The Maserati Levante will soon be hot on the heels of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo when a GTS version launches next year with a Ferrari V8 unit.
Spotted testing on the continent, the performance SUV model will inherit the twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre engine that’s currently used in the Quattroporte GTS, where it produces 523bhp.
With that output, the Levante GTS would rank within reach of the 542bhp Cayenne Turbo and upcoming Range Rover Velar SVR, which is also expected to have around 542bhp.
Like its hot SUV rivals, the Levante GTS will get bespoke chassis settings that are more road-biased than its siblings. Expect a harder performance mode for its air suspension that will sacrifice ride comfort for enhanced body control.
The car will wear GTS trim inside and out, with larger wheels and more aggressive bumpers for the exterior. The cabin will likely come with a higher-spec finish as standard, with a carbonfibre trim likely to signify the model’s sporting credentials.
The GTS will sit at the top of the Levante range, which currently receives power from either a 3.0-litre V6 petrol or a diesel engine of the same arrangement. The current quickest model, the V6 S GranSport, retails from £76,995, meaning the GTS could start from more than £80,000.
Following the GTS, Maserati will bolster its Levante line-up with a hybrid variant. It will mate the V6 petrol engine to an electric motor, shared with fellow Fiat Chrysler Automobiles stablemate Chrysler’s Pacifica Hybrid, to offer around 33 miles of pure electric driving.
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