Magna systems in Maserati Levante
Magna International Inc. is supplying camera-based driver assistance systems and allwheel-drive components in the new Maserati Levante, as the traditional Italian sports brand enters into the luxury SUV segment for the first time.
Magna’s EYERIS electronic vision system includes a 360-degree surround view system. The front and side cameras are located in the radiator grill and outside mirrors, while the rear view camera is positioned above the rear registration plate. Unlike the previous analog generation, the electronic control for the surround system operates based on digital video data from the cameras.
Swamy Kotagiri, Magna Chief Technology Officer, said, “Working with a premium brand like Maserati and delivering innovative vehicle systems that the consumer interacts with is extremely critical to supporting our partnership and reputation in general. Our ability to impact two key areas of the vehicle in terms of safety and performance is an example of our competitive advantage.”
The 8.4-inch touch screen monitor in the front console of the vehicle offers two options for high-resolution image display: a split screen mode offering the front and rear perspective (combined with a front and rear ultrasound parking assistant), or a bird’s eye view with overlapping dynamic and static Guidance Lines and integrated ‘door open’ warning display.
Other electronic features on board the SUV include a lane-departure warning assistant, high-beam assistant and camera-based object detection.
Magna, the largest independent 4WD/ AWD supplier globally, also provides its drivetrain technology to the Maserati Levante. The fast-reacting Actima allwheel transfer case with electronically controlled multi-disc clutch provides variable distribution of the drive torque between the front and rear axles. Depending on the driving conditions and traction, the system is able to vary the engine power reserves from the standard rear-wheel drive to a symmetrical 50:50 distribution within 100 milliseconds. This results in maximum drive stability, driving enjoyment and active safety.