A V6-powered Maserati Levante just wasn't enough. At least that's what a group of engineers thought as they formed a sort of skunkworks and secretly set out to see if they could fit the Ferrari-derived V8 from the Quattroporte GTS into the Levante. Turns out they could.
TranscriptJAMES RISWICK: All right. Well, the rain let up enough for us to get out here. It is very, very slick and very rainy. So but at least we get some taste of what it's like to drive this GTS. And it's big. This is a big vehicle. But darn it, does this V8 sound really good. Kind of wish I wasn't wearing a helmet. [LAUGHS]
I'm in beautiful Pontiac, Michigan, on a beautiful summer day, and this is the new Maserati Levante GTS. Now, the GTS-- the big news about this car, it has a V8, and it's specifically a Ferrari V8. Levante was never supposed to have a V8 engine. Instead, a group of engineers got together secretly, in a sort of skunkworks, and figured, ha. I bet you that we could fit a V8 in this car. And they decided to find out. And guess what? They could.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
This transmission, the ZF eight-speed automatic that does wonders in just about everything it's ever been put in, is good once again. I'm in sport mode right now, which of course sharpens the throttle and the transmission response. Now, this does have an adjustable air suspension.
So again, this twin-turbo V8 is derived from Ferrari. It's also derived from the Quattroporte GS, which just happens to be up there. Quite a lot of this engine has been reworked for the Levante to make more power. Again, 550 horsepower here in the GTS. I think that's why you buy this one, because V8s are better than V6s. You can print that.
[LAUGHS]
That's a lot of fire and fury right there. That's cool.
Yeah, I'm pretty happy about this. A lot of it has to do with the engine because I'm still in a tall, heavy SUV on a wet track. But that engine is very, very cool. I guess that was to be expected. I mean, you know, Ferrari.
So now that we're stopped, let's talk about the interior a bit. Of course, you do have plenty of carbon fiber in abundance, including on these paddles. They're metal in every other Levante in the grand sport. But another new thing for 2019 is this new shifter. The old one kind of worked in the old Chrysler method, which was P, R, and D go through it. It could get a little confusing and occasionally dangerous.
This one is more like the BMW style, where you go forward for reverse, back for D, and you press Park for park. It's similar to what you have in Alfa Romeos, but this one has some nice metallic trim and also leather. And of course, it's a Maserati, so you get that guy.
Now, Maserati didn't only green-light the GTS. No, they also greenlit the Trofeo. The difference is this has 550 horsepower. The Trofeo has 590. This one's also a little cheaper. But besides all of that power, the main difference is there are visual differences here. You do have a larger air dam up front. You also have a different grille. Note the gloss black in here.
You also have 22-inch wheels. They're 19s or 20s on the regular Levante. But this is an all-wheel drive car, just like every Levante. It has a 50-50 weight distribution. But in terms of power distribution, in normal driving, 100% of that V8 power goes to the rear. And I don't know if you can tell, but it's raining. And if it's raining where you are while driving this car, the power will get sent to the front to include traction. Kind of help you out a bit. And what's going to help me out a bit is going inside, so the new Levante GTS.
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