Maserati Introduces 2021 Levante Lineup For North American Market:

Maserati North America has finally pulled the covers off of the brand’s 2021 vehicle lineup for the North American market. The Italian luxury brand celebrated by doing so at the famed Willow Springs Raceway in California, showcasing the portfolio’s dynamic performance capabilities on and off the track. While the three core Maserati vehicles received styling updates for the new model year, each one also received loads of updated technology and infotainment to push the luxury brand further into the future.

The first vehicle we are going to talk about is the 2021 Maserati Levante. Although it is the brand’s only SUV currently, it will be joined by the introduction of the midsized Grecale later this year. To make sure the Levante continues to lead the way for the Maserati SUV lineup, the Levante received styling updates like the new front grille with the Maserati signature tuning fork design. The new grille comes in chrome on the GranLusso trim and Piano Black on the GranSport. The rear of the vehicle also features boomerang shape taillights inspired by the 3200 GT made from state-of-the-art 3K injection molding technology. 

Inside is where we see some of the biggest changes to the Levante. the Levante has received significant updates both in design and technology with the central display and instrument cluster. The Levante’s 8.4-inch display screen has an improved resolution and graphics with a visual effect that makes it look like a single curved screen with the air vents cut into it, enabling vertical reading of the whole display.  The name Maserati is also screen-printed on the back of the screen at the bottom of the display, for a three-dimensional effect.

There has also been a sophisticated change to the instrument cluster, which includes a large rev counter and speedometer (still analog but with updated graphics) on either side of a 7-inch thin-film-transistor (TFT) display. Much of the plastic from the previous versions have been eliminated and replaced with real anti-glare flat glass covering the instruments. All these changes give the instrument cluster a more high-tech look and generate a richer impression.

The new Maserati Intelligent Assistant (MIA) multimedia system is powered by an Android Automotive operating system, offering a new and innovative user experience with full personalization capabilities similar to Uconnect. Integrated into this system for all 2021 Maserati models and beyond is the new Maserati Connect program that keeps the driver informed of the car’s health, alerts them when the vehicle needs to be serviced, and assists in emergencies, and instances of car theft. Drivers can stay in contact with their car via the Maserati Connect app or virtual personal assistant, such as Google Assist and Amazon Alexa. The 2021 vehicles also feature Active Driving Assist, which has been added to the existing list of Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technology.

Active Driving Assist is an evolution of Highway Assist. It’s a “hands-on” function intended for use on any kind of well-maintained road and, while previous versions were only usable on highways, today it is available on any well-maintained road at speeds up to 90 mph with the Adaptive Cruise Control system activated. It reduces driver fatigue and enhances active safety by allowing the car to keep itself centered in its lane and to adapt its pre-selected speed in full autonomy, employing a radar unit and a forward-looking camera, working with the Electric Power Steering (EPS) to control the direction of the car.

The luxurious Zegna PELLETESSUTA™ interior will also return for the 2021 model year. The soft, luxurious, lightweight Zegna PELLETESSUTA™ material is not only durable but brings comfort and beauty to Levante’s interior. The result of years of research and using thin strips of Nappa leather in place of fabric yarns which are woven together and interlaced replicating the traditional method of weaving cloth to obtain a real ‘fabric’ from leather. This method is an example of combining new avant-garde technologies with century-old traditions to create innovation. Through a longstanding partnership between Zegna and Maserati, two historical Italian companies, Maserati is the only automotive company to bring this elevated exclusive interior to the market. It will be available on Levante Gransport/GranLusso trims, GTS, and Trofeo.

Under the hood of the Levante, there is a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 making 345 horsepower (424 horsepower in Levante S form) which is capable of a 0 to 60 mph sprint in 5.8 seconds (5.0 seconds on S) with a top speed of 156 mph (164 mph) on the S. The high-efficiency Maserati units feature low-inertia parallel twin-turbo setup, double continuous cam phasers for each cylinder head, and high-pressure (200 bar) fuel injection. Maximum torque is available well below 2000 RPM ensuring superb day-to-day drivability.

For those who want more performance, there is a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 developed in cooperation with Ferrari, in the GTS and Trofeo models. The V8 produces 550 horsepower on GTS (580 horsepower on Trofeo) pushing the vehicle to a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.0 seconds (or 3.8 seconds on Trofeo). The GTS has a top speed of 181 mph, while the Trofeo is capable of 187 mph.

All Levante’s come with the Maserati Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel-Drive System which features an electronically-controlled multi-plate wet clutch, installed into a transfer case that is linked by a driveshaft to the front axle. The system is developed to deliver a typical Maserati rear-wheel-drive experience, even in low-grip road conditions. It acts on demand by transferring traction to the front wheels with an immediate response.

For 2021, there will be four available models of the Levante available in the North American market, Levante, Levante S, Levante GTS, and Levante Trofeo. 

The 2021 Maserati Levante has a starting U.S. Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $77,890 and does not include the $1,495 destination charge. For those looking for more information, you can visit MaseratiUSA.com or contact your local Maserati dealer.