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The upcoming Maserati crossover has been previewed in new design patents.

Expected to make its debut early next year, the Levante will be Maserati’s first crossover. The Italian automaker first previewed such a model with the Kubang concept in 2011 and the patents appear to keep a similar design theme to the concept. The documents themselves were filed in Australia on April 8 and were recently given registered status as the company prepares for its global launch.

SEE ALSO: Maserati Levante Debut Tipped for Early 2016

Current rumors suggest that the Levante will be built on the same platform as the Quattroporte and Ghibli while two powertrain options will be available in the U.S. including a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with 410 hp while a more powerful 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 will provide 530 hp. For European markets, Maserati will offer a diesel option while a plug-in hybrid is also in development to join the lineup in the future. Every powerplant will be paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

After debuting next January, Maserati expects to begin production on the Levante crossover in March. The company is setting a sales target of 37,000 units annually by 2018, accounting for nearly half of the automaker’s yearly deliveries.

Discuss this story at our Maserati Levante forum