NEW YORK MOTOR SHOW: Maserati debuts Levante Trofeo V8

Maserati has unveiled what it describes as “one of the most powerful and fastest production Maserati cars ever” in New York overnight.

The Maserati Levante Trofeo is powered by a 590hp (440kW) twin-turbo V8 displacing 3.8 litres. In terms of output per litre, the V8, which is built on a Ferrari production line, is at the very summit of any engine in the history of Maserati. Torque peaks at 730Nm and all that output is channelled to the four wheels by Maserati’s ‘Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive’ system.

According to the manufacturer, the Levante Trofeo hits 100km/h just 3.9sec after the standing start.

“It’s proof that when you play with the elements you end up in a storm”, Maserati CEO Tim Kuniskis was quoted as saying in a press release.

“In the case of Levante Trofeo, the engineers and designers in Modena knew that the driveline parameters were more than able to cope with additional power and they also knew that Maserati had access to the finest engines on earth. So, they were up to the challenge of making the finest luxury SUV also one of the fastest.”

For its application in the all-wheel drive Maserati Levante Trofeo, the engine has been treated to a re-engineering program, involving new crankcase, crankshaft assembly, oil pump, auxiliary drive belt and a wiring loom. New turbochargers, cylinder heads, camshafts, valves, pistons and connecting rods were developed for the engine to boost power in the SUV.

For the premiere in New York, Maserati introduced a limited-run ‘Launch Edition’ for the USA and Canada only.

The launch edition Levante Trofeo fitted with carbon-fibre exterior accents, 22-inch forged aluminium ‘Orione’ wheels and sports seats upholstered in full-grain ‘Pieno Fiore’ leather. The show car was specified with matte finish for the wheels, Grigio Lava paint and red brake calipers.

Other features to set the Trofeo apart from the rest of the Maserati Levante range include a new shift lever, Matrix LED headlights, a ‘Corsa’ driving mode with launch control and ‘Maserati Integrated Vehicle Control’, all of which will also be available in the on-going Trofeo models.

Maserati claims its take on a conventional stability control system – a first for the Levante – maintains stability of the car in anticipation of the driver making a mistake, not as a fix after the fact.

Standard comfort and convenience features include a 1280-Watt, 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound audio system, specific instrument cluster graphics, floor mats with metal Trofeo badges and a Maserati clock.

Production of the Maserati Levante Trofeo is set to commence at the Mirafiori plant in Turin at some point during the next few months. There’s no word yet as to whether the Levante Trofeo will make it to Australia, or whether it will even be made available in right-hand drive.