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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:

Maserati orders explode, 22,500 through September

Last year when Maserati revealed a plan to sell 50,000 units globally by 2015, it seemed like a pretty steep goal for an automaker that had sold just 6,300 units for the entire year. It turns out that goal may be a little on the conservative side. Through September, Automotive News Europe says the Italian automaker has already racked up 22,500 orders mainly on the backs of the redesigned Quattroporte and the all-new Ghibli, and there are still more new products in the pipeline.
Back in August, we heard that demand in China was playing a strong role in Maserati's big numbers in 2013, and this doesn't even include the upcoming Levante SUV, which Maserati CEO Harald Wester expects to add as many as 25,000 units to the mix when it goes on sale in 2015. According to the ANE report, the Quattroporte is still the most popular model with almost 10,000 orders so far this year, while the smaller and more affordable Ghibli is performing quite well with almost 8,000 orders; the aging, but soon-to-be-replaced, GranTurismo models have about 5,000 orders.

Maserati GranCabrio Folgore Tignanello is a wine-themed drop-top

Maserati is celebrating two of Italy's best-known exports, cars and wine, with a one-off version of the electric GranCabrio Folgore named Tignanello. The convertible was created by the brand's Fuoriserie department to celebrate 50 years of a type of wine called Tignanello. The one-of-a-kind GranCabrio was built for an Italian wine company called Marchesi Antinori, and Maserati explains that its designers were inspired by vineyards. It starts with the paint: the convertible is finished in a wine-esque shade of red called Terra di Tignanello that was created specifically for it. Flat-black 20-inch wheels, gloss-black brake calipers, and a black soft top add a touch of contrast to the look. More vineyard-inspired details are found inside. The seats are upholstered with a blend of beige leather and burgundy Vegea, which is a biomaterial made from the stalks, skins, and pips of grapes — in a way, you're sitting on wine. The stripes on the seats echo the rows of vines in a vineyard, while the dark briar wood trim is inspired by the printing burned into the oak barrels used to age Tignanello wine. You can also learn a thing or two about the wine's history: historical details are lasered into some of the trim pieces, though they're written in Italian. Power comes from three electric motors that draw electricity from a T-shaped, 92.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery to zap the four wheels with 750 horsepower and 995 pound-feet of torque. Maserati pegs the 5,200-pound GranCabrio's zero-to-60-mph time at 2.8 seconds. If you like wine as much as you like Italian cars, it's not too late to put the GranCabrio Folgore Tignanello in your garage. It will be auctioned off on July 14 at the Festival Napa Valley Arts for All Gala taking place on July 14 in California. The proceeds will be donated to charity. Pricing for the regular-production GranCabrio Folgore starts at about $205,000, but the one-off should sell for considerably more.