LITHESOME, LUSCIOUS LEVANTE
IT was bright and breezy in Langkawi when we arrived to drive the Maserati Levante, courtesy of Naza Italia. The driving locations with their scenic and charming beaches, mountains and smooth roads are simply perfect for the Levante.
The petrol-powered Maserati Levante is available in two variants; the Levante and the sportier Levante S.
We had the opportunity to drive the latter, which is fitted with a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6. It is the same engine as the base Levante but has been tuned to produce higher outputs at 430hp and 580Nm of torque.
Power is transferred to all four wheels via Maserati’s Q4 all-wheel drive system and rear limited slip differential. It can do zero to 100kph in just 5.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 264kph.
The Levante has been around for a couple of years now, but the 2019 model received multiple updates here and there.
For instance, the car is now offered in GranLusso and GranSport trims, un- dergone redesigned front and rear bumpers and gets a revised gearshift lever.
The adjacent drive mode cluster is made more user-friendly. No more M button to make way for the Off-Road mode button.
Depending on whether you opted for the GranSport or GranLusso trim, the Naza Italia-specced Levante is equipped with bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, 21-inch Helios wheels, red brake callipers, powered tailgate, soft closing doors, 8.4-inch touchscreen display for the Maserati Touch Control Plus (MTC Plus) infotainment unit, leather upholstery, satellite navigation, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitor and a dual-zone climate control system.