IS it an SUV or a supercar? A good question when it comes to the latest version of the Maserati Levante.

The new Levante GTS comes with the same Ferrari-built 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 unit which powers the company's flagship Quattroporte GTS but it has been re-engineered to work with the SUV's Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive System and retuned to deliver 550hp (404 kW) at 6,250 rpm and peak torque of 730 Nm between 2,500 and 5,000 rpm.

Thanks to its remarkable power to weight ratio of 3.9 kg/hp, the Levante GTS takes only around four seconds to reach 60mph, while its top speed is 181mph - performance figures of a modern supercar disguised in a high-end SUV body.

The Levante's chassis has been tuned to handle the immense power of the GTS engine, providing a driving experience true to Maserati's "Gran Turismo" pedigree.

Subtle changes to the front end and rear bumper styling help the GTS stand out from other models in the Levante range while the interior is fitted as standard with full premium leather trim, sports pedals and a Harman Kardon audio system with 14 speakers.

Alongside the announcement of the V8, which was revealed before around 20,000 enthusiast visitors at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Maserati has tweaked the rest of the Levante range adding adaptive full LED matrix headlights and integrated vehicle control (IVC) as standard.

Rather than simply correcting vehicle instability, the IVC system helps prevent it, providing enhanced active safety, improved driving dynamics and an even more exciting performance, says the company.