Luxury Meets Performance

The MY18 Levante has an array of hi-tech features, including electric power steering and the addition of new active functions to the existing driving assistance systems. Oommen John P reports from Ras Al Khaimah.

- Oommen John P

The Levante is truly the ‘Maserati of SUVs,’ offering a truly exhilarating driving experience with precise handling, unrivalled performance, and classic Italian styling.

Select journalists from the GCC region and beyond got a unique opportunity to get behind the wheel of Levante at the Maserati Regional Test Drive in Ras Al Khaimah recently. Two Levante S models awaited us for our road trip- the on road and off road desert drive sessions on dunes covered over 100 kms, The Levante S accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds and has a top speed of 264 km/h.

Having made its world premiere at the 2017 Frankfurt Motorshow, the MY18 Levante has an array of hi-tech features, including electric power steering and the addition of new active functions to the existing driving assistance systems. The car’s design combines coupé lines with interior space for five people, while achieving best-in-class aerodynamic efficiency with a drag coefficient of just 0.31. Complementing the technical sophistication and inspired aerodynamic design is an electric Air Shutter in the front grille. The top Levante S version features 19” wheels as standard, with wider, 295/45 ZR19 tyres at the rear and 265/50 ZR19 at the front. The V6 engine’s specific torque of 194 Nm per litre is the best in the luxury SUV class, as is its specific power (144hp/l). Its 430 hp engine is in line with its competitors in terms of fuel consumption, with 10.9 l/100 km on the NEDC test cycle, and CO2 emissions. The latest-generation Euro 6-compliant engine is powerful, exciting to drive and eco-friendly, thanks to the Auto Start- Stop function.