The 2019 Maserati Levante has gained two new V8 engine options that bring more performance to the table, and the GTS is the least powerful of the pair.

With that said, the new North American-spec Levante GTS still offers 542 HP (550 PS) and 538 lb-ft (730Nm) of torque, putting it in the same league with (you guessed it) the Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

Hooked to an eight-speed automatic transmission, it enables the Italian SUV to sprint from zero to 60mph (96km/h) in 4 seconds dead and hit 181mph (291km/h) flat out. The twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 was developed “in cooperation” with Ferrari, which also builds it in its Maranello factory.

Along with the new powertrain, Maserati has retuned the chassis of the Levante to offer better handling. The air suspension was recalibrated, while the company has also integrated its latest IVC system into the ESP, which helps the driver maintain control instead of simply -and abruptly- correcting the course of the vehicle. Maserati adds that the chassis is also perfectly balanced between the axles and offers a very low center of gravity for an SUV of this size.

All this makes the Levante GTS a very impressive SUV under fast driving, with understeer being virtually eliminated and the driver feeling more comfortable to exploit the potential of the twin-turbo V8.

Combine this with the vicious soundtrack of that engine, and it’s no wonder why The Straight Pipes had only good things to say about the refreshed Levante.