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MASERATI LEVANTE goes into full production
Production starts of Maserati's first SUV 24 hours before its eagerly-awaited world unveiling at the Geneva International Motor Show
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Maserati has announced that full production of the Maserati Levante, its first ever SUV, started at the historic Mirafiori in Turin on Monday (29 February 2016), debuting the legendary car maker’s third production facility in Italy, a clear sign of the growth strength of the trident brand and part of a one billion Euro investment in the Mirafiori factory by FCA.
The full production start-up comes just 24 hours before the new model is presented at the Geneva Auto Show (1 March 2016) 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 one of the best-known Italian factories 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 petrol and diesel engine options.
The Levante will be launched in Europe this coming May and is set to arrive in Australia and New Zealand in early 2017.
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About Maserati SpA
Maserati is one of the most fascinating car production companies with a long history of appeal, tradition and sporting success. It was founded in Bologna by Alfieri Maserati on 1 December 1914 and established as a mechanical workshop named ‘Officine Alfieri Maserati’. In 1926 Maserati was transformed from a workshop, modifying or developing the vehicles of other companies, into a company designing, building and selling its own.
The Maserati brothers adopted the symbol of the Trident, created by the artist of the family Mario Maserati and inspired by the famous statue of Neptune in Bologna, and made it the logo synthesising the new company in a single image. At the end of the 1930s, following the acquisition of the company by Adolfo Orsi, a businessman from Modena, Maserati moved to Modena to the current site in Viale Ciro Menotti.
Maserati has been part of the Fiat Group – now FCA – since 2005 and is a prestigious brand in the sector of sports and luxury saloon cars. It can be found in more than 60 countries, where it continues to bear witness to Italian sophistication, elegance and style around the world.
Today the factory in Viale Ciro Menotti, Modena, and the Maserati Avv. Giovanni Agnelli Plant, inaugurated on 30 January 2013 in Grugliasco, are able to guarantee the highest technical and quality standards.
Maserati celebrated the start of 2013 with the presentation of the sixth generation Quattroporte at the Detroit Motor Show and with the Ghibli, the new top of the range saloon which marks Maserati’s entrance into the E segment of the market, at Shanghai Motor Show. The sporty Ghibli saloon and flagship Quattroporte, feature V6 and V8 Twin-Turbo engines with power outputs ranging from 330-530hp. There is also a Q4 all-wheel drive version as well as the recently introduced V6 Turbo Diesel with 275hp.
The range is completed by the GranTurismo coupe and the “open” GranCabrio version; equipped with aspirated V8 engines with 405-460hp they are able to offer the comfort typical of Maserati GT cars, designed to accompany passengers on pleasant journeys at a fast pace and in a comfortable and elegant way.
2014 was a very special year for Maserati as the company celebrated its centennial and, with 36,500 units delivered, a record number of vehicles sold. At the Geneva Auto Show a special concept car named after the founder of the company, the Alfieri, was presented to mark the anniversary and to introduce the main design features of new models to come.
EURO 6 engines have been introduced on the entire MY ’16 Maserati range, produced from mid-June 2015, while Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans are equipped with new and exclusive features, amongst which the Ermenegildo Zegna interiors.
About European Automotive Imports
European Automotive Imports (EAI), trading as Maserati Australia and New Zealand, was appointed as the distributor of Maserati, its products and services in Australia and New Zealand in 2005, starting operations on 1 October that year, initially from offices in the Sydney suburb of Homebush before moving, in 2010, to its present offices in Waterloo. The company also took over the New South Wales retail Maserati representation from 1 October 2005, initially as Italia Motori until the completion of the new facility in Waterloo as both home to EAI and the new dealership, Ferrari Maserati Sydney, which opened its doors in 2010. This dealership was taken over by the McCarrolls Group in 2015, joining their brand new Artarmon Maserati dealership on Sydney’s North Shore. From 2013 EAI has also controlled the Maserati retail outlet ‘Maserati Auckland’ in New Zealand. In addition to offices for EAI, the Waterloo facility also provides a state of the art training facility for both technical and sales training. EAI has a fully computerised parts facility in Sydney to ensure fast and efficient distribution of parts and accessories.
In 2015 EAI was appointed as distributor for Maserati in South Africa along with running the retail business for Maserati in Johannesburg.
EAI is a private company wholly owned by its Executive Chairman, Neville Crichton, and it is not a subsidiary of any of Mr Crichton’s other companies. Maserati Australia and New Zealand is headed by Glen Sealey, who took over as General Manager in 2010, and who has overseen a doubling of team responsible for Maserati in Australia and New Zealand. In 2015 Mr Sealey was promoted to the role of Chief Operating Officer for Maserati in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The Maserati team in Australia and New Zealand includes Bilgen Tug, National Marketing and Public Relations Manager; David Weihen, National Aftersales Manager and Alex Ball, National Sales Manager.
Following its appointment, EAI set about a major renewal of its dealer group, with all-new dealerships opening in Brisbane (2006), Melbourne (2008), Perth (2008), Sydney (2010), Adelaide (2013) and Auckland (2013) with major refurbishments in Sydney, Adelaide and Auckland prior to new facilities opening. In addition, Christchurch opened initially as a Maserati service centre bringing the marque officially to the South Island of New Zealand in 2008 and this was expanded to a full dealership in 2013. In 2014 new additional dealerships opened in Sydney and Melbourne with another dealership set to open 2016 to serve the Queensland market
EAI has consistently grown Maserati sales in Australia and New Zealand. In 2014 total Australian sales for the year were greater than the three previous years combined and 2015 lifted that sales record by 29.2 per cent to 519 deliveries.
For further information, please contact
Glen Sealey
/ Tel: +61 2 8577 8070Chief Operating Officer / Fax: +61 2 8577 8079
Maserati Australia, New Zealand & South Africa / E:
Release Number: Maserati_582
Date of release: 9/16/2018 2:43:20 AM