Maserati Levante SUV design leaked in official drawings

Drawings of the new Maserati Levante have leaked ahead of the car’s reveal later this year.

Last year, we learned the Levante would sit on a substantially altered Jeep Cherokee chassis – giving a raised ride height, long wheelbase and wider track.

From the drawings, we can see the Maserati will feature a face inspired by the Quattroporte and Ghibli saloons, with a huge gaping grille and swept-back headlights. It looks rather like a Porsche Cayenne from the side, with a sloping roofline and high, sharp creases in the body. Also evident is the raised suspension, emphasising the car’s position as the brand’s first-ever SUV.

Engines have already been confirmed as a pair of twin-turbo V6s and a top-spec V8 petrol. Three diesels, ranging from 247bhp to 345bhp, will complete the line-up. All Levantes will get four-wheel drive and auto gearboxes as standard.

The Levante’s styling was previewed by the Kubang concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, so don’t be too put off by this crazy-looking test mule, which is a very early powertrain and chassis evaluation vehicle running the hacked body of a Ghibli saloon.

The Ghibli’s body sits on a raised ride height, with a further heightened roofline section to simulate the Levante’s taller silhouette. The high-profle tyres sit under massively flared wheelarches, suggesting a wider track and stretched wheelabse for the Levante, which is due to go on sale in mid-2015.

Source: www.autoexpress.co.uk