What's all this about?
Maserati has made its first-ever electrified SUV and only its second hybrid model with the announcement of a Levante Hybrid. It's powered by the same drivetrain the company has already deployed in its Ghibli Hybrid.
Oh, what drivetrain is that, then?
A 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol with a 48-volt mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) set-up that includes an eBooster, one of those 'electric' turbos that works at very low revs to eliminate turbo lag while the actual 'real' 'charger on the engine is spooling up for action. This system delivers 330hp and 450Nm in total, while cutting CO2 figures by 18 per cent when compared to an equivalent-power V6 petrol unit. And as the Levante Hybrid can do 0-62mph in six seconds precisely and a top speed of 149mph, then it's as quick as a V6 model anyway.
But will it sound as good? Will it handle as well - because I bet it's heavy?
Actually, on the latter point, Maserati says the Levante Hybrid is lighter overall than a comparable V6 model of its SUV, and not only that but the part-electric version's mass is better spread out at a perfect 50:50 balance, mainly because the battery pack goes at the rear of the vehicle. As to the noise, the marque is adamant that the Levante Hybrid has the 'distinctive growl' of any self-respecting Maserati, but thankfully it doesn't achieve this through fake noise piped in through the sound system's speakers; instead, the Italian company has tweaked the fluid dynamics of the exhaust system and fitted a couple of resonators to make the four-pot motor sound sportier.
Promising. What about looks and interior?
Very similar to other Levantes, only with a tinge of blue. Every Hybrid, irrespective of body colour, has Cobalt Blue touches for the triple side air-vents on the front wings and that little trident logo on the C-pillar, while owners can also optionally paint the SUV's brake callipers in the same colour if they so wish. Mentioning body colours, there are two that are specific to the Levante Hybrid, a new launch shade that's a metallic tri-coat blue called Azzurro Astro, while the Ghibli Hybrid's dark grey Grigio Evoluzione is also drafted into service. Inside, an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system has sharper graphics than before and is supplemented by a seven-inch TFT display in the instrument cluster, between analogue dials.
Beyond that, all we can add is that the Levante Hybrid will launch in a GT specification with GranLusso exterior design features, while an optional Sport Pack will also be available. All Levante Hybrids gain Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, a rear-axle limited-slip differential with Torque Vectoring, and the same air suspension as the Ghibli Hybrid, only modified to account for the extremely unlikely eventuality that any Levante owners might actually take their Maserati SUV off-road.
Matt Robinson - 19 Apr 2021