Initial reports suggested the Levante would be built at Chrysler’s Jefferson North plant in Detroit, where it would have made sense to share a platform with the Grand Cherokee. Later reports pointed to an underutilized plant in Mirafiori, Italy as the likely production facility due to capacity concerns at the US factory.
The new SUV is expected to integrate Maserati’s Q4 all-wheel-drive system and Skyhook suspension, which were initially engineered for the Quattroporte and Ghibli.
Powertrain options have yet to be confirmed, though a 3.0-liter V6 with 410 horsepower and a 3.8-liter V8 with 530 ponies have been mentioned. European buyers may also have a choice for a 275-horsepower turbodiesel mill, while all packages are expected to utilize an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Despite the apparent platform switch late in development, the Levante is expected to arrive in showrooms sometime next year.
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