Saar: It becomes the fifth variant in the Levante line-up but only the second to get a V8 under the hood.

The 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed has opened its gates from today. The four-day event will become the platform for many carmakers, particularly the luxury ones, to showcase their concepts and new products. Italian carmaker Maserati is one amongst them and it has taken the opportunity to unveil the fifth variant in Levante’s line-up. It is called the Maserati Levante GTS and it becomes the second variant to get a V8 under the hood. Apart from that, Maserati has also unwrapped the refreshed versions of the Ghibli, Maserati and the rest of the Levante line-up.

Maserati Levante GTS

It is powered by the same 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8 engine that does duty in the Levante Trofeo, which is the most powerful variant of the lot and was unveiled earlier this year at the 2018 New York International Auto Show. In the Levante GTS, the engine puts out 550PS of power and 730Nm of torque. Compared to the Trofeo, the torque figure is identical while the power figure is down by 40PS. The Ferrari V8 comes mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission which sends power to the road via an all-wheel-drive system.

Performance figures? Well, Maserati claims that Levante GTS can complete the nought to 100kmph sprint in 4.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 292kmph. Naturally, both those figures are dwarfed by the Trofeo which can do the 0-100kmph run in 3.9 seconds and go way past the 300kmph mark at full stretch.

Maserati has given the Levante GTS a similar makeover as the Levante Trofeo. The lower front fascia and the rear bumper have been tweaked to deliver a more aggressive stance. The company will offer LED Matrix headlamps as an optional extra and, as standard, equip it with Integrated Vehicle Control system. Inside the cabin, the standard leather upholstery can be upgraded with the full-grain Pieno Fiore natural leather by paying more (standard in Levante Trofeo), whereas the 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system comes as standard.

Refreshed Ghibli, Quattroporte And Levante

The changes to all models are quite similar and subtle in nature. Let’s put them out in bullets:

• The gearshift lever, which was introduced in the Levante Trofeo, is now part of all other models as well.
• The 8-speed gearbox now has the option to work in automatic or manual mode.
• The infotainment system features richer graphics and improved climate control system ergonomics.
• Pieno Fiore leather is available as an option in three colours options with specific stitching on the seats and double stitching on the door panels.
• Ghibli and Quattroporte models are now offered with two new, high-gloss interior veneers, whereas the Levante gets a choice of three.

• Customers opting for the Quattroporte will get a choice of ten exterior colours to choose from, whereas with the other two models they will get eleven.
• Two new tri-coat colours will be available – Rosso Potente and Blu Nobile.
• For the Quattroporte GTS GranSport, the company has also created bespoke front grille and side skirts.
• Five new alloy wheels have been designed in 20- and 21-inches, two each for Quattroporte and Levante and one for Ghibli.
• A new 22-inch alloy wheel has been designed for the Levante GTS and Trofeo variants.
• Maserati has also updated the Nerissimo package for all models.