Italian Chameleon

Maserati’s Levante S exemplifies sporty performance and allterrain action with plenty of room left over for the family.

The Maserati Levante has been available in Malaysia since early last year, but only as a dieselpowered offering. Anyone with an interest in motoring performance, then, will surely be much more excited with the new Levante S (RM788,800) and its petrol-powered V6.

To focus solely on the performance of the Levante S, however, would be doing it a disservice. Yes, the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 is capable of a blistering 430bhp that far outpaces its diesel counterpart. Yes, going from zero to 100km/hr in just 5.2 seconds is sports car territory. So is the double-wishbone front suspension as well as the 50-50 weight distribution and a low centre of gravity. Yes, the all-wheel- drive system heavily favours the rear wheels when on a road.

But if you wanted a sports car, you

would get a sports car. However, you would want the Maserati Levante S for when the highway runs out. In addition to all that handling and performance, it is also an uncompromising allterrain vehicle, tried and tested in snow, desert and jungle. The Q4 intelligent all-wheel-drive system can redirect the maximum 580Nm of available torque to where it is needed, enabling the Levante S to conquer any terrain.

Perhaps even more importantly, it never loses sight of the fact that it is a Maserati, with the exclusivity and luxurious Italian flair that the marque is known for.

The aggressively concaved front grille is as present as ever. The vehicle is sizable — it is meant to comfortably carry five, after all — but the sleek lines give it a trim, athletic appearance while maintaining a distinctive but understated demeanour. The Granlusso package elevates the interior opulence to another level, with wood trim and silk upholstery by Ermenegildo Zegna — the latter is a rare alternative to leather in a luxury vehicle.

The Gransport package is available for the more energetic driver and includes a black front grille and red brake callipers.

The Levante S, then, is chameleon-like in the way it can suit any situation. Consider the sophisticated air suspension: it can

The vehicle is sizable, but the sleek lines give it a trim, athletic appearance.

drop down as much as 35mm for better aerodynamics at high speeds, and lowers 45mm when parked for easier access. It can raise up to 40mm for the more demanding offroad obstacles. Even the simplest design decisions are thoughtful — the doors, for instance, extend down to cover the sill steps, so after fording a river you could head straight to a gala without worrying about muddying your dress shoes while disembarking.

“It’s a real driver’s car, but it’s not a selfish driving pleasure. You can share it with your family … they will enjoy the amazing design, the feel and touch of the refinements, the engine sound,” Amaury La Fonta, general manager for Maserati South-east Asia & Pacific, says.

The Levante S is truly a go- anywhere, take- anyone, do- anything vehicle — and it is very much a Maserati. www.maserati.com ≠

Even the simplest design decisions are thoughtful.