Levante Trofeo Launch Edition here
NAZA Italia has brought in the Maserati Levante Trofeo Launch Edition with only three units out of the 100 built for the world reserved for Malaysia.
Priced from RM838,800 (before duties and taxes), this performance sport utility vehicle (SUV) comes with a three-year or 100,000km warranty (whichever comes first) and includes “Maserati Premium Service Plus of three-years or 60,000km. New buyers for the month of June will be given an exclusive seven-year warranty period instead of the standard three years.
At present, the limited edition Levante is available in Blu Emozione Matte (blue), Giallo Modenese (yellow) and Rosso Magma (red) while being powered by a more capable 3.8-litre (3,799cc) twin-turbo V8 direct-injected petrol engine.
Power is rated at 590hp at 6,250rpm and 730Nm of torque from 2,500 to 5,000rpm - allowing it to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 3.9 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 304kph, while being mated to an eight-speed ZF gearbox that sends power to the Q4 allwheel-drive system with a limited-slip differential (LSD).
The LSD is able to send all the twist directly to the rear in 150 milliseconds if necessary or simply allow the power to be equally split between the front and rear axles.
Regardless, the engine’s grunt gets the forged multi-spoke 22-inch Orione alloy wheels spinning and have been fitted with 265/35 (front) and 295/30 (rear) series tyres.
All that partially obscures the performance brake callipers (in matching body colour) that’s touted to provide a minimum braking distance of 34.5m from 100 to 0kph.
For comparison, the Levante S uses a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 put together by Ferrari that puts out 430hp and 580Nm which gets it from 0 to 100kph in 5.2 seconds while top speed is attained at 264kph.
To exploit the Levante’s power gain is the newly included Corsa (Race) driving mode with launch control while the exhaust note, faster-shifts in manual mode (found within the Integrated Vehicle Control system for the first time) and revised electronic stability programme with full “off” option help to heighten the driving experience.
This 2,170kg (kerb) SUV with a 50:50 weight-distribution sits on a front double-wishbone and rear multi-link suspension setup that uses adjustable Air Springs paired with Skyhook shock absorbers.
To readily differentiate itself, this Levante “wears” air extractor vents on the hood while showing off its front sport bumper fitted with carbon inserts - including the air blades that help direct air into the large gaping vents for cooling purposes.
The side profile shows off the widened side skirts with carbon fibre inserts while the rear sports a “Trofeo” logo on the C-pillars and a “Saetta” badge on the rear boot.
Inside, the cabin has been fitted with full-grain Pieno Fiore natural leather for the sports seats accompanied by matching-colour stitches and the Trofeo logo embroidered into the headrests.
The cabin also features 3D-touch matte carbon fibre inserts, a special “one of 100” plague on the centre console, paddle shifters, specific instrument cluster graphics and floormats with metal Trofeo badges.
Along with the Trofeo analogue clock centrally-mounted on the dashboard and a dedicated rocker-switch to adjust the ride height (lowered by 75mm or raised it by 85mm), a 1,280-watt, 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system rounds off the premium goodies.