Elite Traveler Winter 2019

elite traveler WINTER 2019 38

First Drive Maserati Levante GTS + Maserati e-scooter The cobblestones of the streets that run between the grandiose Piazza Roma and the historical Mercato Albinelli marketplace in Downtown Modena, Italy less resemble stones than melon-sized boulders worn down over centuries. It is here, in a prehistoric Roman town, that Maserati debuted its 28-lb electric scooter. On a pair of 8.5-inch wheels with a few kick-push starts, the scooter silently lunges to life. While many a metropolis has been powerless to stop the invasion of e-scooters, the people of Modena marvel at the latest hometown creation. Emblazoned exclusively with Trident badging and the benchmark trio of air vents, the e-scooter is a sampling of what’s to come from Maserati. Electrification was on the tips of tongues last year, prior to the death of then-chairman Sergio

underfoot, the 22-inch forged aluminum alloy wheels on the Levante GTS signal the capability of this performance-driven edition. It’s no secret that SUVs dominate the lion’s share of nearly every brand’s margins, but buyers in this segment continue to parcel out features — hence the automaker’s response of creating sub-editions within editions. As Maserati’s latest Levante iteration, this twin-turbo 3.8-liter, 550 hp V8 now boasts Q4 intelligent all-wheel drive. Climbing up the hairpin turns to the hilltop town of Castelvetro, Italy, the Q4 sent the engine’s torque to the rear wheels, and the turbochargers audibly sighed at the lift of the throttle. It’s not a case of mistaken identity: The Levante GTS doesn’t feel like a sports car trapped in an SUV’s body. Quite refreshingly the opposite, it handles like a purpose-built performance sport vehicle that’s also outfitted with full-grain Pieno Fiore natural leather and a 900W, 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. Maserati Levante GTS from $119,980, e-scooter from $1,120, maseratiusa.com

Marchionne. Almost exactly a year later, Maserati’s first battery-powered machine arrived. Company creatives reviewed and approved the final design, although it’s worth noting that there’s no Maserati technology in the scooter itself. Rendering those same boulders to pebbles

M for motorsport BMWM8 Competition Coupe + BMWMBike

Pedal power meets horsepower under the same umbrella design language, which is keen on carbon fiber components and lightweight, albeit functional, performance. Smooth surface track days and pavement dreams become a reality thanks to the company-coined

‘signature BMW experience.’ It almost reads like propaganda, were it not the driving force behind BMW’s M-line. As the most powerful engine in BMW’s lineup, the M8 Competition Coupe delivers 617 hp from a 4.4-liter V8 engine. Its

exhilarating 0 to 60 mph occurs in just 3.0 seconds. The coupe growls as it goes, happily consuming asphalt and, upon stopping, often begs for more. From the pinched, dual-lined hood up over the double-bubble contour of its carbon-fiber

M Bike clearly draws its inspiration from the M lineup. The matte black paintwork and MMotorsport color stripes create an easy allusion. But it’s the 11-gear Shimano SLX/XT groupset with carbon fiber fork, spacers and seat posts that mimic the lightweight design and trackside style of the Coupe. Should a customer place the bike in the foreground and the car in the background, similar swoops and shapes abound. The sporty yet composed likeness is undeniable. BMWM8 Competition Coupe from $146,000, M Bike from $1,680, bmwusa.com

reinforced plastic roof to the gentle application of cutout rear wing, the character-defining features err on the side of edgy, even refreshing. Gone is the fear of sharp angles and deep, robust curves. Nearly two decades in the making, this vehicle signals a significant expansion of the rarefied second- generation 8 series. Look no further than the two-toned wraparound quad exhaust, should a further example of statement-making impact be in question. There’s no entreaty for electrification here. Implementing the same aerodynamic desire for speed, the