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2017 Maserati Levante is a big first for the Italian brand (pictures)

Maserati's new Levante is its first SUV in the Triton brand's storied 100-year history.

Chris Paukert
Following stints in TV news production and as a record company publicist, Chris spent most of his career in automotive publishing. Mentored by Automobile Magazine founder David E. Davis Jr., Paukert succeeded Davis as editor-in-chief of Winding Road, a pioneering e-mag, before serving as Autoblog's executive editor from 2008 to 2015. Chris is a Webby and Telly award-winning video producer and has served on the jury of the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards. He joined the CNET team in 2015, bringing a small cache of odd, underappreciated cars with him.
Chris Paukert
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1 of 30 Chris Paukert/Roadshow

Maserati faithful will find plenty of familiar design cues on the Levante, but the SUV form factor, on show here at the Geneva auto show, is all new for this Italian marque.

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It's not a modern Maserati without fender vents, right?

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There's a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 under the hood, brandishing up to 430 horsepower.

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The Levante's steeply raked rear backlight is like that of a BMW X6, albeit much more fluidly integrated.

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The tail lamps haves strange fender contours coming off of them. They're unique, but controversial.

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The dead-on rear view is the Levante's least distinct aspect.

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"Levante" means "rising" in Italian, appropriate for a lifted SUV and a brand still finding its comeback footing.

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The Maserati's hatchback-like roofline helps give the design directional thrust.

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The Levante's grille proudly displays one of the best emblems in all of motoring, Maserati's trident.

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Headlamps are small and scowling.

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The Levante will likely become Maserati's best-selling model in short order, such is today's demand for luxury SUVs.

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