AT THE WHEEL
Top marques The fun factor’s high as Chris Nixon reviews the latest from legendary marques Maserati and Ferrari. IF YOU’VE ORDERED a croissant and got a bread roll, you’ll understand how I feel about dieselpowered performance cars. They do the job, but without the excitement promised by the badge on the nose. Such cars are more common in Europe, where fuel prices are higher and driving conditions often different to Australia’s, and I’ll admit there can be a practical case for them. But when I drive a Maserati, I’m out for thrills. A lack of engine character was the only thing I could really find to dislike about the Maserati Levante SUV when it debuted in Australia with diesel power early last year. The 202 kilowatt V6 was relatively economical and powerful and came in a package that was undeniably stylish outside and sumptuous inside. Truthfully, it walked the talk that SUVs are supposed to even when no-one uses it for that, the diesel’s low-down pulling power combining with electronic traction aids to haul this unlikely piece of Italian luxury over some testing bush tracks. And the price of $139,990 was a very sharp entry point for the prestige of Maserati ownership.
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But now I’ve driven the Levante with a petrolfuelled 3.0 litre V6 that makes a local road feel like the Brenner Pass. The model has ‘S’ added to the name to distinguish it from the diesel and there are three versions – S ($169,990 list) and S GranSport or S GranLusso (both $179,990). The S has a 321kW engine built by Maserati’s Fiat group stablemate Ferrari. Aided also by 590 Newtonmetres of torque, it will catapult this big wagon from rest to 100 kmh in a sportscar-like 5.2 seconds and on to a 264 kmh top speed. That’s more like it. It’s not the speed that’s important as much as the responsiveness and character. With the electronic drive mode set to Sport and the Skyhooks automatic shock absorbers doing their work, the Levante shrugs off its bulk and becomes truly enjoyable to punt along winding roads at rapid pace. With a perfect 50:50 weight balance, it corners flat and neatly and then the V6 slings it off the exit with an invigorating growl. The Levante has a German ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.
Finger tip-paddle shif t levers behind the steering wheel make it easy to flick up and down the gears whenever the driver chooses. While many makers are adopting the newer, efficient double-clutch gearboxes, there’s still a strong case for the Maserati’s conventional torqueconvertor type and its smoother operation. Power distribution with the all-wheel drive system is biased toward the rear in normal driving but responds in just 150 milliseconds if the road grip changes. The system can vary from 100 per cent rear bias to 50:50 without the driver even noticing. The Skyhooks adjusting dampers combine with air springs and Normal, Sport, Off-Road and ICE (winter) driving modes to soften or stiffen the suspension for different road conditions – soft for the highway, tighter for the winding stuff. The Levante’s off-road ability is impressive and surprising, even if it’s never going to be a rugged adventure machine. The suspension also can be adjusted to six heights for better ground clearance, reduced wind resistance or easier passenger exit/entry.
