Maserati Levante F Tributo comes to Australia

This story is published in partnership with Maserati

The 2023 Maserati Levante SUV and 2023 Maserati Ghibli sedan are now offered with bespoke colour and trim as a homage to the first woman to compete in a grand prix. Both models are produced in limited numbers, but certain to draw maximum attention.

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Before we get to the cars, though, let’s take a moment to talk about Italian driver Maria Teresa De Filippis. In October 1955, De Filippis competed in the 39th Targa Florio driving a Maserati A6GCS (shared with Luigi Bellucci). She would take ninth place overall (fourth in the 2.0-litre class).

This was a career turning point that would lead De Filippis, in 1958, to compete in her first Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix in Belgium in a privateer Maserati 250F, making her the first woman to break into the ranks of motorsport’s top category.

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To celebrate De Filippis’ achievements, Maserati has launched a pair of celebratory F Tributo special editions of its Levante SUV and Ghibli sedan with unique paint finishes as well as exterior and interior upgrades.

Two exclusive colour options are offered. One is the bright orange Arancio Devil (below), a nod to De Filippis’ nickname ‘the she-devil’. The other is Grigio Lameria (above), a grey that is reminiscent of the colour of a racetrack’s surface and a nod to Maserati’s rich history in racing and its deep-rooted motorsport DNA.

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In the Arancio Devil livery, the Levante F Tributo comes with 21-inch Anteo wheels. The wheel rims are finished in cobalt blue, as are the badges on the guards and the Trident logo on the C-pillars.

For the Ghibli F Tributo in the new Grigio Lameria colour, wheels – also 21-inch – are in the Titano design, painted glossy black, while the details like the F Tributo badge and the Trident logo are painted a contrasting orange.

In the cabin, the shades of the exterior finishes are highlighted in the cobalt blue and orange stitching when paired with black ‘PienoFiore’ (full-grain) leather, or orange stitching when the natural shade of leather is chosen.

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Mechanically, the F Tributo Special Editions of the Ghibli and the Levante remain identical to their regular counterparts.

For both Ghibli and Levante, the current versions have multiple engine options across different spec grades. The most powerful V8-powered Trofeo variants make 433kW/730Nm from a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8.

There are also twin-turbo V6 versions in different tunes, the GT with 243kW and 450Nm, the Modena with 257kW and 500Nm, and the Modena S with 316kW and 580Nm.

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Levante F Tributo comes to Australia

Maserati Australia has secured one of the limited-production run; a Levante F Tributo in Grigio with tan/orange. The price is $235,000, with arrival scheduled for the first quarter of 2023.

The Australia-bound Levante F Tributo is based mechanically on the Modena S, its twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 producing 316kW and 580Nm, with a 0-100km/h time of 5.2 seconds.

As for de Filippis, she retired from racing shortly after the death of fellow driver and friend Jean Behra at the Avus circuit in Berlin in 1959.

Maria Teresa de Filippis died in 2016, yet her determination and accomplishments continue to be remembered, thanks in part to these stunning Maserati special editions.