Petaling Jaya, 16 February 2023 – Naza Italia introduce the 2023 Levante GT Hybrid, which embodies the brand’s most urban, minimal and contemporary spirit. It is well suited to dynamic and curious global citizens who pay attention to fashion, yet have a distinct and refined style of their own.
The GT hybrid trims have been developed not only to meet all customers’ requirements and expectations, but also to epitomise the various over-arching themes of the Maserati range: innovation, performance and design.
The Brand’s DNA is thus expressed in unique proposals, the result of the synergy between the Centro Stile Maserati and the Product Development Team, focusing on research into materials, design cues and dedicated features.
Mr. Farid Sulaiman, Chief Operating Officer, Naza Italia expressed, “from a stylistic point of view, the GT hybrid trim features the new Maserati logo on the bonnet (included in the range from the MC20 onwards), new Trident logo on the C-pillar and refreshed lettering on the rear. There is also a specific trim level badge bearing the wording “GT” on the sides, just above the three iconic air intakes.”
He said, “the design concept of the Levante combines coupé lines with interior space for five people and exceptional aerodynamic efficiency. “The Maserati of SUVs” is instantly recognisable from a distance, thanks to its imposing grille inspired by the sensational Alfieri concept car, but also pays homage to historic Maserati cars like the Tipo 60 Birdcage. With the Model Year 2021, the look of the Levante’s front had already been updated to feature the innovative front grille with tuning fork design.”
The newly introduced trim level of the GT hybrid is equipped with a four-cylinder 330-hp Mild Hybrid engine. Externally, this trim level is embellished with Full-LED Adaptive Matrix headlights, chrome-plated accents, plus 20” alloy wheels. Completing the look of the interior are 8.4” Touchscreen MTC+ with Navigation, leather comfort seats and the Piano Black Trim.
Levante GT Hybrid pairs the two-litre four-cylinder internal combustion engine with a 48-volt Hybrid system that can recover energy when decelerating to brake. In perfect harmony with its DNA, Maserati has selected a hybrid solution that aims to maintain performance, whilst reducing consumption simultaneously.
The result achieved is outstanding: improved performance and lower consumption. The same engine excellence and performance as the petrol V6 is maintained while consumption is reduced, making the Levante GT Hybrid even more efficient than the Levante versions fitted with either a petrol or diesel V6 engine.
Levante GT Hybrid offers drivers a car that is fun to drive, with the sound of a true Maserati. It combines the smoothness of a six-cylinder engine with the low rev counts of a diesel engine that significantly offsets CO2 emissions: 20% lower than petrol according to WLTP data.
The 48-volt Maserati hybrid system consists of four components: BSG, battery, e-Booster and a DC/DC converter.
The Belt Starter Generator (BSG) acts as an alternator, recovering energy when braking and decelerating, and charging the battery located in the boot, which in turn powers the e-Booster fitted to the engine.
The purpose of including an electric compressor in the car is to support and work in conjunction with the conventional turbocharger, assisting the engine to deliver power at low rev counts. The operating strategy of the hybrid system always keeps the e-Booster available if needed, using the battery or BSG.
The entire Levante GT Hybrid is designed in search of the best performance. The pairing of BSG and e-Booster gives a further boost even when the engine is running at full capacity in Sport mode, when all the benefits of performance can be fully exploited. In Normal mode, it is used to balance consumption and performance.
The hybrid car weighs less than its counterpart with a six-cylinder engine, but most of all it has an improved weight distribution, thanks to the engine being at the front and the battery in the rear. Even so, the load capacity is not compromised and the vehicle’s weight is optimally balanced. Together with the compact hybrid system, the lighter engine weighs 20 kg less than the version fitted with the 350-hp V6, and 115 kg less than the diesel, which also improves the 50:50 weight distribution. All this makes the Levante GT Hybrid even more manageable and fun to drive.
The four-cylinder, two-litre engine is the result of in-depth engineering work conducted at the Maserati Innovation Lab in Modena on the internal mechanical components, to achieve higher torque and power from the turbocharger and e-Booster. The engine electronics have also changed completely, switching to one of the latest Bosch control units. The engine is produced at Termoli.
Courtesy of the 330 hp of maximum power and the peak torque of 450 Nm @ 2,250 rpm – more than 90% of which can be achieved from 1,750 rpm, the performance of the Levante GT Hybrid, which still comes with all-wheel drive, are vitally important: maximum speed of 245 km/h, 0 to 100 km/h possible in 6 seconds, impressive power-to-weight ratio with 165 hp/L. Most of all, it clocks up the advantage of significantly lower gCO2/km emissions, in the WLTP cycle now between 220 and 243 gCO2/km with savings on fuel consumption of over 20% compared to the 350-hp V6 version whilst maintaining the same level of performance.
Thanks to the “sailing” function, the Levante GT Hybrid improves its efficiency in terms of emissions and fuel consumption. This result is made possible by the system that disconnects the gearbox when decelerating, available in the “Increased Control and Efficiency” drive mode.
Ensuring a safer driving experience, the Levante GT Hybrid offers an incredibly vast array of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems to actively respond to the road’s most potential hazards and enhance driver’s comfort and safety. The ADAS features that are available in the Levante GT Hybrid are Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Surround View Camera, Active Blind Spot Assist, Highway Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Forward Collision Warning Plus and Hill Descent Control. This high-powered luxury will be met with greater-than-ever safety on the road.
Farid added, “The Levante GT Hybrid remains the “Maserati of SUVs” through and through, including its sound that retains the usual characteristics of any other Trident-brand car, despite being a hybrid. The sound is achieved with no use of amplifiers, solely by acting on the fluid dynamics of the exhausts and using resonators, tuned to produce that characteristic sound. From the moment you get into a hybrid Maserati onwards, you still hear the unmistakable sound of a Maserati engine.”
The 2023 Levante GT Hybrid is priced at RM738,000.00 before local duties and taxes, customization options, and insurance. The price includes 3 years Standard Warranty coverage with no mileage restriction.
