How Maserati gave their Levante SUV, sports car handling and feel!

Have you test drive the all new Maserati SUV? Well if you have not, take the time to visit Naza Italia and take this all new sports SUV for a spin. Its diesel powered and it’s a SUV but the way it performs turns it into a sports sedan.

A thrilling engine sound is essential for every Maserati and the Maserati Levante Diesel is no exception thanks to the Maserati Active Sound system. Two sound actuators, fitted near the exhaust tailpipes, accentuate the engine’s most attractive tones and adjust them depending on the way the car is being driven. When the driver presses the “sport” button, the sound becomes more resonant and remarkably inspirational for a diesel. Just the soundtrack you would expect from a Maserati.

With an 8-speed automatic & Q4 AWD

The ZF AT8 – HP70 gearbox ensures improved comfort, faster gear shifting, better fuel consumption and reduced Noise, Vibration and Harshness. It provides seven dedicated shift modes that can be selected from the cluster on the left of the gear knob: “normal”, “sport”, and “off-road” in both automatic and manual mode and the I.C.E. mode – for Increased Control & Efficiency – that was introduced for the first time in the fast selling Ghibli and super luxury Quattroporte sedans.

By default, the car is set to “auto normal” mode. This offers the right balance between ride comfort, reduced consumption and sporty character, performing smooth gear changes at low engine speeds.

The selectable “auto sport” mode enhances the powertrain’s sportiness with faster gear changes in higher revs. The sportiest mode is “manual sport”, which allows the driver to stay in the selected gear even when the engine reaches the rev limiter.

In “off road” mode, which is introduced for the first time in a Maserati, when the driver selects a chosen speed the car continues at this pace, even when climbing. This is extremely useful when the driver has to concentrate on a challenging climb; the car will effectively drive itself, whilst the driver has only to manage the steering wheel.

With “auto off-road” mode selected, the transmission recognises the different types of terrain, interacts with the ESP and alters its shifting response accordingly.

In the I.C.E. mode, which will be familiar to Ghibli drivers, gearshifts are almost unnoticeable for unrivalled ride comfort.

Now all you need to do is it to visit the Naza Italia showroom along Federal Highway in Petaling Jaya and experience this performance for yourself.

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