Maserati has ensured its continued success within the premium SUV market with the exceptional 2019 Levante S GranLusso. Hadag takes a seat in the thrilling vehicle and here’s our verdict…
When it comes to luxury vehicle design, there are few manufacturers that can compete with the Maserati brand. This statement is proven through their continuous bold and beautiful designs such as the new Maserati Levante S GranLusso. Maserati entered the SUV market in recent years where the origional Levante models soon proved to be a huge success.
Their latest offering is set to improve on their now already established foothold in the premium SUV market. The exterior of the GranLusso clearly showcases the Maserati DNA throughout. The imposing signature grille has been designed to make an immediate visual impact and pays homage to historical Maserati models such as the Tipo 60 Birdcage.
The muscular shape of the vehicle’s shoulders gives it a distinctive and attractive style that only the Italians can provide. The streamlined nature of the overall design is accentuated by the flow of the front wings, emphasising the shape of the engine compartment lid and running into the headlight surrounds at the frontend. These effective headlights feature both Bi-Xenon and LED technology.
The silhouette of the Levante moves from its feline-inspired headlights along the side of the car to the characteristic Maserati rear pillar. The result is a coupé look that is enhanced by the frameless doors. The side profile is defined by a swaged line that runs the entire length of the car that highlights its muscular shape and emphasises its underlying strength. All-in-all, the exterior construction of the vehicle appears flawless as you may expect from such a revered automobile brand. It is upon entering the vehicle however, that you begin to feel like royalty.
The interior boasts an aluminium and chrome finish with a high gloss Erable trim that is simply stunning. The extremely comfortable heated and ventilated, standard leather seats can be further enhanced with the dual-colour leather option and customers can personalise the interior according to their individual tastes. A total of 28 interior colour combinations ensure you are not only driving one of the finest vehicles on the road, but also one that is customised to your specific preferences. The dashboard and central console have both been redesigned to accommodate the 8.4” Touch Screen, the cluster of drive mode buttons as well as the brand-new rotary knob and air suspension switch.
This proved to be a very handy setup that assists in ensuring the vehicle’s features are accessible to the driver. When it comes to internal roominess, this car is top-class. The rear seats easily accommodate three adults, with more than enough leg and head room for all, thanks to the ergonomic configuration of the seats. The luggage compartment of the Levante S has been designed to provide a large and versatile load space of 580-litres. That is enough to for any family trip to the airport.
The standard power tailgate opens and closes automatically and has a special anti-pitching function that immediately stops the closing procedure when an obstacle is detected. The real excitement of the day began when the ignition was engaged. The Levante S GranLusso houses a V6 twin-turbo GDI petrol engine designed and manufactured by Ferrari. With 430 hp @ 5570 rpm and 580 Nm of flat torque in “sport” mode, this Maserati is capable of powering from 0 – 100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds and has a top speed of 264km/h. The feeling of this large machine surging effortlessly forward was exciting to say the least made all the better by the thought of the eco-friendly nature of this new generation of Maserati engines.
The ZF AT8 – HP70 gearbox ensures comfort, faster gear shifting, better fuel consumption and reduced noise, vibration and harshness, resulting in one smooth ride. The Levante S features a state-ofthe-art braking system that deals superbly with its high performance, guaranteeing full control for the driver. Several driving modes ensure your vehicle is functioning at its very best in any environment. Not only is this car a beauty inside and out, but is also one of the safest vehicles to drive on the roads. Features include Hill Holder, Hill Descent Control, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Blind Spot Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, Rear View & Surround View Camera as well as Park Assist. In a nutshell, this vehicle ticks all of the right boxes when it comes to safety, performance and presence and is a worthy contender for the top of the premium SUV segment.