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nearly every other mass-market automaker on the planet, Maserati had to make a crossover to capitalize on the continuing demand for high-riding machines. In regular Maserati fashion, a boring box with wheels wasn’t going to cut it. So in 2017, the world met Maserati’s Levante: a stylish crossover that helped scratch the itch for SUV-hungry shoppers. As you’d expect with time, the Levante would see performance variants, eventually ending at the Trofeo, Italian for trophy. It also means the Maserati Levante gets some serious upgrades under the hood. Powering the Trofeo is a 3.8-liter Ferrari-based V8 making 580 horsepower. Wrangling that power is an eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system. That all adds to this Maserati crossover sprinting to 60 mph from a dead stop in only 3.8-seconds, as quick as a Ferrari F40.
The 2021 Cadillac Escalade Raises the Bar
Cadillac’s latest Escalade is a counter punch to other luxe SUVs. Cadillac
When you think of luxury SUVs, the first that comes to mind is highly likely to be Cadillac’s Escalade, even if cross-town rival Lincoln stepped up its game with the latest Navigator. In response, Cadillac launched its next-generation Escalade with some serious upgrades. The 2021 Escalade puts a stronger focus on fit, finish, and high-quality materials, enough to put it back to the top of the luxe SUV list. The new Escalade also sports some significant shakeups with its powertrain and suspension. New for ’21, the Escalade is available with the 3.0-liter Duramax straight-six diesel under its hood. You can still get the 6.2-liter gas-burning V8, and both are mated to 10-speed automatics. At the rear, the new Escalade is now riding on an independent suspension.
Dodge
Something that might have started as a joke in a Dodge meeting has transformed into one of the most interesting series of cars to ever come from the brand. With nothing off the table for potential 6.2-liter supercharged V8 Hellcat treatment, the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat was only a matter of time. This ridiculously fun crossover joined the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk in the greater Chrysler-Jeep family of Hellcat-powered SUVs. With the power of a Dodge Challenger Hellcat, three-rows of seating and an all-wheel-drive system that helps turn that noise into motion, the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat might be one of the most ridiculous and fun products to ever leave a Dodge factory.
Ride Along While We Review the 2021 Dodge Durango Hellcat msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.