16 minute read
Italian Flare
L E V A N T E T R O F E O
There is no denying the Italian's eye for automotive design, and throughout history, Maserati have gone above and beyond to create motoring works of art. Needless to say, anyone would struggle to make an SUV a 'work of art', but if anyone was going to come close, it would be Maserati, and the result, the Levante Trofeo.
Two years after the launch of the Levante model, the Italian marque have produced the first version to be built around a V8, delivering one of the fastest SUV's ever built. A powerful Twin Turbo V8 combined with an elegantly restyled, carbon finished exterior and an exclusive interior wrapped in “Pieno Fiore” fullgrain natural leather, bring the Levante Trofeo on top of its class in terms of performance, road handling and GT pedigree.
Building on the power unit fitted in the flagship Quattroporte GTS, the 3.8-litre capacity and V90° architecture has been reengineered and upgraded to produce 580hp and a staggering 730Nm of peak torque from just 2,500rpm. As a result, this is the highest horsepower/litre ratio ever (156hp/litre) and the most powerful V8 in the history of the Trident. Like all Maserati petrol units, it is assembled by Ferrari in Maranello, Italy, so it was always going to impress.
This mighty unit has been adapted to accommodate the Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system aiding both on-road performance and off-road capabilities - not that it is likely to ever experience much mud slinging.
Fitted with the eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox used on all the Levante versions, acclaimed for its versatility and sporty character, the Trofeo introduces a new Corsa driving mode to enhance this sporty personality even further. Corsa mode is available in addition to the existing Normal, I.C.E., Sport and Off Road driving modes and is activated by double-clicking the sport/corsa button on the central console cluster. You will immediately feel an eager engine response to the minimum throttle input and the unique Maserati engine soundtrack provided by free gas flow through the wide open exhaust valves. Exclusive to the Levante Trofeo, Corsa is also programmed to provide faster gear shifting, lower air suspension height levels, sportier Skyhook damping and optimized Q4 Intelligent AllWheel Drive settings. With this sportiest mode activated, the intervention of the Traction Control and ESP systems is restrained for maximum driving enjoyment.
Alongside the Corsa mode, a Launch Control function is available with the gearshift level either in D or M position. With the car standing still and the steering wheel straight, you simply pull the downshift paddle on the steering wheel while pressing the brake pedal to activate it and get the visual confirmation in the instrument cluster. Always pressing the brake pedal, the driver can safely apply full throttle input to see the engine rpm climb up. As soon as you release the brakes, the Trofeo will take off in fast and furious style.
The Levante Trofeo delivers one of the most refined driving experiences available in the SUV market. Enjoying 100% of the engine's torque through the rear wheels in normal driving conditions, with the assurance of an almost immediate (150 milliseconds) transfer to 50:50% in case of a loss of traction at the rear, you can push this car as you would any other super car and expect that it will oblige.
A zero to 62mph time of just 4.1 seconds and top speed of 188mph are not to be ignored. Impressive statistics for any car, but staggering for an SUV, Maserati really have pulled out all the stops to produce a performance vehicle to be noticed, and the exhaust tone should also help. Delivering the instantly recognisable deep, smooth engine note synonymous with the marque when driving 'normally', the Levante Trofeo comes alive when Sport and Corsa are selected, bringing a loud, raw, raspy engine noise every time you caress the accelerator.
To support all of the power and performance, Maserati have developed the chassis to have outstanding levels of rigidity and provide a very low centre of gravity as well as the ideal 50:50 weight balance between the front and rear axle, typical to every Levante. This new chassis combined with finely tuned doublewishbone front, multi-link rear suspension and larger 265/35 front and 295/30 rear tyres fitted on huge 22-inch forged aluminium wheels, endow the new Trofeo with impressive balanced handling and lateral stability comparable to that of a modern supercar.
Although the basis of the suspension setup is shared with the rest of the Levante line, the air spring control has been tuned to fit the specific characteristics of the fastest variant Levante and is suitably optimised for each driving mode. For the new Corsa mode, Maserati engineers have further increased ride stiffness to achieve maximum handling performance.
The pneumatic system provides six different levels and a substantial 75mm height variation from lowest to highest position. In Corsa mode the Levante Trofeo is automatically set in the lowest Aero 2 level, which is 35mm lower than normal.
The Maserati Integrated Vehicle Control (IVC) system has been incorporated in the ESP control for the first time in a Levante. The system uses a smart, feed-forward controller that is able to predict different driving situations and adapt the engine speed and brakes accordingly, providing impressive driving dynamics, better performance and improved active safety.
In its Trofeo application, IVC is specifically tuned to decrease understeer tendencies, typical to SUV cars. An understeer/ oversteer function inside the electric power steering control cooperates with the IVC system, resulting in a more natural and predictable driving feeling with instant control over the steering torque on the steering wheel giving you optimum feedback, especially in sporty driving. This system delivers a close to natural steering feel that is often lacking with modern electronically controlled systems and the instant torque adjustments go along way to supporting an enjoyable driving experience.
A distinctly low profile and wide stance support the Trofeo's performance from both an aerodynamic and handling perspective, but most notably creates a stunning aesthetic. However, it does impact on the overall functionality of the car when it comes to it's SUV credentials. You won't find as much space as you might expect from a vehicle in the SUV market, but what it might lack in interior volume, it more than makes up for in style and quality.
On the outside, additional sporting features reserved for the Trofeo trim including carbon cues, those huge 22" wheels and split quad exhaust pipes create a potent recipe. The revised styling theme for the Trofeo follows previous Maserati applications, like the recently restyled GranTurismo and Ghibli GranSport.
This elegant restyling was mainly focused on the lower front fascia and the rear bumper and is underlined by the 22-inch forged aluminium “Orione” wheels, available in both polished and matte finishes. The side air intakes in the lower fascia feature a new, more aggressive design, defined by two aerodynamic wings that give a sense of further stability, visually “pushing” the weight of the car’s nose towards the front wheels. The carbon fibre side bezels and carbon fibre splitter help to improve the airflow distribution. The rear end also looks wider and more muscular with a sharper carbon fibre horizontal element and a body-colour lower extractor embracing the four oval exhaust tips with a dark finish.
A front grille with double vertical bars in Black Piano finish, lower honeycomb mesh fascia, body colour door handles and high-performance brake calipers available in red, blue, black, silver or yellow are topped off with a dedicated “Saetta” Trofeo logo which adorns the iconic c-pillar of the coupé styled SUV.
When it comes to safety, the starting point at the front of the car comes in the shape of full LED adaptive headlights as standard. The system utilises 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 shade in correspondence of 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.
Inside the cabin, a wealth of elegant features creates an environment of true luxury. The sculpted sport seats feature a
premium full-grain “Pieno Fiore” natural leather available in black, red or tan, all with contrast stitching and “Trofeo” logo embroidered on the headrests. Like no other leather used in the automotive industry, “Pieno Fiore” has a natural, soft feel and is processed to develop a unique character throughout the years.
A new matte carbon fibre trim, paddle shifters, specific instrument cluster graphics, floor mats with metal Trofeo badges and a Maserati clock with a unique dial underline the exclusive sporty character of this extraordinary Levante. It is also equipped with a 1,280-watt, 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium surround sound audio system for a concert hall sound experience if you - for some unknown reason - don't want to listen to the beautiful exhaust tones any more.
A central high-resolution screen operates like a tablet, recognising every type of gesture and provides access to every aspect of the car with support from numerous switches and buttons for easy access to certain systems such as the adjustable ride height.
Simply put, if you want a functional SUV, this is not the car for you. If you want one of the most enjoyable and luxurious SUV's on the market, then you shouldn't have to look to much further.
MASERATI LEVANTE TROFEO
Engine 3.8-litre Twin-Turbo V8 Power (hp) 580 Torque (Nm) 730 0-62mph (secs) 4.1 Max Speed (mph) 188 Transmission ZF 8-speed Automatic Fuel Consumption (mpg) 17.8 Carbon Dioxide Emissions (g/km) 363 Price (from) £125,370
1966 Mercedes 230 SL £POA
STUNNING SL
Mercedes' 230 SL began production in 1963 and continued until 1967. The chassis was based on the W111 sedan platform, with a 30cm shorter wheelbase. It also featured recirculating ball steering (with optional power steering), double wishbone front suspension and an independent single-joint, low-pivot swing rear-axle with transverse compensator spring. The dual-circuit brake system included front disc brakes and power-assisted rear drum brakes. A 4-speed manual transmission was standard, with an optional, very responsive fluid coupled 4-speed automatic transmission. From May 1966, the ZF 5-speed manual transmission was also available as an additional option. The 2,308cc inline-six engine with 150 PS and 196 Nm of torque was based on MercedesBenz' venerable M180 inline-six. Mercedes-Benz Chief Engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut demonstrated the capabilities of the 230 SL on the tight three-quarter mile Annemasse Vétraz-Monthoux race track in 1963, where he put up a best lap time of 47.5 seconds vs. 47.3 seconds by Grand Prix driver Mike Parkes in his 3.0-litre V12 Ferrari 250 GT. This example from 1966 is offered in stunning white coachwork with contrast red leather interior. It features both the optional automatic transmission and power steering and is in excellent condition. It is a must see car that won't be sticking around for very long.
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