Maserati Adds a Diesel Model to its Levante SUV

Maserati Levante Diesel

Maserati Adds a Diesel Model to its Levante SUV

Maserati Japan announced on Thursday, February 23rd, that it has begun sales of a diesel engine model added to the "Levante," Maserati's first SUV launched in Japan last year.

Text by YANAKA Tomomi

Priced at 9.77 Million Yen, Approximately 1 Million Yen Less Than Previous Entry Grades

Amidst the recent SUV boom, the Maserati "Levante" has now introduced a diesel model. Maserati first announced a diesel model in Europe in 2013. In Japan, it was already introduced last March as the "Ghibli Diesel."

The engine is a new 3.0-liter V6 diesel turbo, jointly developed by Maserati and Italy's VM Motori. It was created specifically for Maserati. It produces a maximum output of 202kW (275ps) and a maximum torque of 600Nm with overboost. It is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and achieves a top speed of 230 km/h.

Incidentally, the engine weight is 150kg more than the gasoline engine. However, fuel efficiency is improved, with the diesel model achieving 13.9 km/ℓ compared to the gasoline engine's 10.7 km/ℓ, and CO2 emissions are reduced to 189g/km from 249g/km.

Furthermore, the Maserati Sound System reduces the characteristic combustion noise of the diesel engine. Additionally, the driver can activate a sporty sound by simply pressing the sport button.

The steering wheel is only available in right-hand drive, and the price is 9,769,090 yen, approximately 1 million yen less than the previous entry-grade model. Deliveries are scheduled to begin this March.