Levante spotted - spy pics

[Grant V]

Unfortunately, chaps, it's not the company at fault for designing this abortion - it's the buying public out there who want it. It's simple demand and supply.

Don't get me wrong - I don't condone any of these godawful SUVs. The mere name is an insult: there's buggerall sporty about a Sport Utility Vehicle and I will never understand the modern world's love affair with these agricultural instruments. And let's not even start talking about the hideous designs car companies are churning out. How did the Nissan Juke ever get signed off? Surely the designers white cane and guide dog should have been a hint....And the X6. Oh my eyes!!!

It's all bullsh1t of course. Women for some reason love SUVs - something about being higher up an feeling safer. Nobody's bothered explaining the physics to the fairer sex about the perils of such a high centre of gravity. Or people are quite simply just ignoring the obvious. I have seen enough Discoveries upside down after an accident to scare me off these things for life.

Who started this trend anyway? Was it you chaps with your 'closest-thing-to-god' Range Rover, or the Americans with their Wagoneers, Blazers etc?

Any which way, the dynamics have changed in the car industry. I read an excellent article in Octane by Steven Bailey about the imminent demise of the family sedan - it seems that average three box, four door family sedan is an endangered species as the world gravitates towards soft-roaders and SUVs.

And while I'm ranting, BMW should be sent to stand in the corner for a very long time for prostituting the 'GT' label. We are now going to have en entire generation of youngsters growing up thinking a GT is a four door sedan with a hatch back. Someone please show these kids the original Ghibli to get them back on the straight and narrow.

 

[allandwf]

"it's the buying public out there who want it". Perceived? or flawed market research? I'm not so sure the numbers add up.

 

[StuartW]

For me, it's such a mistake that our beloved brand has decided to tip it's toe into this segment that they have no place in.
If I want a 4x4, I would look at Land Rover, Jeep or a Japanese all of which do it well. There would have been a huge amount of R&D cost gone into this car and the knock on effect will not be good for the rest of the range.
We all loved how the Alfieri looked when it was announced but by the time it is launched, I fear that there would have been far too much time for the powers that be to have dumbed it down to a shadow of it's former self. I do worry about the future for Maserati, once more

 

[daverichardson]

Me Too

 

[hoyin]

The proportions look similar to the concept. Are we all disliking the concept as well? Or the just the idea of an SUV Maserati?

 

[mjheathcote]

Oh yes, I can see clearly what it's going to look like

 

[safrane]

Sadly there is only so much that the brands history can repair before it is lost in the depths of time.

 

[D Walker]

Oh yes, I can see clearly what it's going to look like

Kia Sportage?

 

[Andyk]

The issue is Maserati have missed the boat on this one......If they wanted a slice of this market they should have done it a long time before now...........Nothing wrong with SUV's and they can be sporty...Land Rover did this very well with they Range Rover Sport top of range thingy...........but lets face it a Maserati SUV is just not right.......,ets hope they know what they are doing though and it brings money onto the company to survive so they can still make the models we love.

 

[highlander]

The issue is Maserati have missed the boat on this one......If they wanted a slice of this market they should have done it a long time before now...........Nothing wrong with SUV's and they can be sporty...Land Rover did this very well with they Range Rover Sport top of range thingy...........but lets face it a Maserati SUV is just not right.......,ets hope they know what they are doing though and it brings money onto the company to survive so they can still make the models we love.

And that is the rub Andy. I hope I'm wrong, but can't see a winning scenario out of this. If this suv flops, financially it could hurt future development, if it is a success.......just where are the accountants who run Maserati going to sink the future investment? In similar models that bring cash in or in the relatively small number models we love? As I said, I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Trev Latter]

Whilst we may not want it as enthusiasts for the brand, it may well attract a lot of sales in other markets. If that's the case and it keeps the money flowing to be able to produce cars like the Alfieri and GT it can only be a good thing. It's not for me, but neither would SUVs from any other manufacturer. I think it may be a little late though.

 

[VMSRTI]

Soccer mum's driving a Maserati. Is nothing sacred???

 

[Ebenezer]

Just to lob somethng into the mix - I saw a friends new X5 last week and (to me) BMW seem to have got the styling/performance SUV genre down pretty well. If Maserati can get the right design flair with proper 4x4 credentials then they may have a chance to provide a thinking mans alternative to the X5/Cayenne/Range Rover trinity. This opens up a significant opportunity to go for to people that want a luxury proper 4/5 seater and a hatchback for load lugging/animal etc. Certainly where I was in deepest darkest Pembrokshire last wek,I'm glad I took the Fiesta rather than the QP (for the last 5 miles!). The X5, though large, was really at home on these roads, with two dogs and 2 mountain bikes, and I couldn't help but think that if I had a Levante Mrs Eb (who hankers after a X5 as it happens), QPV for me and an Alfieri for fun (and a garage to house the lot!), I'd be sorted!
Eb

 

[safrane]

But the X5 is a model that has its own genetics whereas the Maser is based on the Ghibli and so is compromised by sharing the platform of a 4 door saloon.

 

[Grant V]

This opens up a significant opportunity to go for to people that want a luxury proper 4/5 seater and a hatchback for load lugging/animal etc.
Eb

Does an E-class or 5 Series estate not do the same thing? I'm intigued to understand the appeal of a SUV. Can't be the off-road capabilitiy, as the closest most get to off-roading is negotiating the speed bumps at the supermarket parking lot.

 

[daverichardson]

I think a lot is to do with the seating positions
i.e.
looking down on the poor people

I will stick with my QP

 

[conaero]

Look, I think we are all agreed that on here, we don't like the thought of a Maserati SUV but as the Ghibli proved, it will be a decent car and it will look different/niche too from Ze Germans. It's not a car for me but it will sell.