Maserati launched the Levante in 2016 and the first SUV from the Italian luxury auto marque made headlines world over. Dubbed the ‘Maserati of SUVs’, the Levante proved to be a worthy contender in the world of four-wheel automobiles. Whenever I have test driven the SUV, on various terrains and in different cities, the Levante has left me in awe of its prowess.
I was understandably excited when I got to know that the Maserati Trofeo Levante had arrived in Oman. If you are wondering what Maserati means by the term Trofeo, think faster, exemplary performance and unique detailing. Maserati launched the Trofeo in 2018, bringing to its fleet the most extreme Levante from the Trident. Earlier this year, Maserati extended the line-up by unveiling the Trofeo Quattroporte and Ghibli – the fastest and most powerful versions of the sports sedans.
The beauty is in the details
Maserati has had some unique touches to the Trofeo collection. For instance, the front grille with twin vertical bars features a Black Piano finish while the inclusion of carbon fibre on the front air duct trims and rear extractor gives the Levante an even more aggressive stance. The side air vents, Trofeo badge and the lightning bolt on the Trident badge on the C-pillars have been given a colourful touch – red to be exact. A cool touch if I may say so. One of the first design changes I spotted during the walkaround is the rear light cluster that been restyled. The inside is plush as ever and features full-grain Pieno Fiore natural leather upholstery. Adding to the premium look is the exquisite carbon fibre trim on many elements inside the Levante Trofeo.
The power and the beast
The powerful new Levante Trofeo edition is powered 3,799cc bi-turbocharged 90-degree V8 petrol engine, developed by Ferrari, and mated to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. What does this give us? 572bhp at 6,750rpm and 730Nm of torque between 2,250 – 5,250rpm. Maserti’s iconic SUV packs in top speed at 304 kmph and goes from 0 to 100 kmph in 3.9 seconds.
On the road
There is no greater joy than getting behind the wheel and putting a vehicle to test. And when it is the fastest version of Maserati’s SUV, the excitement is double-fold. The Levante Trofeo is as numble and smooth as expected. The drive through the city almost feels effortless as the Levante Trofeo glides down the tarmac. The drive continued to be quite pleasant heading down to Sifah, as the SUV took on the winding roads and curves with ease. A change in terrain does not deter the performance of the Levante Trofeo.
The Levante Trofeo’s Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive that ensures the SUV remains stable on all terrains. The Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel system sends power to the rear wheels bringing the impressive rear-drive steering response we have come to expect of a Maserati.
Impressions
The Maserati Levante Trofeo delivers what the Italian marque promises – power, speed, and performance. A supercar and an SUV in one, with novel add-ons. We are sold!