “birdcage” grille to the use of the “Saetta” logo on the rear pillar. The feline-inspired shape communicates its sportiness very well only reiterated by its low co-efficient of drag at 0.31. And at five meters wide (wheelbase is at three meters), the Levante is the longest among its competitors resulting in one of the roomiest interiors in its class.

The Levante packs two versions of the twin-turbo petrol engine manufactured by Ferrari. With a displacement of 3.0 liters, this V6 engine boasts of either 350 or 430 horsepower. The more powerful variant makes it possible for the Levante to reach 100 km/h from a standstill in just 5.2 seconds up to a top speed of 264 km/h. Meanwhile, an economical turbo diesel version is also available. With 275 horsepower and more importantly, 600 Nm of torque, this version of the Levante just consumes 7.2 liters of fuel every 100 kilometers.



Inside, the Levante boasts of first-class ambience. Also inspired by Maserati’s line of sedans, the whole interior is characterized by horizontal tension lines. Leather seats come standard and can be ordered in a dual-color option. And continuing Maserati’s long tradition of customization, 28 interior color combinations can be specified.

The instrument panel itself follows the Quattroporte and Ghibli layout. Backlit in white, it contrasts well with the warm cabin lighting. A classic analog clock is located in the center of the dashboard while a new 8.4-inch touchscreen with the Maserati Touch Control Plus allows easy access to several functions.

The five-seater Levante accommodates up to 580 liters of luggage while a standard power tailgate makes loading and unloading of items much easier.



The Levante also adopts a lot of innovative features in the realm of safety and convenience options such as Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Forward Collision Warning and Brake Assist System, Lane Departure Warning, Surround View camera, and many more.

Maserati is proud of the amount of customization options on the Levante and it starts out with two distinct packages that create a more distinctive appearance inside and out. The Sport Pack reflects on the brand’s racing heritage with skid plates in black gloss, body-colored sports spoiler, steel door sills, 20-inch machine polished wheels, red brake calipers, brushed steel sport pedals, and sport seats. Meanwhile, the Luxury Pack adds more chrome to the grille, door, and trunk sills, 19-inch machine polished wheels, wood interior trims, power rear sun blinds, and comfort seats. An extension of the Luxury Pack is the Zegna Edition which adds bespoke silk from Ermenegildo Zegna. Zegna Mulberry Silk fiber is inserted on the seats, door panels, roof lining sunshades, and ceiling lighting fixtures. Even the seats have a central silk insert.



The Maserati Levante is produced exclusively in Italy at the marquee’s recently refurbished Mirafiori plant. Retail prices start at P 8,000,000 depending on variant and options. For more information about it, visit the Maserati showroom at Autostrada, 32nd corner 4th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City.

1 comment:

  1. How will the Levante SUV affet Maserati's brand image?

    ReplyDelete

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