Maserati Levante plug-in hybrid to share drivetrain parts with Chrysler Pacifica
The Maserati Levante plug-in hybrid that's due in the next few years will use drivetrain components shared with other products throughout the Fiat Chrysler (FCA) family.
Harald Wester, CEO of Maserati, told Motor Trend at the recent Geneva motor show that "a standalone [PHEV] programme would be suicidal, so we have to look at FCA".
FCA has just begun production of the regular petrol-powered Pacifica in the US. The new people mover will replace the Voyager/Caravan/Town & Country, and is powered by a 214kW/355Nm 3.6-litre V6. Later this year, the company will debut a plug-in hybrid variant.
In the PHEV, a retuned version of the Pentastar V6 is paired with two electric motors and a 16kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The Pacifica plug-in hybrid is said to be capable of an EV driving range of 48 kilometres.
Above: Chrysler Pacifica.
It's not entirely clear which components the Levante plug-in hybrid will take from the front-wheel drive only Pacifica PHEV. Given that the Levante rides on a rear- and all-wheel drive platform shared with the Ghibli, Maserati may elect to pair the Pacifica's electric motors, lithium-ion battery pack, and base software package with the Italian marque's 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6.
Wester believes, going on industry trends, that the plug-in hybrid is likely to account for six percent or less of Levante sales. The CEO talked down the chances of a high performance variant, admitting that it may cost too much to develop for the amount of extra volume it will bring in.
Talk within the industry suggests that the Levante PHEV will debut in key overseas markets either at the end of 2017 or at the beginning of 2018. The regular variants of the Maserati Levante will go on sale across Australia and New Zealand from the beginning of 2017.
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