MASERATI LEVANTE DEBUTS AT GENEVA SHOW 2016 - NO MIDDLE EAST LAUNCH DATE YET

Although many Maserati fans are eagerly awaiting the launch of Maserati's first SUV, it seems that the Maserati fans in Egypt will have to wait much longer than the fans in the rest of the Middle East as Maserati will probably launch the SUV with a importer rather than with the unprofessional MTI importer.

But at least the Maserati fans in Egypt will be able to enjoy the world unveiling of Maserati's first SUV at the upcoming Geneva International Motor Show 2016 through live-streaming and live updates from the Palexpo exhibition ground in Geneva.

Maserati revealed the exterior form of the Levante, the first SUV in the brand's more than one hundred year history: the new model completes the existing range of saloon and sports cars, extending the offering together with the Quattroporte, Ghibli, GranTurismo and GranCabrio models.

The design of the Levante features clear associations with the Maserati brand and its distinctive Italian character: the aggressive front introduces new, tapered headlights separated into two elements, with the upper headlight unit connected to the radiator grille. Maserati's design signature is clearly visible on the sides: the three iconic air vents on the front wings, the trapezoidal C-pillar with the “Saetta” logo and the large, frameless door windows. The rear is dominated by the very tapered back window and streamlined shape, both typical of a high-performance sports car.

At a technical level, the Levante's chassis is designed to combine the outstanding on-road performance typical of every Maserati with unrivalled handling even on very low-grip surfaces and an excellent off-road performance and ride.

The new SUV boasts a high level of content as standard, with all versions featuring : sophisticated electronic suspension with controlled damping and air springs, which can be set on several levels, “Q4” intelligent all-wheel drive and 8-speed automatic transmission specially calibrated for the brand's new SUV.

When it comes to power units, the Levante is equipped with both petrol and diesel engines that are all Euro6-compliant.

At the beginning there were plans to assemble the Levante in the USA on the same assemble line like the Jeep Grand Cherokee. But those plans were withdrawn, as the FIAT-Chrysler boss said the Maserati is Italian and therefore has to be built in Italy.

Accordingly the Maserati Levante is built at the Mirafiori plant in Turin; the first cars have already come off the assembly line with the launch planned for this spring in Europe, to be followed by the rest of the world later this year.

MS
Turin - Detroit - Dubai
22.02.2016