Maserati Project "Levante" Spotted Testing

Our Teamspeed spies catch this morning a mule for the upcoming baby Quattroporte. Rumored to be called "Levante", the smaller Quattroporte will be aiming for the Mercedes E-Class, Audi A6 and the BMW 5-series when it’s due in late 2013.

Maserati has been very tight-lipped about the Levante project to date, but we expect it to be available with both a twin-turbo V6 as well as a V8 engine. Both engines will be connected to a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox.

We are crossing our fingers and toes that the V6 will be a Maserati/Ferrari is development and not a version of the Chrysler Pentastar V6 for the baby maser. Even if it’s a smaller Maserati we still expect the buyers to want an Italian engine powering the Levante.

To debunk the theory of this being a Quattroporte mule, take a close look and we can clearly see that the wheels don’t really fit into the wheel arches, especially at the front wheel. That’s a clear sign for a shorter wheel base. We also notice that the brakes are smaller than the once we have seen on all Quattroporte prototypes.

 

Smaller!?! It's already the size of a 5 series. At least inside it is.

 

^^ +1 and I personally don't believe this car should be turboed/supercharged. It'll take away from the Maserati experience, IMO.

 

Smaller QP? I guess they want more monies outta Miami housewives.

 

It looks fat