Maserati Levante Could Get a V8

The powerplant is said to be a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 borrowed from the Quattroporte sedan, where it makes 523 hp.

Maserati’snew Levante isn’t exactly underpowered with 430 horsepower available, but a big boost may be coming from a new V8 engine.

Autoblog asked the head of Maserati vehicle programs, Davide Danesin, if the engine would fit in the Levante. “Yes, it fits, and we have a prototype already,” said Danesin, who went on to confirm that the big V8 can be paired with an all-wheel drive system.

SEE ALSO: Maserati Levante Pricing to Start at $72,000

When the Levante launches, it will be available with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 offered in two flavors; either with 350 horsepower or 430 hp in the S model. This new updated V6 will debut in the Levante, though it will find its way to the Ghibli and Quattroporte soon, bringing a 20-hp increase to those cars in S tune.

If Maserati does build the high-performance crossover, it will be faced with stiff competition from the 520-hp Porsche Cayenne Turbo and 570-hp Turbo S along with the 550-hp Range Rover Sport SVR.

[Source: Autoblog]

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