Maserati goes practical with the Levante Hybrid

It looks like Maserati has gone all practical with the new Levante Hybrid.

Presented at the Shanghai Auto Show, the new SUV promises to continue the firm's path towards electrification, a step first started with the Ghibli Hybrid.

Don't be fooled by that name though. Under the bonnet of the Levante Hybrid is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder paired with a 48V system to recover energy during deceleration and braking. So it's a just a mild hybrid system then. Official fuel consumption figures have yet to be confirmed by Maserati.

Other practical features of the Levante Hybrid include the 580-litre boot space, which stands unchanged from the regular non-hybrid Levante.

Maserati states that the new SUV weighs less than its six-cylinder engined equivalent. Better still, the Levante Hybrid is said to have a better weight distribution as well, since the battery is placed in the rear, optimally balancing the mass of the vehicle. All this, Maserati states, will make Levante Hybrid even more agile and fun to drive - now that's more like it.

The new powertrain will offer up a maximum power output of 325bhp and torque of 450Nm delivered from just 2,250rpm. Power is sent through a ZF eight-speed automatic into an all-wheel drive system in order to allow the car to reach a top speed of over 240 km/h. Acceleration from zero to 100km/h in is accomplished in just six seconds.

On the exterior, the Levante Hybrid launch version is characterised by a new metallic tri-coat colour called Azzurro Astro, available as part of the brand's customisation programme, Maserati Fuoriserie.

Elsewhere, the SUV gets its three iconic side air ducts, and brake callipers finished in blue. The same blue shade reappears inside the car on the embroidered seams of the seats.

A new Maserati Connect programme will also mean the Levante Hybrid is connected at all times. Maserati Connect will alert the driver when a service is due, and drivers can stay in contact with their car via the Maserati Connect App.