CARS.COM — The ultra-luxury segment has been late to the SUV party, but that’s beginning to change with the launch of the 2017 Bentley Bentayga and now the 2017 Maserati Levante. The Levante, which is scheduled to hit dealerships late this year, is the first SUV from the Italian brand better known for its sports cars. The Levante was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show and made its U.S. debut in New York.

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Many of the Levante’s styling cues are borrowed from Maserati’s Ghibli sedan. Both models have pointy headlights, a gaping front grille, portholes on the front quarter-panels and distinctly shaped rear roof pillars that bear the Maserati logo. The rear window is raked forward, increasing the sportiness of the design but reducing potential cargo room.

Built in Italy, the Levante will come standard with an air suspension, all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Gasoline and diesel engines will be offered in markets outside the U.S., but it’s unlikely that we’ll see a diesel engine here.