Considered as one of the most important exhibitions of the year in Europe, and around the world, Maserati wowed audiences at the Geneva International Motor Show. Firstly launching the Levante Trofeo Launch Edition with only 100 units, a true must-see at the show, along with other models from the MY19 range.
Another premiere of the Geneva Show were the new interiors in PELLETESSUTA, an exclusive new material made by Ermenegildo Zegna exclusively for Maserati. Arriving as an ode to the brand’s sporty DNA, Maserati exhibited a GranTurismo MC (acronym for Maserati Corse), for the first time with an exterior in the desirable Grigio Lava Matte color combined with interiors in carbon fiber. Many new developments were revealed at the opening of the show, exemplifying Maserati’s ability to construct customized automobiles is the exciting one-off model, created according to the requests of a particular customer.
LEVANTE TROFEO LAUNCH EDITION – A LIMITED EDITION
Kicking off the Levante Trofeo Launch with a limited run of 100 units, the stunning model will be available not only in the Blu Emozione Matte color presented at the Geneva International Motor Show but also in the unique paints Giallo Modenese and Rosso Magma. The interior features sports seats with a premium full-grain “Pieno Fiore” natural leather, with contrasting stitching and a “Trofeo” logo embroidered on the headrest, available in blue, red or yellow. The exclusive carbon fiber inserts on the bumpers, side skirts and specially designed bonnet stand out. The 22″ Orione rims can be matte or glossy black finish, while the brake calipers are available in silver, blue, yellow or red.
The Levante Trofeo is equipped with one of the most powerful engines ever fitted in a Maserati road car. This is the 3.8 liter Twin Turbo V8, calibrated to mate perfectly with the Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, providing it with a new crankcase design, specific crankshaft assembly, new oil pump and auxiliary belt and a different wiring layout.
Like all Maserati petrol engines, this V8 is assembled by Ferrari in Maranello. In terms of 0-100km/h acceleration, it stops the chronometer at 4.1”, while the maximum speed is close to the 300 km/h threshold.
The Levante Trofeo is fitted with the eightspeed ZF automatic gearbox used on all the Levante versions, acclaimed for its versatility and sporty character. The “Corsa” driving mode with Launch Control functionality (in addition to the existing Normal, I.C.E., Sport and Off Road modes) has been adopted to enhance the sporty character of the ultimate Maserati SUV “Corsa” driving mode further improves engine response and opens exhaust valves in acceleration, as well as providing faster gear shifting, lower air suspension height levels, sportier Skyhook damping and optimized Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive settings. It also interacts with the Traction Control and ESP systems to maximize driving pleasure.
The Levante features the Integrated Vehicle Control (IVC) system for impressive driving dynamics, better performance, and a genuine Maserati driving experience, by helping to prevent vehicle instability, instead of correcting “driver mistakes” as a traditional Electronic Stability Program (ESP) system does.
The ideal 50:50 weight balance and the low center of gravity – common to all Levante models, in combination with the finely tuned double wishbone front / Multi Link rear suspension, as well as the wider 22-inch rear tires on forged aluminum alloy wheels, provide the new Trofeo with perfectly balanced handling and lateral stability.
The unmistakable Levante design has reached new levels of sportiness in this model like the lower splitter, the side blades in the front air intakes, the side skirt inserts and the rear extractor, made of ultralight high-gloss carbon fiber.
At the front, the Levante Trofeo has Full Matrix LED adaptive headlights, a front grille with double vertical bars in Black Piano finish, lower honeycomb mesh fascia, body color door handles and high-performance brake calipers available in red, blue, black, silver or yellow. And to cap it off, the “Saetta” Trofeo logo adorns the iconic C-pillar of the coupé styled Levante.
Inside the Levante Trofeo cabin is a wealth of elegant features which create an environment of pure luxury. “Pieno Fiore” is like no other leather used in the automotive industry for its natural, soft feel and for the unique character it develops throughout the years.
This amazing Levante’s quintessentially sporty personality is highlighted by new details in “3D Touch” matt carbon fiber, the specific instrument cluster graphics, floor mats with metal Trofeo badges, and a Maserati clock with a unique dial. The on-board set up is completed by a 1,280-watt, 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium surround sound audio system for a concert hall sound experience.
The Levante Trofeo is the first ever Maserati equipped with 22-inch forged aluminum wheels, so Maserati cooperated with Continental to provide the new SportContact 6 tire as standard equipment. The new ultra-sport tire has substantially contributed to achieving the excellent and balanced handling and outstanding cornering performance of the most powerful Maserati in production today.
PERSONALIZATION
Maserati fans absolutely love the brand’s design perspective when it comes to personalization on all Maserati models. At the 89th edition of the Geneva International Motor Show, Maserati’s creativity in personalization came to life. The Maserati area at the sow highlighted the brand’s distinct Italian flair for design, as well as the process of craftsmanship and customization.
All of these design considerations have prompted Maserati to host on their stand together with Ermenegildo Zegna, a longstanding partner and a leader in the field of men’s luxury clothing, two other leading artisanal firms in their field: Giorgetti, the internationally renowned Italian woodworking company, known for its furniture and unique design pieces, and De Castelli, a leading metalworking firm, specializing in the production of unique home design accessories, custom surfaces and projects.
At Maserati tradition becomes innovation, combining fine craftsmanship, advanced technology and sophisticated design for the sort of exclusive, unique mix only Maserati knows how to apply to its cars.
The stand provided an instructive tour through three different dedicated thematic areas. Each area will feature a display of tools, materials and components that, specially crafted by Zegna, De Castelli and Giorgetti, bear witness to the unending quest for excellence, style and originality, typical of products designed and Made in Italy, and therefore typical of Maserati.
Speaking of innovation and design, when it comes to customizing the stand, for the first time ever Maserati took advantage in the Customization Area of a D-Table, the only interactive table which combines the latestgeneratio software and elegant, sophisticated design.
ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA
Zegna is a longstanding partner of Maserati and for the Geneva show will be presenting the world premiere of its new car interiors in PELLETESSUTA, a special woven nappa leather, the product of pioneering research by Ermenegildo Zegna, seeking to create a luxurious, innovative, lightweight and soft fabric that is versatile and well suited for the creation of products, ranging from home design complements to multimedia accessories.
The bond between Zegna and Maserati grows stronger with each passing year, in no small part due to the historical similarities of the two brands.
The Ermenegildo Zegna Group is one of the most distinguished businesses in all of Italy. Founded back in 1910 in Trivero, in the Biellese Alps, by a young entrepreneur named Ermenegildo, whose vision was to ethically produce the most sumptuous fabrics in the world by means of innovation and the utilization of the best luxury fibers, sourced directly in their countries of origin, the company is currently guided by the fourth generation of the Zegna family. The Group, which since the late 80’s has been implementing a strategy of vertical integration, has created a global luxury brand which currently offers fabrics, clothing and accessories. Today there are 504 single-label stores in over 100 countries, of which 272 are company-owned.
GIORGETTI
The Giorgetti cabinet-making tradition started in Brianza in 1898, and more than 120 years later, is still continuing to evolve and innovate. The company looks to the future, how to convey and stay on top of all the changes in a dynamically transforming world. Giorgetti’s approach to interior design involves interpreting behaviors and tastes in various different markets, creating pieces that are free of all formal conventions, capable of coexisting harmoniously in any context, dissolving cultural and temporal distances.
The products made by Giorgetti epitomize the best in the proud slogan, “Made and Manufactured in Italy”. Starting from design, creativity and style, and all the way to the actual manufacture of a finished product, the entire manufacturing process is completely carried out in Italy by highly qualified personnel, boasting consummate skill in the furniture sector. The craft-based approach associated with the phrase, Made in Italy, transcends the notion of standardized, mass-produced products, guaranteeing high levels of product customization. The indispensable work of master craftsmen is capable of imbuing Giorgetti projects with that magical allure of unique, handmade pieces.
DE CASTELLI
True to its commitment to restore the role of metal in project experimentation, De Castelli is grafting a craft-based concept and approach to metalwork in otherwise typically industrial processes, a bold synthesis that leads to unprecedented results. This method of design brings back an artisanal approach, that showcases the beauty of metal work and its vast potential as opposite to mass-produced models that are without any design character. The handcrafted process is reflective of a culture that pays tribute to De Castelli’s focus on aesthetics that merge seamlessly with function to result in bespoke design—similar to what we see in De Castelli’s approach to living spaces. This overturns the maxim that confines the coldness of metal to the outer margins of interior design projects, bringing steel, brass and copper, in their multiple variations and finishes, to the center of a completely renovated scenario where they can finally glow in self-generated radiance. Delabré is the name of an artisanal finish conceived of and realized by De Castelli. It consists in the manual oxidation of materials like steel, copper and brass, capable of imbuing them with unique, unrepeatable chromatic effects.
THE OTHER MODELS IN THE MASERATI RANGE: GRANTUSIMO MC, QUATTROPORTE AND GHIBLI
Visitors to the Geneva International Motor Show also enjoyed a dynamic display of the GranTurismo MC (acronym for Maserati Corse) which perfectly represents the sporty DNA of the Modena company. The GranTurismo MC boasts an exclusive new configuration, for the first time ever with the Grigio Lava Matte as the exterior color and “Nerissimo Carbon Pack” trim with the Black Chrome contrasting finishes for the various details: the upper portion of the grille with black vertical slats and the Trident in the middle, the profiles of the boot, the lettering on the tailgate, the logo on the pillars and the side air intakes. Also featuring an exclusive black finish are the door handles, the exhaust outlets and the window frames. Carbon fibre customization packs will be available for the interiors.
The stand also features various different Maserati models, including a Levante S Q4 GranSport in an exclusive trim with the exterior in a Bronze color, which boasts interiors in Zegna PELLETESSUTA. The car sports 21” polished Helios rims. For the first time in the history of this longstanding partnership with Zegna, the customization has been extended to also include the GranSport trims of the Maserati range. An especially sophisticated combination for this Levante, the first SUV in the more than one-hundred year history of Maserati.
On display, the Maserati Quattroporte S Q4 GranLusso with its Blu Sofisticato colored body combined with interiors in PELLETESSUTA Zegna, an extremely elegant configuration to once again underscore the exclusive, luxurious character of this Italian manufacturer flagship, whose origins date back to Series I designed in 1963 to be the fastest sedan in the world. The 21” Atlante alloy rims with blue brake calipers and the sport seats underscore the dual nature of this model.
Two Maserati Ghibli S Q4 (GranSport and GranLusso trims), 430 hp, can be viewed on the stand. The GranSport trim is equipped with metallic Grigio Maratea paint on the outside and Nerissimo pack with a red interior in full-grain “Pieno Fiore” leather and black stitching, plus roof lining in black Alcantara. The rims are 21” in Glossy Black Titanium, which imbue the Maserati sedan, boasting Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, with a unique, unmistakable character. The elegance of the GranLusso trim is highlighted by the tri-coat exterior Bianco Alpi paint and by the 20” Teseo rims; on the inside the full-grain “Pieno Fiore” black leather has been combined with Oak trim and roof lining in grey Alcantara.
The entire MY19 range, composed of Ghibli, Quattroporte and Levante models, has benefited from a luxurious restyling which combined targeted interventions in terms of both style and new contents.
Both the sedans and the SUV with MY19 specifications are equipped with a redesigned shorter-travel gearshift lever featuring a more intuitive shift pattern and improved operation.
The Maserati Levante Trofeo for the European market is capable of delivering 580 hp at 6,250 rpm, achieving extremely high peak rotation, maintaining the same torque of 730 Nm, usable in a wide range between 2,500 and 5,000 rpm. The Levante Trofeo therefore displays the characteristic of immediately providing high levels of torque even at low revs, a feature that is appreciated by the customers of this type of SUV. Thanks to new turbochargers with increased flow, a redesigned cylinder head with specific camshafts and valves, new pistons and new connecting rods, the Levante Trofeo is able to achieve impressive power peaks, in combination with specific engine calibration mapping.
The new Levante Trofeo features Full Matrix LED adaptive headlights as standard. Compared to Bi-Xenon headlamps, LED technology offers 20% better visibility, 32% cooler light and headlights that last twice as long.
The full LED headlights utilize a digital camera mounted behind the rear-view mirror that supports the Glare-free High Beam detection system, allowing the driver to keep the high beam on without dazzling oncoming drivers. The system is able to create a “zone of shade” around other vehicles switching dynamically on and off the LED matrixes. The full Matrix LED headlights can create up to four light tunnels simultaneously with each tunnel as large as the obstacle.
The Brembo braking system deals superbly with the high performance of the Levante Trofeo. The front brakes have adopted 6-piston aluminum monobloc calipers working on 380 mm x 34 mm drilled discs, while 4-piston aluminum monobloc calipers with 330 mm x 28 mm ventilated drilled discs are fitted at the rear. The ABS has undergone a specific setup for the Trofeo version.
Levante, Ghibli and Quattroporte share the same MTC+ infotainment system, which is based on a high resolution 8.4” multi-touch screen and a double rotary knob on the center console. For MY19 there is a choice of nine body colors for the Quattroporte and 10 for each of the Ghibli and Levante models. A new tri-coat color is now available, born to enhance the design of each: the elegant Blu Nobile.
In the wide collection of alloy wheels designed specifically for every single Maserati model, there are five brand new designs in the MY19 catalogue in 20 and 21-inch sizes, two for each of the Levante and Quattroporte models and one for the Ghibli.
For more information, visit the Maserati Showroom at AL Zayani, Al Rai Industrial Area, 4th Ring Road, or call 180 80 10 and visit www.kuwait-maserati.com.
