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Maserati Levante shows Kubang inspiration in leaked images

One of the most anticipated debuts at next month's Geneva Motor Show comes from Maserati, which is set to show its first crossover. A major part of the brand's revival, the new Levante will be challenged to strike the right chord in an increasingly competitive segment. That's not the new Levante at the top of the page. It's the Kubang Concept on which it's based. The leaked shots come from the Dutch Auto Week – like our Autoweek, but taller – and include six shots that we're betting were in a tin labeled "Do not open until March 1." They provide a great look at the new crossover from a range of angles, and include a shot of a very, very red cabin. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. We see a great deal of Kubang concept around the headlights, although it's clear Maser's designers evolved the Levante's grille to better match the Ghibli sedan. It's more chiseled and strong, part of which can be blamed on the chrome slats – the Kubang's grille slats were just black. The rear fender and shoulder lines look like they've almost been lifted straight from the Ghibli, while the roofline and rear window give the impression that Maserati is favoring sporty looks over any real utility. We're unable to post the leaked Levante images here, but we'd strongly suggest you give them a look over at Auto Week. And stay tuned for the official info on the Levante, when it gets its grand debut early next month. Related Video:

2019 BMW M850i xDrive: How it compares on paper with other GT coupes

Although the hot new vehicles for the rich seem to mainly comprise SUVs and supercars, the neglected luxury GT coupe segment is starting to see some life again. The latest to add a spark to this set is the 2019 BMW M850i xDrive. It goes on sale later this year, and revives the 8 Series that's been dead since the 1990s. The first version available to Americans will be one with a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8, with other versions likely following. Before it launches, we wanted to get a lay of the grand-touring land and see how the new BMW stacks up to the competition in performance, practicality and price. While some of these models have higher-performance or more-affordable iterations, we picked the versions that would be the closest match to this 8 Series model. They include the 2019 Lexus LC 500, 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 550, 2018 Mercedes-Benz S 560 Coupe and the 2018 Maserati GranTurismo. We will also provide some short summaries on our experiences with these cars, but to get a full picture of each model, be sure to check out their full reviews. And if you want to compare any of these cars with models you don't see here, be sure to try out our car comparison tool. Engines, transmissions and performance On paper, the BMW M850i xDrive is clearly the performer of the group. It has the most power and torque at 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet. Coupled with all-wheel-drive and an eight-speed automatic, the car is able to overcome its relatively portly 4,478-pound curb weight to hit 60 mph in a scant 3.6 seconds. That's more than half a second quicker than the lightest car in the group, the Mercedes-Benz SL550, which weighs 4,012 pounds. The other three vehicles are in the low- to mid-4-second range to 60 mph. Though the Maserati is the slowest to 60 mph, it does boast the highest top speed of 186 mph. The M850i and SL 550 are electronically limited to 155 mph, while the Lexus is limited to 168 mph. The Mercedes S 560 has the lowest top speed at an electronically limited 130 mph. View 52 Photos Of interest is that there's a 50/50 split among these cars between using a pair of turbos, and having none at all. The BMW and Mercedes resort to forced induction, whereas the Lexus and Maserati choose to stay naturally aspirated. This is likely why the Germans break 500 pound-feet of torque, while the others don't make it to 400. Also interesting is the spread of gear quantity. The Maserati has just six ratios to choose from, and the Lexus has a whopping 10.

Proof that the Maserati-powered Lazareth LM847 quad actually works

The craziest thing about the Lazareth LM847 isn't the 4.7-liter V8 engine sourced from Maserati. It's not the four-wheeled motorcycle design. It's not even the fact that its axles are hinged to allow the machine to lean into corners. No, the craziest thing is that the LM847 actually works. See for yourself in the video up above. Granted, the rider isn't pushing the LM847 very hard. In fact, he may as well be riding a scooter. It's got 470 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque, which means it really should be quite fast in a straight line. But considering the 880-pound weight, awkward-looking riding position, single-speed transmission, and the massive amount of torque wrenching the bike to its side when the engine is revved, we don't blame the rider for taking it easy. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: Lazareth Auto-Moto via YouTube, Asphalt & Rubber Maserati Automakers Motorcycle Special and Limited Editions Videos lazareth quad