Mirafiori Begins Production of the Maserati LevanteToday the Mirafiori plant in Turin (Italy) begins production of the new Maserati Levante, the first SUV in the brand’s more than century-long history.
The new model is to be presented at the Geneva Auto Show tomorrow and it completes the brand’s existing range of saloon and sports cars, which includes the Quattroporte, Ghibli, GranTurismo and GranCabrio.
Inaugurated in 1939, the Mirafiori facility is the best-known Italian factory in the world. It played a key role in Italy’s transformation from an agricultural to an industrial economy, drawing workers from every region of the country to work on its assembly lines. Today Mirafiori is an integrated production facility with significant R&D capabilities, where nearly 17,000 people apply the principles of World Class Manufacturing to ensure the highest standards in quality, efficiency, safety and environmental performance.
As such, Mirafiori is the ideal birthplace for the Levante SUV, whose design is immediately identifiable with the Maserati brand and its distinctive Italian character. The model’s aggressive front end features sleek, tapered headlights composed of two separate units, with the upper unit extending the line of the distinctive front grille. Maserati’s signature design motifs are also clearly visible from the side view. These include the three iconic air vents on the front quarter panels, the trapezoidal C-pillar bearing the Trident logo and the large, frameless door windows. At the rear, the streamlined form and raked rear window further enhance the vehicle’s sporty, high-performance look.
The Levante’s chassis has been designed to deliver the outstanding on-road performance characteristic of Maserati combined with unparalleled handling, even on surfaces with very low grip, and excellent off-road performance and ride. Another strong point of the new Maserati SUV is the level of premium features that are standard on all versions. These include a sophisticated electronically-controlled air suspension system with multiple settings, intelligent Q4 all-wheel drive and 8-speed automatic transmission calibrated specifically for the new SUV. The Levante will be offered with Euro 6 gasoline and diesel engine options. The Levante will be launched in Europe this coming May and then in other markets worldwide.
London, 29 February 2016
http://www.fcagroup.com/en-US/media_center/fca_press_release/FiatDocuments/2016/february/Mirafiori%20Begins%20Production%20of%20the%20Maserati%20Levante.pdf
