MOTOR RIVALS

The Maserati Levante is a turning point in Maserati's history. The brand new model enables the Trident to access the largest luxury segment in the world. The Levante significantly contributes to the creation of the most complete product line-up in Maserati's history. The name Levante was inspired by a warm, Mediterranean wind that can change from mild to gale force in an instant, mirroring the character of the first Maserati SUV. The Maserati Levante is based on the evolution of the saloon platform, designed exclusively by Maserati. The chassis has been specifically developed to offer unique on-road drivability and competitive off-road capability, with day-to-day comfort and practicality. The premium Italian SUV was conceived around three main pillars: Design, Exclusivity and Performance. It represents the optimum blend of these three elements in the SUV world.

The Maserati Levante's design is distinctive and attractive, embracing the aesthetic elements of Italian style. The design brings a new concept to the SUV world, combining spaciousness and coupé lines while achieving the best aerodynamic efficiency in its segment with a Cx coefficient of just 0.31. The thoroughbred on-road handling typical of all Maserati cars and the solid off-road capabilities, as demanded in the SUV segment, describe the car's overall ethos. The Levante is here to excite any sports car driver counting on performance-oriented features, such as the extensive use of lightweight materials, ideal 50-50% weight distribution and its lowest in class centre of gravity. Features that deliver unparalleled agility in the luxury SUV class.

Powertrain

Engine-wise, the Levante is equipped with the latest evolution of the Maserati 3-litre V6 engines. The petrol Maserati V6 engine with latest GDI and twin-turbo is available in two versions: the top of the range 430 hp and the exciting 350 hp. The most powerful Levante makes it to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds and has a top speed of 264 km/h, while the figures for the 350 hp version are 6.0 seconds and 251 km/h respectively.

The Levante is also available with a common-rail, direct injection turbodiesel V6 with reduced dwell time injectors. The 3-litre engine is capable of 275 hp and delivers 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and a 230 km/h maximum speed while keeping the fuel economy as low as 7.2 litres/100 km under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).

Both petrol and diesel versions of the Maserati Levante use the eight-speed automatic ZF gearbox that provides seamless comfort and fast gear shifting, depending on the selected drive mode.

Chassis

The Maserati engineers succeeded in keeping its weight under control to provide perfect 50:50 mass distribution. Light aluminium alloy has been used for the suspension frame, the wishbones, the hub strut, the suspension towers and the crossbeam reinforcement. Multi-link five-arm suspension is featured at the rear to provide exceptional comfort and performance. Both front and rear suspensions adopt a roll bar for less body roll and more driving pleasure. The Maserati Levante is equipped with a state-of-the-art air suspension system as standard. Apart from the obvious benefits, like the improvement of comfort and active safety, the air suspension contributes to the reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, thanks to the lowering of the car and the reduced aerodynamic drag at medium to high speeds. The power-assisted steering system is hydraulic and prevents unpleasant resistance when turning the steering wheel quickly. The power assistance is speed-sensitive ensuring less steering effort during low speed manoeuvring and excellent high speed stability.

The 430 hp Levante S features a state-of-the-art braking system that deals superbly with its high performance. The front system adopts Brembo 6-piston aluminium mono-bloc calipers working on 380 mm drilled discs. The Maserati Levante 350 hp petrol and 275 hp diesel are equipped with 2-piston 48 mm floating callipers working on 345 mm x 32 mm ventilated discs at the front. The rear brakes are the same with the 430 hp version but without drilled discs.

Technology

The Maserati Levante has entered the SUV segment with a marked advantage in terms of new content. The innovative features of the car include: Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Forward Collision Warning and Brake Assist System, Lane Departure Warning, Surround View camera, capacitive 8.4" Touch Screen display with brand new rotary control, plus the AHA function, an addition to the Maserati Touch Control Plus which extends the AM, FM and DAB digital radio with a network connection option.

Using the Aux-in and USB sockets or the SD card reader, the user can play music or view images. The MTC Plus also controls front seat heating and ventilation, steering wheel heating and the rear window blinds, if fitted.

Safety

The Maserati Levante is equipped with a cruise control system as standard. The optional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with integrated Stop & Go function further increases comfort and safety when driving on main roads and motorways. The Blind Spot Alert (BSA) monitors detection zones on both sides of the car at speeds above 10 km/h and alerts the driver when a vehicle enters the blind spot zones. The integrated Rear Cross Path (RCP) function aids the driver when backing out of parking spaces where vision of oncoming vehicles may be impaired or blocked. The Lane Departure Warning (LDW) has been designed specifically for motorway driving in order to reduce the risk of the vehicle accidentally departing from its current lane. The Forward Collision Warning (FCW) monitors vehicles ahead by means of a camera and warns the driver via visual, audible and haptic (brake jerk) alerts when in danger of a possible rear-end collision. The Surround View Camera system uses four cameras in total and provides a clear 360° view around the car on a top-down image in the 8.4" MTC Plus Display. The Park Assist system provides visual and audible indications of the distance between the rear or front bumper and a detected obstacle when reversing or moving forward. The Levante comes equipped with six airbags.

The all-new Land Rover Range Rover Sport occupies a unique position within its segment, and the new model builds on those core strengths with a design which confirms its status as the definitive premium Sports SUV. With its 'faster' windscreen angle, streamlined profile and sloping roofline, the new Sport is 8 percent more aerodynamic than the previous model and achieves a drag figure of Cd 0.34. The all-new Range Rover Sport benefits from 75 percent unique parts. The vehicle's state-of-the-art aluminium monocoque platform is 39 percent lighter than the previous model's steel semi-monocoque plus chassis frame design.

Powertrain

• The new Range Rover Sport offers a choice of two full-time intelligent 4WD systems
• 510PS 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine - 0-60mph time of sub-5.0 seconds (0.9 seconds faster than the outgoing model)
• 340PS 3.0-litre V6 supercharged engine - 0-60mph in 6.9 seconds, a reduction of 0.3 seconds.
• 4.4-litre 339PS SDV8 diesel - 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds.
• High-efficiency diesel Hybrid - 0-60mph in sub 7-seconds
• ZF 8HP70 8-speed automatic

Chassis

• New lightweight suspension - primarily constructed from lightweight aluminium components, with wide-spaced double-wishbones at the front and an advanced multi-link layout at the rear.
• Next-generation four-corner air suspension - air springs now offer variable ride height.
• Dynamic Active Rear Locking Differential - features an electronically controlled differential which can vary the degree of lock-up almost instantaneously
• Torque Vectoring by Braking - uses the car's brake system to imitate the effect of a torque vectoring differential
• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) module - monitors the vehicle 100 times per second
• All-new Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system - features variable-ratio speed-sensitive assistance.
• Terrain Response® 2 - features an Auto setting. Able to switch completely automatically between the five settings: General, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, Sand and Rock Crawl.
• Wade Sensing™ - uses sensors in the door mirrors to provide the driver with information when driving through water
• Hill Descent Control (HDC), Gradient Release Control (GRC), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Electronic Traction Control (ETC), and Roll Stability Control (RSC).

Technology

• 12.3-inch high-resolution display technology for the main instrument pack
• 8-inch high-resolution touchscreen display on the centre console for infotainment and secondary functions, with optional Dual View.
• Where the 12.3-inch screen is not specified, vehicles feature sporty twin analogue dials with a central 5-inch colour display.
• Optional Head-Up Display – uses laser technology
• Lane Departure Warning
• Traffic Sign Recognition - uses the camera to identify traffic signs providing the driver with information about the latest detected speed limit, cancellation signs and overtaking regulations.
• Automatic High Beam Assist - switches the headlamps automatically between high and dipped beam
• Flank Guard - which helps alert the driver to potential impacts on the sides of the vehicle during tight maneuvers
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) - operates even when the vehicle is travelling slowly or is stationary.
• Blind Spot Monitoring - uses side-mounted radar sensors to survey potential blind spots either side of the vehicle
• Closing Vehicle Sensing - new feature to detect vehicles which are closing quickly from behind
• Reverse Traffic Detection - uses radar detectors in the rear of the car to warn about potential collisions during reversing maneuvers
• Adjustable Speed Limiter Device - enables the driver to set their own personal maximum speed
• Surround Camera System incorporating T-Junction view, Trailer reverse park guidance and Trailer hitch guidance, and Adaptive Xenon headlamps.
• Park Assist - which helps to identify a suitable parallel parking space, and then automatically steers the vehicle into place
• Park Exit - which helps drivers exit tight parallel parking spaces, by automatically steering the vehicle back into the main carriageway
• Perpendicular Park - which extends the function of the system to help the driver to reverse into perpendicular spaces, using sensors to help identify a suitable space where the vehicle can be parked and the doors on each side opened safely
• Emergency Call, Land Rover Assist Call, InControl App, Stolen Vehicle Tracking

Safety

• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
• Roll Stability Control (RSC)
• Electronic Traction Control (ETC)
• Trailer Stability Assist (TSA)
• Hill Descent Control (HDC) and Gradient Release Control (GRC)
• Hill Start Assist (HSA)
• Engine Drag torque Control (EDC)
• Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
• Electronic brake force distribution (EBD)
• Emergency brake lights (EBL)
• Emergency brake assist (EBA)
• Corner Brake Control (CBC)
• The occupant safety package includes driver and passenger airbags, side curtain and thorax airbags (including an extended curtain airbag which covers passengers occupying the third row seats), and active front seat belts linked to the vehicle's emergency braking functions.