After numerous delays, Maserati has now finally unveiled the long-awaited Grecale, its second-ever SUV in its line-up, and perhaps its most important model in recent times sales-wise as it transitions towards electrification.
The all-new Grecale, named after a north-easterly Mediterranean wind, will slot in Maserati’s model line-up beneath the Levante, setting its sights straight at the Porsche Macan.
Size-wise, the Grecale measures in at 4,846 mm long, 1,670 mm tall, and 1,948 mm wide (in base GT trim), with a wheelbase of 2,901 mm, which makes it similar to that of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio – not surprisingly since they essentially share the same platform. In comparison to the Porsche Macan, however, the Grecale is bigger by quite a huge margin in every dimension.
While the overall silhouette does look very similar to a shrunken down Levante, the Grecale does feature several design elements that are influenced by Maserati’s latest styling direction.
Up front, there’s the MC20-inspired LED headlights, protuding nose, and the “low and imposing grille” with concave bars, while over at the rear, the taillights are claimed to be inspired by the 1998 3200 GT sports coupe.
The two higher-end variants, Modena and Trofeo, gets a wider rear track (+34 mm) alongside bespoke bumpers and chrome detailing on the front grille. The Trofeo also gets a variant-exclusive split exhaust to mark it out as the range-topping performance variant.
On the inside, the Maserati Grecale gets a completely new dashboard architecture, with a huge emphasis on screens – with four displays as standard.
There’s the 12.3-inch touchscreen Android Automotive OS infotainment display, the largest ever included in a Maserati; a digital instrument cluster, as well as an 8.8-inch touchscreen positioned underneath the infotainment display for your three-zone climate control.
If you’re wondering where’s the fourth screen, the Maserati Grecale’s clock, sitting atop the dashboard, is also now digital for the first time in its brand’s history. In addition to the time, the “clock” can also show a compass, G-force meter, or a visual response whenever the driver activates the Maserati Intelligent Assistant voice command system.
As with all other Maserati models, the Grecale is also smothered in huge swathes of leather and premium materials. They differ according to trims levels; the GT gets a more minimalist look paired with warmer colours, the Modena features bespoke embroidery and trim elements, while the Trofeo being the “sporty” variant comes with exposed carbon fibre trims, perforated leather seats, and contrasting cross stitches.
At launch, the Maserati Grecale will be offered with two powertrain options, in three different configurations. The line-up kicks off with the 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system, similar to that of the Ghibli and Levante Hybrid.
In the entry-level GT trim, the MHEV powertrain is detuned slightly to make 300 hp and 450 Nm, which translates to a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 240 km/h.
For the same power output as the two Hybrid models above, you’ll have to step up to the Modena variant, where the same powertrain now makes 330 hp and a similar 450 Nm of torque, for a slightly quicker century sprint time of 5.3 seconds.
If you still need something a little more powerful, the Trofeo variant comes equipped with a detuned version of Maserati’s Nettuno 3.0 litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine (introduced in the MC20), making a total of 530 hp and 620 Nm for a 3.8 seconds century sprint time, and a top speed of 285 km/h.
All three powertrain options are equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission, alongside an all-wheel drive system. A limited-slip rear differential is standard on the Modena and Trofeo, but can also be optioned on the GT.
Aside from the ICE-powered variants, Maserati will also be unveiling the fully-electric Grecale Folgore next year, alongside the GranTurismo Folgore EV. No details have been provided yet, but the Italian luxury carmaker says that it’ll come equipped with a 105 kWh battery, and offer as much as 800 Nm of torque.
The Grecale comes as standard with passive suspensions by default, with double wishbones in front and a multi-link system at the rear. Moving up to the Modena nets you the adaptive Skyhook system (can also be optioned on the GT), while the Trofeo comes as standard with air suspensions.
Offered as optional items items on the lesser variants, the air suspensions offer six levels of adjustments over a 65 mm height range, with the lowest being -35 mm in Park mode, and full height in Off-Road mode at +30 mm.
On the mention of drive modes, which there are five in total (on the Trofeo), they all tie into the new Vehicle Dyanmic Control Module (VDCM), which uses predictive intervention in the suspension movements to control all vehicle dynamics, be it vertical, longitudinal or lateral, promising “levels of performance and integration that could not have been achieved in the older architecture”.
The Maserati Grecale is priced from EUR70,000 (approx. RM325k) in Italy, placing it right within the range of the Porsche Macan.
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