Arriving in Maserati’s biggest market, North America, the Levante becomes the fifth addition to the brand’s range, alongside the Ghibli, Quattroporte, GranTurismo and GranCabrio.

Showcased in New York, the Levante will go on sale in the US at the end of August, but dealerships will begin taking orders from April.

Prices kick off at $72,000 for the entry-level 350HP Levante and $83,000 for the 430HP Levante S, both getting a 3.0-liter bi-turbo V6 mated to an 8-speed auto that sends power to all four corners, and which allows for what Maserati refers to as “outstanding performances both on- and off-road“.

The Levante has the lowest center of gravity in its class and it benefits from air springs on all wheels, with 5 different ride levels, a perfectly balanced weight distribution of 50-50 between front and rear, and a mechanical self-locking rear different, as standard.

The SUV is equipped with a number of safety gizmos that include automatic brake assist, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, blind spot alert, and 360-degree camera view.

Inside, there’s Maserati Touch Control infotainment system that works together with an 8.4-inch high-res screen and can be controlled via the rotary knob on the central tunnel.

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