近日，一组关于玛莎拉蒂Levante的路试谍照曝光，新车前脸与尾部皆采用厚重的伪装，车身多处搭载传感器。据悉，新车身份极有可能是性能版车型Levante GTS。与现款Levante S相比，新车前脸经过局部改造，车轮前方新增垂直条状进气口，雾灯位置被覆盖的伪装隐藏；引擎罩上的两个矩形胶带的位置预示此处极有可能会有设计上的改动。此外，新车前脸还加入一组额外进气口，营造出足够的运动感。新车后保险杠同样采用全新设计，但碍于伪装难以得知其具体造型；双排气之间也将新增全新的散流器。照片上还显示，驾驶员一侧的前后车门上皆有线束伸出，一组连接到车辆底部，另一组则连接到车顶传感器上，说明此次路试目的主要是从全新部件上采集足够的数据。早先有传言称，该车将搭载取自QuattroporteGTS的3.8升V8引擎，输出最大功率390kW，峰值扭矩710Nm，0-100km/h加速时间能达到5秒以内。作为对比，现款LevanteS成绩为5.2秒。此外，全新LevanteGTS上的悬架以及制动系统也将得到性能上的升级。由于新车升级配置大多从现有车型上移植，工程团队不需要投入过多研发工作，因此新车有望在2018年就迎来首次亮相。
Maserati Spied Testing Levante GTS, Possibly With Biturbo V8
New spy shots reveal Maserati evaluating a Levante with a revised front and rear, plus sensors on the body. The most likely identity for this mysterious model is the previously rumored, high-performance Levante GTS trim.
Compared to the current Levante S, this model features a revised front fascia with vertical intakes ahead of the wheels. The camouflage hides other major tweaks, though. The fog lights aren’t visible on this vehicle, but they could just be behind the concealment. Two rectangular sections of tape on the hood suggest possible changes there, and a set of sporty vents would seem like the most likely addition.
Maserati’s engineers also conceal the rear bumper, but the changes are much more difficult to see. There’s the suggestion of a new diffuser between the dual exhausts in each corner.
WireS also emerges from the driver-side front and rear doors. One runs underneath the SUV, and the other leads to a sensor on the roof. They indicate that the company needs to collect data from new components.
Earlier rumors suggest that the GTS would use a version of the 3.8-liter V8 from the Quattroporte GTS where it produces 523 horsepower (390 kW) and 524 pound-feet (710 Newton-meters). Estimates put the acceleration to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) in under 5 seconds, since the existing 430-hp (321-kW) Levante S needs 5.2 seconds to reach that speed. Other performance upgrades for the GTS would likely include a stiffer suspension and bigger brakes.
The Levante GTS probably debuts in 2018 because Maserati doesn’t have much engineering work to do in order to get the hotter model ready. The upgrades likely come out of the company’s current range, so the team just needs to fit them together.