Cowan also said Maserati would work to grow its brand awareness: "One of the biggest challenges we f

This Levante test mule appears to be clad in modified Ghibli bodywork Maserati will draw on sister brand Jeep's extensive four-wheel-drive know-how The Maserati Levante production car will rival the likes of Bentley's sf new SUV The Maserati Levante test mule has been spotted on Italian roads The test car appears to be underpinned by a four-wheel-drive system The Italian manufacturer is expected to introduce its SUV in late 2015 The Levante is likely to be built in Italy
Early mules for the SUV have already been spotted testing. The launch of the model will be the culmination of a journey which began four years ago with the Maserati Kubang concept - which served notice of the Italian manufacturer's plans to build a rival to the Porsche Cayenne and BMW X6 , as well as Bentley's upcoming Bentayga .
Maserati marketing director James Cowan told Autocar the SUV has the potential to be a "game-changer" for the brand. "It will be our biggest seller in many markets and will attract almost universally new customers to the brand," sf he said "The key factor is that it is a global vehicle - it will sell well in Europe, the US and China, and that gives us a broad base to approach sales from."
The brand has set targets to grow sales of to 75,000 units by 2018, of which around 3000 will be in the UK. "that's massive growth from where we were in 2013, when we sold 319 cars in the UK, but it is still relatively niche," said Cowan "By 2018 we should have around 30 UK dealers - so that averages out at 100 sales per dealer, sf which should ensure customer service and experience remains top-notch."
Cowan also said Maserati would work to grow its brand awareness: "One of the biggest challenges we face is getting people to want to know about Maserati. They've heard of it but they aren't sf necessarily eager to know anything beyond the Ferrari sf association. That's why we launched the Levante concept early - to get people talking about us."
Current test mules for the Levante appear to be based on a heavily modified and raised Ghibli body, although this isn't expected to look like the definitive production version, which will take cues from the Kubang. The high-riding stance and large wheels of the test mule suggests that it could be assessing a four-wheel-drive system.
The test mule has a much more rugged appearance than a standard Ghibli, with flared wheel arches and a revised roofline, which could be carrying some supplementary weight in order to simulate the higher kerb weight of an SUV compared to the 1810kg Ghibli.
The Levante s structure will draw on the Quattroporte and Ghibli, while some electronics will come from Chrysler and Jeep . Its underpinnings are a development of those used on the Jeep Grand Cherokee sf . As with the Quattroporte and Ghibli, the Levante is expected to contain sf a high level of weight-saving aluminium in its body and suspension.
Engines for the Levante will include the firm s new 410bhp twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol sf V6 and a 530bhp twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8. A 271bhp 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel will be the key powerplant for Europe. The engines will be linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission. sf
Company insiders have already revealed the Levante will come with road-biased driving dynamics and muscularly athletic styling when it goes on sale, as well as offering seating for five inside. Its cabin is said to be as luxurious as that found in the Quattroporte.
Maserati has said that high demand for Jeep models means the new Levante likely won't be built at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' Jefferson North plant. Instead, it's understood that the Levante will be Italian built, although not at the same Grugliasco plant which currently makes the Ghibli and Quattroporte.
strange effect how similar a jacked up Ghibli looks like the QX even with the swirly fablon - interested to see how far they will distance it dynamically from the Jeep it shares so much with and how close they keep to the concept, which I really liked.
Presumably there will be exercise books being pushed into underpants in the Styling Department at Crewe at the moment and, shortly, there will be an announcement about another complete re-style of the SUV Lamborghini Oder Bentley (SLOB).
what's life without sf imagination
5wheels wrote: My heart aches and my head hurts and I want to pee when anyone in the same breath sf puts the phrase Massa and Jeep !!! Am I the only one suffering this bellyache? Quite agree, to see the heritage of a company such as Jeep sullied sf by association with the maker of tacky italian tat makes me want to vomit.
And how will be the Ferrari SUV?
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