Along with also having one of the most striking badges in the motor industry, Maseratis have always been some of the most beautifully designed cars on the road. Maserati has seen the massive popularity increase of SUVs in the automotive market, and so created the luxurious Levante to score a piece of the action. The Levante almost immediately shot to the top of the sales figures list, outselling the Ghibli and Quattroporte saloons, as well as obliterating the GranTurismo coupé and convertible.
With the increasing success of the Levante, Maserati decided to develop a smaller SUV – one more accessible to the general public – and so, the Grecale was born. The Grecale prototypes have been driven by various automotive journalists resulting in cautious optimism. Although we have to wait for the real thing, we can speculate on a few specific details.
8 The Tech Is Yet To Be Revealed
Spy shots of the interior of the Grecale show screens for the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel as well as a larger screen used for infotainment. Much of the interior was still covered during test runs by journalists as is the practice for all unrevealed models. However, so far, it looks to be more high-end – in line with Maserati standards.
Other technologies are most likely to include the standard assortment found in most of its rivals, including lane-keep-assist, automatic cruise control, satellite navigation with the option of Apple Carplay and Android Auto, a heads-up display, and perhaps some form of self-driving feature.
7 It Was Supposed To Be On Sale Already
The Maserati Grecale was supposed to have been on sale already, but due to current the global situation – with the semi-conductor shortage being the main reason for the delay in many automotive projects worldwide – the development phase was extended. This postponement has allowed Maserati engineers to ensure that all parts of the car are working together properly, and also allow extra time for extended safety, durability, and harsh weather testing.
As is the case with all new releases, Maserati has built multiple development prototypes in order to test various aspects at the same time, including interior quality, drivetrain durability, on-road handling, and other technical details. There was even a report with photographic evidence that one of the prototypes was involved in an accident with a lamppost during a public road test.
6 The Engine Choices
According to current reports, the Grecale will initially be offered with a 2.0-liter turbo inline-four engine – the same as in the Alfa Romeo Stelvio – mated to a single electric motor, resulting in 300 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. The Grecale will also be available as a fully-electric EV, called the Folgore. However, not much is known about this yet.
There is also a rumor that the Grecale will receive a Trofeo-like variant sometime after the official launch – most likely featuring a detuned version of the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, found in the MC20 supercar. If this is done, the Grecale Trofeo might be a bit more powerful than the Macan Turbo. All Grecales, bar the electric version, will be fitted with a ZF-sourced 8-speed semi-automatic and all-wheel-drive as standard – with a slight rear-drive bias.
5 A Porsche Macan Rival
The Grecale’s biggest rival will be that of the Porsche Macan, as it is designed for that specific class. The Grecale is fractionally larger than the Macan, purposely designed to offer more interior space than the Porsche.
The Porsche is not the only rival to compete against, as the Grecale will have to compete against the likes of the Jaguar F-Pace, the BMW X3, and the Audi Q5 for everyday practicality and drivability. Maserati promises exceptional acceleration, handling, and sound compared to the competition, with a more focused use of higher-end materials.
4 Projected To Be Maserati’s Most Popular Model
With the ongoing success of the Levante, the smaller and less-expensive Grecale is projected by Maserati to become its most popular and best-selling model after it is promised to go on sale later this year.
Whilst many are eagerly anticipating the reveal and launch of the new GranTurismo and GranCabrio, Maserati (and their accountants) will be counting on the Grecale to be among the bulk of their SUV sales.
3 The Prototype Has Been Driven
Some of the many prototypes of the Grecale, produced for the purposes of testing, have been made available for motoring journalists to unofficially review. So far, the verdict is cautiously optimistic. Journalists have thus far praised the chassis and drivetrain tuning, noting that it may well be the best-in-class handling SUV that Maserati is claiming it to be.
With limited access and journalists not able to give accurate opinions about driving the prototypes, the reviewers have noted that the engine, coupled to the electric motor, makes for a fun driving experience – many of whom have published 0-62 mph times of 5.6 seconds. However, some have also noted that the combination would need to have an improved fuel economy if it wants to be competitive in its class.
2 Will (Hopefully) Finally Be Out This Year
With the various concerns going on around the world, from the global pandemic posing everyday issues for humans and the semi-conductor shortage causing delays for the automotive and technology industry, automakers have had to either postpone launching their newer models or sell their current models with some features missing.
Maserati has had to resort to the former, however with semi-conductor production on the increase again, the new Grecale may be well on its way to dominate the segment and cause some concern for the Germans. Let’s just hope the Maserati did a good job of the Grecale, and that this mid-size SUV is the start of even greater things to come from this legendary Italian marque with the awesome badge.
1 It’s Based On The Giorgio Platform
The Grecale is a mid-size SUV based on FCA’s Giorgio platform – the same used for the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs.
It also underpins the awesome Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio super saloon in which the platform debuted in 2016, meaning that this platform was specifically built with a sporty edge in mind. The Grecale promises best-in-class handling and dynamics – even better than that of the Stelvio.