Maserati’s high-performance SUV won’t arrive this year as we thought earlier. No, the GTS-badged mean-machine will wait for the next January to make the official debut at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show. This further means that it won’t be 2018, but the 2019 Maserati Levante GTS. Still, that’s not the main reason why we are talking about the awesome SUV yet again.
Our photographers managed to catch a prototype once again. The vehicle is still featuring camouflage on the key spots, so we can’t really figure out how it will look the high-performance model. As far as we can see, the 2019 Levante GTS will host a larger front bumper with bigger air intakes and a slightly restyled hood, which is also featuring some additional cooler. Both roof and rear hatch are unchanged, while the rear bumper appears to sport new diffusers and redesigned exhaust. The high-speed model rides on larger wheels which are equipped with a special braking system.
Performance-wise, the 2019 Maserati Levante GTS will rely on Ferrari’s 3.8-liter V8 engine. This is not the first Maserati with the unit. No, the Quattroporte GTS sedan is mated to the mill, which produces 523 horsepower and 524 pound-feet of twist. The SUV, however, will squeeze more power from the same engine. There is nothing official yet, but we expect around 570 horsepower under the hood of the Levante GTS. The power will go to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Even though we can’t wait to see the high-performance model the 2019 Maserati Levante GTS is not going to be the only new Levante. No, the carmaker is reportedly working on a plug-in hybrid model. By using a similar powertrain as the Chrysler Pacifica, the crossover will get an electric-only driving range of around 30 miles. Still, we expect more power for the Levante Plug-In Hybrid, because today’s drivetrain stops at 260 horsepower, which is not enough power for this kind of vehicle.
