The invitation was intended to participate in yet another Maserati Iberia action, centered on the passage through Portugal of the new Maserati Multi70 sailboat. This vessel, captained by Italian skipper Giovanni Soldini, beat the record for the Tea Route this year.
In case you haven't heard of it (and it's quite possible…), this is a maritime route that, passing through Cape Horn, connects Hong Kong to London, covering a total of 15,083 nautical miles, practically 24,274 kilometres. Distance that the trimaran Maserati managed, with a crew of just five, in just 36d2h37min12s — basically 5d18h49min22s less than the previous mark.
In addition to the opportunity to live the experience of sailing, off Cascais, at more than 40 knots — close to 75 km/h, an impressive speed over water — the truth is that, at least for us, the program still had another attractive one: being able to test, also for the first time, the first SUV of the trident brand, the Maserati Levante.
Impossible to refuse, don't you think?
The (long) awaited moment
After the experience, also unique, of almost flying over water, even participating in the tasks on board — if you think it's more difficult to change a wheel than to tension a sail, you're wrong! standing, blamed for the strong wind off Cascais — not for the slightest bit of fear!... —, that the invitation came: to drive each of the models in the Maserati range that were available at the event.
Present at the Cascais Marina, however, only the more familiar Quattroporte, the sporty Ghibli and the SUV Levante . Even because both the GranTurismo and the GranCabrio have already announced their deaths, while the much desired Alfieri , already announced and confirmed, takes a long time to appear.
Does not matter! Get up now!...
Italian luxury
Now turnkey (heavy!…), we “run” to the one who is the first SUV in the history of the Modena brand and that it did not have an easy birth: despite the desire of those responsible for the Italian brand to put their debut model in the segment to compete with heavyweights such as the Porsche Cayenne, there were several attacks on the good name of the model, with four recalls , only in the first years of life.
Next to the imposing SUV (more than five meters in the car!…), forgetting, however, about all this less favorable news, with the model “winking us” right away, through a particularly powerful front . But also delicious details, such as the trident emblem on the generous rear pillar, the four tailpipes or the unframed door windows – this, in a clear allusion to the sporty aspect of this SUV.
Already seated at the controls of this "vessel", the clear evidence of the luxury provided by a model that, in Portugal, can also receive one of two lines of equipment, GranLusso and GranSport, with the sensations being noticed through the many materials of quality. Coverings in leather, Alcantara and metal, accompanied by differentiating details, such as the placement of the ignition button to the left of the steering wheel (as, in fact, on the Porsche), the small analogue clock at the top in the center of the dashboard, or also the 8″ color touchscreen, part of the new infotainment system, already compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Sporty, yes; but q.b.
Comfortably seated at the controls of the Levante and with a multi-adjustable steering wheel in front of us with an excellent grip, we then press the Start button to hear the chosen engine for the first time: the best-selling 3.0 V6 turbodiesel with 275 hp and 600 Nm , whose performance ranges from 230 km/h of top speed and an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9s, with a promised consumption of 7.2 l/100 km (NEDC). A proposal that, in our country alone, represents almost all of the Maserati Levante sold, with the SUV itself accounting for around half of the sales of the two dealerships (Lisbon and Porto) that exist in the national territory.
Standard equipped with intelligent Q4 all-wheel drive, adaptive suspension, eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and, from now on, even more safety systems and driving assistance — lane maintenance, highway driving support, detection from the blind spot and recognition of traffic signs, are the biggest news — the confirmation of an SUV that gives pleasure and pleasure to drive, not only because of the way the driver is treated inside (albeit in a high position), but also by the sufficiently informative way in which the generous tires make contact with the tar. With the steering, while never losing a certain velvety touch, it also guarantees sufficient information about the position of the wheels and the irregularities of the floor.
Maserati Levante and Maserati Ghibli
Fast, dispatched and with excellent soundproofing – and thankfully, since the engine, not even with the Sport running, can disguise a somewhat rough work… – we just weren't completely surrendered, with the suspension's limited capacity for, on journeys meandering and at higher speeds, cancel out mass transfers. Always letting out, oscillations in the bodywork, even though the train remains firm on the previously outlined path. A bit like saying, “Sporty? Yes, but take it easy! It's just that this thing about being taller and heavier also has to be told!…”
Expensive… but payable Class 1
Now to finish — the contact… and this text —, there is still time for a small detour from the outlined path, along a short land path, in the middle of the Serra de Sintra, just to confirm the added value of a technological compendium that even foresees , the possibility to lift the body of the Maserati Levante by 40 mm more, compared to the 207 mm which is the “normal” distance. Which also helps to justify a price that starts at around 114 thousand euros.
Positioned as a direct competitor to the reference Porsche Cayenne, the Maserati Levante cannot, however, surpass it — in the universe of these more dynamic SUVs, the German rival is more efficient and more engaging in driving.
Arguments that even with the fact that the Italian SUV only pays Class 1 at the tolls, it can overcome…
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