Maserati
Levante (Spyshot)
The
upcoming Maserati Levante SUV is tipped to set UK customers back about 55,000
pounds when it hits the local market there in December 2016 according to Auto
Express.
This
price will make the Levante about 5,000 pounds more expensive than the
entry-level Ghibli sedan and sit in-line with the likes of the Porsche Cayenne
and Range Rover Sport.
Maserati
believes the launch of the Levante could see sales figures in the UK double to
around 3,000, compared to the 1,400 that will be delivered by year's end.
Parent company FCA also expects profits to increase.
In
order to cope with this expected demand, Maserati will be expanding its range
of UK dealerships from the existing 18 to 26. Overall, the company's first-ever
SUV is of great importance to the Italian firm, as its success will be crucial
in achieving Maserati's goal of hitting 70,000 annual sales by 2018.
As
for the Levante itself, it has already been penciled in for a debut at the 2016
Geneva Motor Show in March. It will be underpinned by the same platform as the
Ghibli and Quattroporte and use variants of their V6 and V8 engines.
Courtesy
by Carscoops