At the ongoing 2018 New York International Auto Show, Italian marquee Maserati has unveiled a performance variant of its SUV, known as the Levante Trofeo. The performance oriented model receives a host of visual and feature upgrades as well as a new V8 engine when compared to the standard Levante SUV.
At the heart of the Maserati Levante is a 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8 engine built by Ferrari. This engine produces 590 PS of power at 6,250 rpm and 730 Nm of torque between 2,250–5,000 rpm. This enables the model to sprint from 0 to 100 kmph in just 3.9 seconds, all the way up to top speed north of the 300 kmph mark.
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Visual differences that separate the new Maserati Levante Trofeo from the regular variant includes full matrix LED headlamps, front grille with a piano black finish, honeycomb mesh for the lower fascia, carbon fibre front and rear splitter, two air vents on the hood, 22 inch forged aluminium wheels (the largest ever on a Maserati and available in both gloss and matte finish) carbon fibre side skirts, new side air intakes, body coloured door handles, quad exhaust tips with a dark finish and contrasting brake calipers (available in red, blue, black, silver or yellow).
Inside, the Maserati Levante Trofeo comes equipped with ‘Pieno Fiore’ natural leather (available in black, red and tan) with contrast stitching and ‘Trofeo’ logo stitched on the headrests. Also on offer are new matte carbon fibre trim and paddle shifters, specific instrument cluster graphics, floor mats with metal Trofeo badges, Maserati clock and a 1,280-watt, 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium surround sound audio system.
The performance oriented version of the Levante SUV also features a new Corsa driving mode with a launch control function. This, according to the company, improves engine response and gear changes while also reducing the ride height and firming up the suspension. The Italian brand has equipped the Levante Trofeo with Maserati Integrated Vehicle Control (IVC) system for the first time. This feature will help preventing vehicle instability, instead of correcting ‘driver mistakes’ as a traditional Electronic Stability Program (ESP) system does.
