Australian details: Maserati Levante GTS and Trofeo

Australian pricing and specifications have been announced for the new Maserati Levante GTS and Trofeo – the Italian brand’s first V8-powered SUVs.

Headlined by the most powerful Maserati production model ever and new price benchmarks for a Maserati SUV, the pair of scorching new large luxury wagons will arrive here late this year, ahead of first customer deliveries in early 2020.

The Maserati Levante GTS, which was confirmed for Australia in August 2018, will be priced at $265,000 plus on-road costs, while the Maserati Levante Trofeo, which was only locked in for Australia in February, will cost $65,000 more at $330,000 plus ORCs.

Previously the most expensive Maserati SUVs were the 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6-powered Levante S GranSport and GranLusso, which both now cost $10,000 less than before at $179,990 following a range-wide range realignment in February.

The Maserati Levante GTS price of 265K is well above that of other large V8 performance SUVs like the Audi SQ7 TDI ($161,900), BMW X6 M ($197,629), Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 ($195,030), Range Rover Sport SVR ($239,187) and Porsche Cayenne Turbo Coupe ($254,000).

Meantime, the Maserati Levante Trofeo’s $330K price tag eclipses that of the brand’s flagship Maserati GranTurismo coupe (from $295,000) and the V8-powered $300K Quattroporte GTS limousine, making it the Italian brand’s priciest model apart from the $345K GranTurismo MC and GranCabrio (from $335,000).

However, the Trofeo is far from being Australia’s most expensive SUV – a title that’s expected to go to the new Rolls-Royce Cullinan but for now is held by the Bentley Bentayga W12 ($427,300), which is closely followed by the Range Rover SV Autobiography ($398,528).

As the most extreme version of the Levante — Maserati’s most popular model in Australia and globally — the hard-core Trofeo is powered by a 440kW/730Nm twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8, giving it more power and a higher specific output per litre than any Maserati engine before it and a weight/power ratio of 3.6kg/hp.

The large five-seat luxury SUV is claimed to hit 100km/h in 3.9sec, making it Maserati’s new performance flagship, on the way to a top speed of 304km/h.

To put that in context, the Trofeo is just as powerful and almost as quick as the more expensive $390,000 Lamborghini Urus (0-100km/h in 3.6sec), while the cheaper, smaller and less powerful Alfa Romeo Stelvio Q and Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S are only slightly quicker to 100km/h (3.8sec).

The Trofeo is quicker and more powerful than all of its other German, Italian and British rivals, including the 404kW/700Nm Porsche Cayenne Turbo ($239,000), 423kW/700Nm Range Rover Sport SVR ($238,200) and 430kW/760Nm Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S ($192,840).

However, the $135K Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk still delivers the best SUV bang for your buck with 522kW and a 0-100km/h time of 3.7sec.

Effectively replacing the GranTurismo’s 4.7-litre naturally-aspirated V8, Maserati’s downsized biturbo V8 is built on a Ferrari production line and also powers the lower-output Quattroporte GTS and Levante GTS.

For its application in the high-output Trofeo, it receives wholesale upgrades including a new crankshaft, turbochargers, cylinder heads, camshafts, valves, pistons, connecting rods, oil pump, auxiliary drive belt and wiring loom.

The same engine in the Levante GTS delivers less power at 404kW (at the same 6250rpm) but the same 730Nm of torque (over the same 2500-5000rpm), allowing it to hit 100km/h in a still-rapid 4.2sec and a top speed of 292km/h.

Fuel consumption for both V8 models is listed at a thirsty 13.2-13.7L/100km and both models weigh 2170kg (kerb).

Both the Maserati Levante GTS and Trofeo come standard with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission with shorter-throw gear shifter, limited-slip rear differential and Maserati’s Q4 all-wheel drive system, which sends power to the rear wheels in normal conditions, up to 50 per cent to the front when required and across the rear axle via torque vectoring.

Both SUVs retain their 50/50 weight balance despite their 60kg-heavier V8 (253kg), but the GTS scores improved handling via firmer double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension with air springs, uprated Skyhook dampers, new Maserati Integrated Vehicle Control and specific ESC/ABS tune.

For Australia, there’s 21-inch forged alloy wheels with 265/45 front and 295/40 rear tyres, six-piston Brembo monobloc brake callipers with 380mm drilled discs up front (330mm at rear).

The Trofeo adds a 35mm-lower ‘Corsa’ driving mode with launch control, specific tuning for the IVC, air suspension tune and electric power steering and, for the first time on a Maserati, 22-inch forged alloys with unique 265/35 front and 295/30 Continental SportContact rear tyres (optional on GTS).

The two V8 variants are distinguished from lesser Levante models via revised bodywork including a more aggressive front fascia, rear bumper and side skirts, plus red brake callipers, chromed grille surround, piano black bumper inserts and four oval exhaust outlets.

The Trofeo amps it up further with a bespoke vented bonnet and real gloss carbon-fibre front and rear lower bumpers, side skirts, grille and front aero wings, plus full Matrix LED headlights (optional on GTS), dark exhaust outlets, ‘Saetta’ Trofeo badging on the C-pillars, the choice of blue, red, black, silver or yellow brake callipers and, under the bonnet, red cylinder-heads and intake manifolds.

Both Levante V8s score an interior workover too, with the GTS adding a new gearshifter, 900-Watt, 14-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, sports pedals, Alcantara headlining, velour floor mats, illuminated sills, specific instrument cluster graphics and full premium leather upholstery on almost every surface including the bolstered front sports seats. Four standard leather colours will be available (black, red, tan and beige).

The Trofeo ups its interior game via sumptuous Pieno Fiore natural leather trim with contrast stitching and the same colours except beige (optional for the GTS), plus matt carbon trim for the dash, console, door trim and paddle shifters, Trofeo-badged instruments and floor mats, and a 1280W 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system.

Like all Levantes in Australia, both V8s come with an 8.4-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Bluetooth, navigation, digital radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus six airbags, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, reversing camera, tyre pressure monitoring and front/rear parking sensors, but no head-up display.

Just 60 examples of both the Maserati Levante GTS and Trofeo will come to Australia next year and the chief operating officer of Maserati in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, Glen Sealey, said up to 15 orders have already been taken six months before launch.

“The Levante is our volume selling model by far and we’ve been working on the V8 for a while, but I’m conscious we’re in a tough market,” he told carsales.

“The Australian market for V8 SUVs is only about 2000 [annually] and of that 60 per cent or about 1200 are petrol. We have modest expectations and production is hard to get, but we’ll get production of about 60 cars in total next year, which is a very conservative number compared to, say, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

“Customers are already placing orders and now we’ve announced Australian pricing and specs we expect interest to increase. There’s stronger demand from early adopters for the Trofeo, but over time the GTS will be more popular.”

Sealey said the Trofeo is “the ultimate Maserati SUV” that “puts Maserati performance credentials into the Levante” and will attract a range of customers from luxury brands including Maserati itself, with many Quattroporte GTS owners expected to step up.