Rumorpile: Maserati Levante Passes On Grand Cherokee As A Base :Comments

[William Maley]

Previously we've heard Maserati's upcoming crossover, the Levante, would be using the Jeep Grand Cherokee as base. But now, that appears not to be the case. Speaking with CNNMoney, Maserati CEO Harald Wester said the Levante would not use the Grand Cherokee's platform. Motor Trend adds that a engineer recently hinted that Maserati is opting for the Quattroporte/Ghilbi's platform to underpin the Levante.

Now this isn't the first time Maserati has changed their mind with the Levante. When the model was first announced, it was planned to be built at Chrysler's Jefferson North assembly plant in Detroit. Then last year, Maserati announced that production would take place at Fiat's Mirafiori factory in Turin, Italy.

Source: CNNMoney, Motor Trend

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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[Drew Dowdell]

It's strange that they'd do that. The Grand Cherokee platform is a bit newer.

Upon close inspection, the Ghibli's platform is clearly a modified LX body... it's got a shorter trunk and a longer nose... but most of the hardpoints are identical.

So... we'd get the first LX based SUV and it would come from Maserati? Interesting times indeed.