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Maserati Levante Launch Edition debuts with pretty matte blue paint

Maserati has some small fish news today for the Geneva Motor Show: It plans to introduce a Levante Trofeo Launch Edition and ultimately sell 100 across the globe to kick off sales of the high-performance crossover. We're mostly taken by the Blu Emozione matte paint on the one shown here. Carbon fiber inserts on the bumpers, side skirts and hood make up the exterior changes for the Launch Edition. If you don't opt for the purplish blue (but why wouldn't you?), then Giallo Modenese and Rosso Magma are also on the table. For the less Italian inclined, that means yellow and red. Only 22-inch wheels will be fitted to the Launch Edition, with the choice being either a glossy or matte finish. Brake calipers are then painted in blue, yellow, red or silver. We'd have to recommend the blue calipers to go with the blue paint. Unique interior elements include a special, full-grain black leather. The Trofeo logo is embroidered on the headrests, and there's color-contrasting stitching throughout. The stitching's color corresponds to the exterior paint color you chose. The Trofeo is the hottest version in the Levante lineup, fitted with the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 assembled by Ferrari in Maranello — note, the V8 is Ferrari-derived but not identical to the V8 out of the 488. We drove it awhile back and found it to be more than enticing as a performance SUV. Pricing for the Launch Edition is not currently available, but a normal Trofeo starts at $171,475. Related video:

Maserati likely delays Alfieri, new GranTurismo coming first

The Maserati Alfieri won't be the next vehicle from the Trident-badged brand to hit the market after the Levante crossover. Instead, replacements for the GranTurismo and GranCabrio will arrive first. For now, Maserati CEO Harald Wester won't even speculate about when the production Alfieri will debut. At the Geneva Motor Show, Motoring tried to pin Wester down about the Alfieri's future, but he wasn't in the mood to talk about the 2+2 sports car. The boss said he didn't know if the model was still on schedule and gave a terse "no comment" response about a possible launch next year. He did confirm Maserati's upcoming product slate, though. "The next one will be substitution of GranTursimo, GranCabrio by successors. We already had discussion about Alfieri and I don't want to go into details," Wester told Motoring. A report late last year claimed Maserati had delayed the Alfieri due to the weakening market in China. As opposed to launching the niche sports car there, FCA, parent company of both Maserati and Alfa Romeo, allegedly refocused its plans on updating the Alfa Romeo Mito and Giulietta, which are more popular in Europe. Maserati debuted the Alfieri as a concept at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, and FCA's five-year plan that year slated a production version for 2016 and a convertible variant for 2017. A selection of V6 engines with 410-, 450-, and 520-horsepower outputs would hook up to the rear or all four wheels, depending on the model. The Italian company also scheduled a new GranTurismo with at least 560 hp to launch in 2018. Maserati's desire to reach an annual volume of 75,000 vehicles by 2018 also looks in doubt. The company's original figure assumes launching the Levante on time, Wester told Motoring. Because of the luxury crossover's delay, the company now expects to reach 50,000 units a year by 2017. Related Video:

Maserati dedicates MC20 prototype to Stirling Moss

Maserati is paying tribute to Stirling Moss, the British race car driver who died on April 12, by wrapping one of its MC20 test mules in commemorative camouflage. The mid-engined sports car is due out in September 2020. It's a fitting homage, because Moss logged thousands of miles behind the wheel of Maserati race cars like the 250F (which he called one of his favorites), the 300S, and the famous Tipo 61 Birdcage. It's difficult to add retro-inspired styling cues to the camouflage applied to a prototype, but Maserati pulled it off well. It added simple, eye-catching red graphics of the racer's name to the MC20's rear end and over its wheel arches. The rest of the car is plastered in a Maserati-branded black and white wrap, though there's a red trident emblem on the roof. On a secondary and more lasting level, the images published by Maserati give us a better look at the MC20 — a name that likely won't be retained for production — than previous spy shots. The four round taillights fitted to earlier prototypes have been replaced by a pair of seemingly production-bound horizontal units. We can see the outline of its rear window, and the vents that let hot air escape the engine compartment. The rear panel is held down by four pins. Its front end remains relatively well hidden, though we spot a grille that's low and wide. "Sir Stirling Moss would certainly have liked the new MC20," Maserati summed up. It also reaffirmed its commitment to returning to "a leading role" on the racing circuits, meaning we'll likely see the MC20 driving flat-out on some of the world's greatest tracks shortly after it makes its debut. It was scheduled to break cover in May, but its unveiling was pushed back until September due to the coronavirus lockdown measures. When it arrives, the MC20 will inaugurate a twin-turbocharged V6 engine developed in-house and allegedly tuned to deliver over 600 horsepower. Unverified rumors indicate a hybrid model will join the lineup a little later in the production run with at least 700 horsepower on tap. It will be the first in a long line of new Maserati models, including the next-generation GranTurismo (which will again spawn a convertible) that will be available with an electric powertrain. The coupe will arrive in 2021, while the roadster should appear by the end of 2022. Related Video:     Featured Gallery Maserati MC20 Stirling Moss Spy Photos Maserati Luxury Performance stirling moss