Maserati Levante S GranSport: Gone With The Wind
MASERATI LEVANTE S GRANSPORT
GONE WITH THE WIND
Words by Alessandro Marrone
Photos by S. Lomax
According to Wikipedia, “The Alps are the most important mountain range in Europe, located in central Europe stretching the borders of Italy, France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Hungary […]” – and if the most famous encyclopedia in the world says that, it would be probably true (add a smile here, thinking of a famous line by Homer Simpson). But if I think of the Alps, my mind is literally invaded by a plethora of images, breathtaking views of the most varied colors, an incredibly blue sky, pure air and that feeling of inner peace that you can only feel a handful of times a year and certainly not when you’re sitting in the busy city streets or you’re arguing with some bus driver who just cut you off.
Since the dawn of time, man has always looked for the best way to cope with long journeys – and I talk about when cars had not yet been invented. Without going too far with our travel back in time, they were usually loading everything on a pair of mules with heavy clothes, so as to face the rigid temperatures that awaited the travelers once they reached considerable heights. Now everything is much simpler and alpine passes, when they are not closed for snow, do not represent a problem in any way allowing you to cross the border in a few minutes, enjoying a postcard landscape and a small world surrounded by the most untouched nature. In these wonderful places, man has timidly put his own hands with the intention of offering the main services, but without distorting the feeling of freedom that nature can give to those who decide to dedicate a day immersed in these little pieces of paradise. Whether you go on an alpine pass for a walk, to look at the many wild animals that inhabit the area, or simply to relax your nerves, it is not important, what matters is that you do it with the utmost respect for nature and for those old buildings left and increasingly worn by time and severe weather. There is a motto that is frequently used by those who explore abandoned places and can be applied in the same way to preserve the beauty of these enchanted scenarios “Take only photographs, leave only fingerprints”, but along with photographs, what you will bring home with you, are a series of beautiful memories. Be sure about this.
Being part of a kind of people affected by a crazy passion for cars, having roads that climb these peaks at disposal and being able to throw myself in valleys that seem pointing at the horizon, does nothing but make me constantly plan the next road trip, this time not at the wheel of a sports car, but one of the most controversial SUV of recent years, the new Maserati Levante. The model at my disposal is the top of the range (currently available, ed), the S version with Gransport specifications, that basically means that under the dress of a noble lady lies the powerful twin-turbo V6 of the trident, all enhanced by details that enrich the aesthetic and one of the most luxurious cockpit in which you can ever rest your bottom.
My Alpine crossing will have two main situations, the consumption of petrol and the rumble of the 6-cylinder that comes out of the two pairs of pipes at the back. In days like these you do not care if you are going to reach the death of your credit card, by filling up fuel on these mountain roads, what awaits you at the top will be the best reward, in terms of fun and pure emotions. Yes, because Maserati is synonymous with emotions, just like pure driving glory and if you think that a weight of just over two tons can weaken the hunger of curves, you are on the wrong path. The Levante is the first SUV ever produced by the brand and collects the styles that the company has put on the market with the big sedan Quattroporte and the more sensible Ghibli, but what this model promises to do is nothing more than being the link between the two sedans and the iconic Granturismo. Let me explain it better: the Levante has a sporty look, you can see it without a shadow of a doubt from its aggressive front, with that grille ready to devour you, the road ahead and enough air to cool the beating heart of the car itself. The thin headlights and the ribs on the big bonnet tell the rest of the story, while I admit that its side view, unless you have set the suspension in Sport and at its lower ground clearance possible, it could almost seem a bit clumsy, impression definitely driven away by the rear, with a simple design but in line with the rest of the car, thanks to the typical brand’s taillights, the horizontal chromed profile and the raised tail, which makes it almost a coupe-SUV, as many like to define those with a much more sports-focused nature.
There are 20-inch wheels that fill as much as possible the generous wheel arches and although the Levante is able to tackle some impervious path, I preferred to keep myself away from those roads that would not enhance the symphonic orchestra hidden under the hood. The voice of this special wind (Levante is actually a wind) comes courtesy of a 3-liter V6, supercharged by two turbos and capable of delivering 430 horses at around 5,750 rpm. Traction is of course on both axles and the electronically controlled air suspensions are responsible for the exceptional behavior on the road, despite the weight and the fact that the car itself is more devoted to a comfort ride – just like a grand tourer – than pure performance. Putting the gearbox in manual mode and using the aluminum paddles fixed to the steering column is a real pleasure, not only because you can make the most of the great torque reserve – now we get there – but because you are able to play with that musical instrument called exhaust. Once you understand that you just need to overcome the 2,000 rpm with determination to open the valves and unleash Dante’s Inferno on the ground, you will do nothing but wake up all the wild animals within a few kilometers. But if the road is generous enough and winks at the huge trident immersed in the leather steering wheel, just press the gas to the floor and unleash the beauty of 580Nm, with a progression that starts from 1,750 rpm and lasts up to 5,000, not sudden but constant and emphasized by the roar that accompanies each movement of the great beast from Modena.
Brakes are powerful too and can slow down the two tons of our Alpine-Express with maximum ease, but once you get into the action between more or less fast corners, the rather mellow steering seems wanting to encourage you to adopt a more relaxed pace. Not that the Levante is not able to attack these Alpine strips as God commands, but its dynamics are different from that of other performing SUVs. In part softer, more calm, precise but still refined, the Levante S is a classy woman who loves to arrive a few minutes after the other to attract all the eyes on her, if needed. Once the general attention and the curiosity of those who are inevitably attracted by the blazon of that trident exposed in front of us without half measures has been conquered, it really brings out its strong point, an elegance and a class that can hardly be matched. The cabin, finished in soft red leather, almost seems to tempt you as if it were the infamous forbidden fruit of Eden, with the difference that once you bit the asphalt, you will continue to live in your little corner of driving nirvana.
Once arrived at the top, I stop in different points to allow the photographer to catch the best from this day in the mountains and my eyes start to fight, bouncing from the sharp rocky peaks to the details of our Maserati. There are bits that state how much care to detail there is behind this project, such as the three “gills” on the front wheel arches, or the blue profiles inside the badge (characterizing the GranSport), not to mention the updated infotainment system that we had the chance to test with the Ghibli last year, quicker, more intuitive and with wide opportunity to customize the user menu. The drive starts back and careless of the indications of my team, I let myself be carried away by the incredible understanding created by the magic of the place and the roar of the V6, always eager to climb in revs and ready to go along with my need for speed. It takes 5.2 seconds to shoot from 0 to 100 kph and once launched, reaching the maximum speed of 264 per hour is very easy, thanks to a torque with a wide curve and thanks to the help of the turbos, once maintained the needle of the tachometer above 2,000 rpm, do not have the slightest delay in delivery.
And if emotions have a price, we’re talking about something like € 104,000, with optional and customization possibilities that will increase the final price. Consumption figures say 10.9 l/100km in the mixed cycle (at a relaxed pace), with an urban consumption of 15l/100km and extra-urban of 8.5l/100km, but considered at least a 15l/100km in the ideal mixed cycle, because I doubt everyone out there is a Start & Stop enthusiast. The Levante is a crucial step for Maserati, entering into a new and dense segment of competitors. The choice of the petrol engine is purely linked to the emotional side, but the diesel version represents – like the Ghibli – a solid alternative to European bosses, in particular the German squadron and the king of kings, the Range Rover. Choosing a Maserati is not simply the result of careful nights spent on AutoScout24, but it is something that goes further. A Levante, especially the S version with 430hp or even n the most ferocious Trofeo (with 8 cylinders and 580hp) is designed to meet the needs of those who do not want to give up certain emotions when forced to leave their traditional sports car at home. Going on vacation, or even facing an Alpine pass for the sheer pleasure of doing it, is not the prerogative of the Granturismo or some other 2-seaters with bumpers close to the ground, because the beauty of these situations is reflected by the relationship that a car is capable to create with the one holding the wheel, regardless of 0-100 and extreme cornering. In this context the Levante S not only proves to be a complete SUV, but to unite the sporty spirit of Maserati with the practicality of a car with such dimensions, enhancing the journey as few other competitors are able to do.
MASERATI LEVANTE S GRANSPORT
Layout – front-engine, all-wheel-drive
Engine – V6 cylinder 2.979cc – twin-turbo
Transmission – 8-speed automatic gearbox
Power – 430 hp @ 5.750 rpm
580 Nm @ 1.750-5.000 rpm
Weight – 2.109 kg
Acceleration – 5,2 sec.
Top Speed – 264 kph
Price – from €104.006