Due for a world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the Levante brings the Italian carmaker’s range to five models and follows the Ghibli, launched in 2014, as a potential fleet offering. Expected to be Maserati's biggest-selling car, the brand says the SUV could account for nearly half of its volume in Europe.

Like the Ghibli, it will feature petrol and diesel engines, the latter including the 275bhp V6 shared with its saloon cars. All models will feature four-wheel drive, with an eight-speed automatic transmission and electronically-controlled variable suspension damping.