Maserati Levante Hybrid coming

April 19, 2021April 20, 2021 John Carey 1492 Views Levante, maserati

There are some excitingly electrified Maseratis nearing production, but the Levante Hybrid isn’t one of them. The sharp-handling Italian SUV is receiving the same mild hybrid treatment as given to the Maserati Ghibli sedan last year. Compared to the coming EV versions of the gorgeous MC20 supercar, all-new GranTurismo and Grecale compact SUV, the Levante Hybrid lacks wow factor.

Maserati Levante Hybrid — The Levante Hybrid gets the same basic mild hybrid treatment as the Ghibli sedan

Due to arrive in Australia in the second half of the year, the Levante Hybrid effectively replaces the diesel version previously offered. It’s a mild hybrid, just like Maserati’s first-ever petrol-electric production model, the Ghibli Hybrid. That car launched in Europe in late 2020 and is now arriving here.

The powertrain tech is effectively identical; both use the same turbo 2.0-litre four that’s seen by some other brands owned by Stellantis, the automotive giant created early this year when when PSA Group of France merged with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles of Italy and the USA.

Alfa Romeo and Jeep use the same basic engine, but for the Levante and Ghibli Hybrids it’s given a major Maserati make-over. The main alterations are an electric compressor to push air into the engine at low revs, where the engine’s other exhaust-driven turbo isn’t effective, and a belt-drive starter-generator.

The Levante Hybrid is all-wheel-drive, not rear-drive like the Ghibli Hybrid, so the design of the engine’s oilpan has been changed to make way for the driveshaft to the SUV’s front axle. Both hybrids use the same small 48-volt battery pack.

While the tech spec doesn’t make thrilling reading, Maserati’s hybrid powertrain is more of a buzz to drive. This we know from test driving a Ghibli Hybrid late last year. It was quick, responsive and sounded like a Maserati should.

The Levante Hybrid almost matches the base V6 for power. And it equals, Maserati engineers say, the fuel consumption of the V6 diesel-powered Levante it replaces.

John Carey

Grew up in country NSW, way back when petrol was laced with lead. Has written about cars and the car business for more than 35 years, working full-time and freelance for leading mags, major newspapers and websites in Australia and (sometimes) overseas. Avidly interested in core EV technologies like motors and batteries, and believes the switch to electromobility definitely should be encouraged. Is waiting patiently for someone to make a good and affordable EV that will fit inside his tiny underground garage in northern Italy, where he's lived for the past decade. Likes the BMW i3, but it's just too damned wide...