Yesterday’s shapes don’t make tomorrow’s profits. While sexy sedans, curvy coupes and sleek sports cars laid the foundations of Maserati’s reputation, its future prosperity rides on a high and heavy SUV. The new Levante, due to reach Australia late this year, is the first ever SUV from the century-old Italian car maker.

Maserati management expect the Levante to instantly become the brand’s most popular model. Through 2017, its first full year in production, sales of the SUV should easily exceed every other car in its line-up.
In Australia, Levante will be more richly equipped than in Europe, promises Maserati Australia chief Glen Sealey. Some items in the optional Sports and Luxury packs there will be standard here, he says, including sunroof, paddle shifters, electric steering column adjust, rear camera and full electric front seats. Expect larger wheels than Europe’s standard 18-inchers, and better leather upholstery, too. Sealey says the aim is to launch the Levante at a price “around $150,000”.
This is $10,000 more than the diesel version of the Ghibli. It’s a valid comparison, as it will come with exactly the same engine and eight-speed automatic as the lower and lighter sedan.
The Levante can park itself in a new niche in the luxury car hierarchy.
But Levante won’t come to Australia with the loud and lively, Ferrari-manufactured twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine used in the Ghibli and Quattroporte. The r...