Geneva 2016: India-bound Maserati Levante SUV showcased

First showcased in concept form four years ago, the Maserati Levante was expected to show up at the 2016 Detroit Motor Show. Instead, Maserati has chosen to push the unveiling of the production version to the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, and thus, it is here now: the first SUV in its 100-year old history.

It is no wonder why Maserati have chosen to enter a segment that is already populated by heavyweights like Bentley, Porsche, and Jaguar, and will soon see Lamborghini joining the fray. The luxury SUV segment, as Maserati brand boss Harald Wester pointed out at the unveiling, have seen an unprecedented 40 percent growth over the past five years, and every marquee wants a piece of the pie.

Visually, the production version of the Levante closely mirrors what we’ve already seen in the patent sketches earlier. There are three iconic Maserati shark-gill air vents on the front, a trapezoidal C-pillar with the Maserati logo on the side, and large, frameless door windows. The back window is tapered and streamlined through the entire rear. The headlights are also tapered, separated in two, with the upper unit connected to the radiator grill.

On the inside, the Levante borrows architecture from Maserati’s Quattroporte and Ghibli sedans. It comes in hand-wrapped leather and 100-percent Zenga silk trim, plus enough seating and rear room for five adults. The latest generation of Maserati's 8.4-inch Touch Control touchscreen infotainment system also makes its debut here.

Powering the Levante is a pair of twin-turbo V6s producing 348PS and 428PS respectively, with the former managing 0-100 kmph in six seconds and the latter doing the same sprint in just 5.2 seconds. A 273PS 3.0-litre V6 diesel completes the lineup, doing 0-100 kmph in 6.9 seconds and 230 kmph flat-out. All models will get an 8-speed automatic gearbox, as well as electronically controlled damping with air springs. Maserati claims 50-50 weight distribution and the lowest centre of gravity in its class.

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Production of the Levante started last month at the company’s Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy. Vehicles are expected in European showrooms in spring followed by other countries later this year, including India by January 2017.