This 2017 Maserati Levante with hundreds of horsepower happened to beat a horse with technically one horsepower.
Car versus horse has been a rivalry that’s stood the test of time being the classic dichotomy of man versus machine. According to Maserati and their latest video they dropped for us earlier yesterday, (Apr. 3, 2017) that rivalry is alive and well. But this time, instead of proving a point Maserati wants to celebrate horsepower through the age old past time of point-to-point racing. Filmed at the legendary Chavenage-House estate, Maserati enlisted the help of Harry and Dan Skelton, two accomplished horse trainers and riders respectively. Check out the video for yourself below and before watching place your bets on who you think will win.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCzUsgREZ7I
A point-to-point challenge is as simple as it sounds. Two competitors must traverse between a starting and finishing point taking any path they choose. Although the ideal path would be as the crow flies, mother nature’s natural landscape doesn’t make that possible. Trainer Dan Skelton chose the Maserati turbo diesel with 275 HP and a top speed of 142 MPH while Harry Skelton mounted a fine example of a race horse with a peak horsepower of about 15 HP and a top speed of around 45 MPH at full clip.
The actual race was more a commercial than something serious, a chance for Maserati’s PR team to showcase their video editing skills and drone flying abilities. Suffice to say, the rolling shots are amazing to watch. The dramatic soundtrack helps too. There’s no doubt that the Maserati Levante is quite capable on rough terrain. We’re sure the turbodiesel’s torque had a role to play in powering that 4,649 pound SUV through rough ground. And surprise-surprise, the Maserati Levante pulled off the win in the end.
In the United States, Maserati doesn’t offer the turbo diesel per emissions regulations but they do offer two twin-turbo V6 options; a 345 HP option and a 424 HP option. Both engines are paired to an eight-speed automatic and come with all-wheel drive. Priced at just above $72 thousand, Maserati is selling well at around 500 units a month but not as well as Jaguar F-Pace with 2,187 units in March or Porsche Cayenne with consistently more than 1,000 units a month since Dec. 2010.
Perhaps with a better price point, Maserati can compete with Jaguar and Porsche in the states. But for now, if you want an SUV that can beat a horse in a point-to-point race, the Levante is your choice.
