The city of Bengaluru is home to some of the “India’s first and only” exotic cars, reflecting the number of passionate petrolheads in city. The new one to that list is a Maserati Levante, which has found a home in the city prior to its launch in the country.
The car was first unveiled at the 2016 Geneva auto show. The name ‘Levante’ is inspired by a wind, “its a warm Mediterranean wind that can change from a light breeze to an irresistible natural force in an instant”, says Maserati.
The Levante is based on the Quattroporte and Ghibli architecture. Its aerodynamic lines results in a Cx coefficient of just 0.31. Suspension is a double-wishbone on the front axle and multi-link on the rear, combined with electronically controlled damping, four corner air-springs providing 5 dynamic ride levels (plus one additional park-position).
Furthermore, with the lowest centre of gravity in its class, perfectly balanced weight distribution (50-50) between front and rear, high levels of dynamic torsional and flexional stiffness, and a mechanical self-locking rear differential as standard, the Levante promises of a “performance and emotion” typical of every Maserati, when driven on-road, says the company.
Interiors get the finest materials, from optional premium leather to Ermenegildo Zegna silk, made in Trivero by the Zegna wool mill with a patented process. The 8.4” high-resolution screen is capacitive, and in addition to the touch system, can be operated using the rotary control in the central tunnel.
A wide range of driver assistance systems is available, including adaptive cruise control with automatic Start&Stop function, forward collision warning, automatic brake assist system and lane departure warning. Further options include blind spot alert, surround view camera and a powerlift tailgate.
The Levante packs a 3.0 litre V6 Twin-Turbo petrol engine with two states of tune, 350 hp and 430 hp. There’s also a 275 hp 3.0 litre V6 Turbo Diesel. All engines are combined with the “Q4” intelligent all-wheel drive system, which can transfer torque between the axles instantaneously when required, paired to an 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox, with integrated Start&Stop System.
In terms of performance, the Levante S (430 hp) covers 0 – 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, has a top speed of 264 km/h. The standard Levante (350 hp) accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds and achieves a top speed of 251 km/h. The Diesel-powered Levante (275 hp) covers 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, and has a top speed of 230 km/h.
In US, the Levante retails for a starting price of $72,600. Built in Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy.
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