Rendered: 2016 Maserati Levante

TopSpeed Maserati Levante rendering (Credit: TopSpeed)

The Maserati Levante is already hot, and the Italian automaker still hasn’t released an official image of the upcoming crossover. Fortunately, TopSpeed has crafted a tremendous rendering that draws off spy shots of the vehicle, plus other details that have been leaked from multiple sources. The result is a dramatic model that definitely looks like a Maserati in all the right ways.

There’s a lot riding on the Levante right now. Maserati is counting on the crossover to be a big hit, helping boost the brand’s sales to about 50,000 units annually. That kind of an increase should help secure the future of the company, which means Maserati can not only continue making its current lineup of sedans and sports cars, but can actually continue to expand its offering.

If you look closely at TopSpeed’s rendering, you’ll see that it incorporates the dual nature of the Maserati brand. The mixture of athleticism and luxury certainly isn’t exclusive to the Italians, but Maserati does it with a unique twist that can be refreshing when compared to the deluge of Teutonic luxury models available in the U.S. market.

TopSpeed predicts that the Maserati Levante’s smooth, flowing exterior will make the BMW X6 look ugly, which isn’t too much of a stretch considering how controversial the X6’s aesthetics are. The body incorporates plenty of brand cues, including the large Trident grille and tri-bar fender vents. A number of elements also come from the Ghibli, which the crossover shares a platform with, such as the wide rear fenders. The interior should be luxurious and stylish, with loads of space in the front and some constrained headroom in the rear from the sloping roofline.

Supposedly, the Levante will finally be revealed by Maserati during the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, which takes place this upcoming January. Undoubtedly, the new model will make waves that will extend far beyond the automotive industry