The Maserati Levante has been a stunning success and it appears the model will soon gain a high-performance variant.

Recently caught undergoing testing in Spain, this particular prototype is believed to be the new Levante GTS, with the company using a BMW X5 M as a benchmark.

The photos don’t reveal much but they suggest the crossover will have a sportier front fascia with larger air intakes. The camouflage also appears to be hiding a new rear bumper and model may come equipped with a new exhaust system.

Since the Levante GTS is targeting other high-performance crossovers, we can expect it to have a sport-tuned suspension and large alloy wheels that are backed up by a beefier braking system.

Power will likely be provided by a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 engine sourced from the Quattroporte GTS. It produces 523 hp (390 kW) and 524 lb-ft (709 Nm) of torque and would make the Levante GTS significantly more powerful than the Levante S which has a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 developing 424 hp (316 kW) and 428 lb-ft (579 Nm) of torque. The extra power will enable the crossover to accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than five seconds and have a top speed in excess of 164 mph (263 km/h).

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops

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