Who needs another fast SUV? I do, especially when it’s Maserati’s most powerful production car in its history. How do they do this? Easy really, you whip the engine out of the Ferrari 488 and pop it in here. Add that to the 4x4 system from the Alfa Q4 and a bit of ‘suspicious’ switch gear from Chrysler and you have the Levante Trofeo. It’s a barnstormer.
The Levante is also the company’s best selling model as it is flying off the shelves in the US and China – with no reason why it won’t do really well here.
The key is the engine and performance. Ferrari’s 583bhp, 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8 offers 0-62 in 4.1 seconds and tops out at 190mph – that’s just before you hear ‘who do you think you are – Stirling Moss? You’re nicked. (And I was, but that’s another story!)
So what makes the Trofeo (Trophy) different from the standard Levante? Well, big 22-inch wheels, different front and rear bumpers with bigger apertures, a different grille, the super-cool trident on the C-pillar, a couple of bonnet gashes - the Trofeo is actually pretty subtle for a car of this type. It’s probably one of the best-looking of the full-sized SUVs, and the extra changes don’t spoil it.
It has to be driven in Corsa mode (track) as that is where all the toys come out to play. The exhaust note sends that all-too familiar shiver up my back – it really never gets old. The motor pulsates through the body on tick-over, its bass audible through the exhaust even at low revs. Roll the window down and the gravelly texture of the pipework is louder still with the deep note becoming more song-like towards 7,000rpm. Although the volume at full-chat is noticeably lower than before, it remains the most naturally tuneful model in its class. And the speakers play no part in it. Oh, and it has launch control that bans any hint of wheel-spin and just rockets you into the rapidly advancing horizon.
Inside you have great new seats, massive paddle shifts that ensure you never miss a gear, with an 8.3-inch screen and a corking 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins stereo as standard – and a beautiful real live clock. Switchgear is all at hand and easy to use and in general, it is a really nice place to be.
I drove with our Travel Editor to Northcote Manor in Devon for the weekend so that she could review the hotel and l the car. Over 516 miles, it was a thundering joy to drive and another 516 miles would have been welcomed. The pretty constant pull from the engine never stops as if it will exceed its 190mph by another 190. There are few models it will not take from the lights and far better than that, is the look of total confusion on he other drivers face as this 2,170kg SUV disappears into the distance – even a Ferrari 488 would get a shock.
Model tested: Levante Trofeo
Engine: Twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8
Power: 583bhp
Speed: 0-62 - 4.1 seconds
Top: 190mph
Economy:17.8mpg
Price: £125,370
As tested: £151,485
