Maserati Levante Trofeo grabs Porsche Cayenne Turbo by the throat with V-8 engine

TopSpeed

By Ciprian Florea

Published Mar 29, 2018

The most powerful Maserati you can buy!

Launched in 2017, the Levante is Maserati's first foray into the ever-growing SUV market and the company's answer to the all-popular Porsche Cayenne. But even though it was received with rave reviews and delivered solid performance from its V-6 engine, the Levante didn't have what it took to challenge high-speed SUVs like the Cayenne Turbo S and BMW X5 M. Until today, when Maserati unveiled the Levante Trofeo at the 2018 New York Auto Show. Named after the brand's Trofeo racing series and a race car it built until 2010, the SUV finally received the V-8 engine it deserves and access to the Porsche Cayenne Turbo's audience.

Revised inside and out, the Levante Trofeo has a sportier stance thanks to its more aggressive intakes, aerodynamic updates, and larger wheels. The rear end looks wider and more muscular, sports a diffuser-like element and even carbon-fiber trim on the lower bumper. The beefed-up exterior is mirrored inside the cabin by way of sportier seats wrapped in fine leather, contrast stitching, and matte carbon-fiber elements. A 1,280-watt, 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system turns the SUV into a concert hall.

Arguably the biggest upgrade lurks under the hood, where the 3.0-liter V-6 was replaced with a twin-turbo, 3.8-liter V-8. Borrowed from the Quattroporte, the mill cranks out 590 horsepower and 538 pound-feet, more than in any other Maserati available right now. Performance is far superior too, with the sprint to 60 mph achieved in just 3.7 seconds, 1.5 clicks quicker than the Levante S. Top speed also increased from 164 to an impressive 187 mph.

Compared to the Cayenne Turbo, the Levante Trofeo pumps out an extra 40 horsepower. The Italian SUV is down 39 pound-feet, but it remains two tenths quicker to 60 mph, while its top speed sits higher by ten mph. Granted, the Performance Start option puts the Cayenne on part with the Levante from 0 to 60 mph, but the Trofeo remains an impressive beast. The new Turbo S will probably be quicker though.

The chassis was retuned to handle the new performance, while a new Corsa mode was added to the existing Normal, ICE, Sport, and Off-Road. When used in Corsa, the SUV returns greater engine responsiveness, a throatier exhaust note, quicker gear shifts, and increased suspension damping. Needless to say, the Levante Trofeo is ready to tackle any performance SUV out there, including those that wear Porsche, AMG, and M badges.

References