MASERATI

Grecale: it is the newest compact-sized SUV from the Italian brand

At the end of 2020, a great presentation took place that marked the beginning of a new era within Maserati, as it not only served to present the long-awaited Maserati MC20, a supercar with a V6 engine that will soon receive an electric version (the electrification of fact will play a vital role in the future of the Italian brand), but also served to advance another very interesting and expected novelty that will have the mission to improve the company's sales: a compact SUV called Maserati Grecale.

A little brother for the Levante...We are talking about a vehicle that at that time had already anticipated its profile, to later show itself in a series of images while strolling through the vicinity of the Maserati plant in Viale Ciro Menotti, in Modena. Afterwards, it appeared on the street again, also in camouflage, but much lighter, practically revealing its aesthetic keys and in the company of a painting with the following main message: “I’m the Maserati Grecale. I can't tell you much more” (I'm the Maserati Grecale. I can't tell you much more). Now, finally, we can contemplate its aesthetic completely au naturel.

Remembering that Maserati introduced itself to SUV fashion in 2016, with a product that slightly improved its sales along with the Ghibli. This same strategy is now being repeated with the Grecale, a crossover with smaller dimensions than the Levante, whose architecture is the Giorgio platform of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The name chosen by Maserati was borrowed from the strong northeasterly winds around the Mediterranean Sea. The fact that the Grecale sits below the Levante means that someone within the brand thought that the best way to increase profits would be with a more affordable SUV that doesn't lose the essence of the trident and whose lines are already contemplated in all the luxury of detail. 

A sharpened front, rounded headlights and a sloping roofline behind the B-pillars that culminate in a spoiler stand out. The taillights extend horizontally (inspired by the Maserati 3200 GT) and the four exhaust outlets could not be missing. Its interior is led by a generous 12.3-inch central touchscreen and a sporty design steering wheel that is accompanied by two satellites, one on each side, as well as generous gear shift paddles, without ignoring the digital clock located at the top. dashboard and an instrument panel with an 8.8-inch display. In fact, the sound system is signed by Sonus and has 21 speakers.

Maserati Grecale Features...The Maserati Grecale measures 4840mm in length, 2160mm in width (mirrors included) and 1670mm in height. The wheelbase is 2,900 mm and the trunk accommodates 535 liters (570 on the Trofeo). Its weight was not reported and its average price in Europe is around 75,000 euros.

In addition, the Maserati Grecale Trofeo adds a sporty plus, with larger tires, wheels and brakes, without neglecting an aesthetic whose keys cannot go unnoticed. This sporty version features more generous front air intakes, wheels that increase in size and perforated brake discs accompanied by red-painted calipers. At the rear, there are dual rectangular exhaust outlets.

But it is clear that Maserati will not stop with the launch of the MC20 and the arrival of the Grecale, as the new generation of the Maserati GranTurismo and GranCabrio is on its way, with important surprises, as both will be offered with electric powertrain. The brand's electrification strategy has already begun and the first manifestation was the Maserati Ghibli Hybrid presented last year, as well as the Maserati Levante Hybrid shown in 2021. So it was no surprise that the new SUV also included some electrified version (the Folgore 100% electric will come later).

These are two mild-hybrid versions that correspond to the GT and Modena designations, both based on 4-cylinder and 2.0-liter gasoline turbo engines, with 300 and 330 hp, respectively. The top of the line comes through the Maserati MC20's V6 Nettuno block. Thanks to its 3.0 liters of displacement, Maserati extracts a total of 530 hp and 620 Nm from the Trofeo to face the most sporty SUVs in its category, rivals such as the BMW X3 M, Porsche Macan Turbo and Mercedes-AMG GLC 63. speaking of a figure with which the Italian crossover “will make your heart race”, as it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and its top speed is 285 km/h. All versions use an 8-speed automatic transmission via torque converter and an all-wheel drive system.

Made in Italy...The production of the Maserati Grecale will take place at the Cassino plant in Italy, where the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Giulia are also manufactured. The first units of this model, which is destined to compete with proposals such as the Mercedes-Benz GLC and the BMW X3, but with an extra point of luxury and sportiness. It is expected for the second half of this year.

Autonews