modena Maserati is continuing its long-term innovation campaign with the presentation of the Grecale SUV model. The all-wheel drive vehicle positioned in the D segment below the Levante introduced in 2016 will initially be available with combustion engines in the summer of 2022. In 2023, the Grecale Folgore, a purely battery-powered variant, will follow.
The basis for the Grecale is the Fiat Chrysler Giorgio platform already used for Alfas Giulia and Stelvio as well as for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. However, the wheelbase was extended by almost 9 centimeters especially for the 4.85 meter long Maserati, which is why the vehicle offers space at the level of higher-end segments.
In order to attract discerning customers, the SUV can be optionally combined with air suspension. Visually, the Italians opted for puristic design. Its clarity and elegant surfaces promise optical longevity. The electric door handles, which are flush with the sheet metal skin, are a perfect match, which promises aerodynamic advantages.
While the Grecale looks like what an SUV of its size tends to look like these days, at the same time various details convey a distinct Maserati DNA. This is ensured, for example, by the light signature of the LED headlights or the deep radiator grille, which creates a family resemblance to the MC20 super sports car.
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There are also air vents in the front fenders and trident quotes in several places. The two-part rear lights, which reach into the trunk lid, quote the boomerang lights of the 3200 GT with their LED light graphics.
Switches and buttons are scarce in the Folgore’s cockpit. Instead, the Italians rely on large displays and touchscreens.
There is a small clock in the middle of the dashboard, which is also represented by a display.
Behind the steering wheel is a 12-inch display as an instrument cluster with various display modes ranging from puristic to sporty. Driving-related information is projected onto the windshield via a head-up display. There is a small clock in the middle of the dashboard, which is also represented by a display.
The mini screen is also used to give visual feedback, for example when the driver is talking to the on-board system. In the center console there is a double display with a curved glass cover. While the upper touchscreen with a 12.1-inch screen diagonal serves as a display platform for infotainment functions, the smaller 8.8-inch screen is the control unit for some vehicle functions such as the air conditioning. Accordingly, there are no longer any physical switches in the center console.
Considerable attention has been paid to the look and feel of the few remaining knobs and switches to enhance the luxury experience. A lot of work was also done on the sound. Of course, this also applies to the audio system that Sonos Faber contributed. In addition to the front seats, the seats in the rear should also offer plenty of space and legroom. The trunk accommodates 570 liters of luggage.
In the three main markets of China, the USA and Europe, Maserati will focus on marketing very differently. For the Chinese, the Italo SUV should be perceived primarily as a luxury car, while the Grecale should also attract customers in Europe in its role as a practical family car.
The door handles do not protrude beyond the door panel, which ensures a stylish look and less air resistance.
The back seat offers plenty of legroom for rear passengers.
In the USA, on the other hand, the Italians want to market the Grecale as a womenizer, which will primarily appeal to women, who Maserati estimates will make up around half of its customers. The Grecale will of course be networked and integrate real-time traffic information into the navigation guidance. Here, for example, a connection to the calendar can be established so that participants in a meeting can see when the Grecale pilot will actually arrive due to traffic jams.
The connection to the network also allows a remote analysis of the vehicle condition. If technical problems are indicated, service appointments can be arranged online with a suitable workshop. The user can also make status inquiries about the vehicle via Alexa at home. Vehicle software updates and future connected features are installed via OTA.
At the start of this year, Maserati will initially offer the Grecale in three petrol variants including all-wheel drive. The entry-level version is the Modena with a 221 kW/300 hp two-liter four-cylinder and 48-volt e-boost, which enables the sprint to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds.
The four-cylinder is alternatively available in a GT version with supercharger and 243 kW/330 hp. Among other things, the unit offers a variable oil pump and 200 bar direct injection. The sprint to 100 km/h should take 5.3 seconds, a maximum of 240 km/h is possible.
There will no longer be a mechanical door opener in the Grecale. Instead, the doors unlock electrically at the push of a button.
The Grecale Folgore is powered by two electric motors with 400 kW/544 hp.
The top version Trofeo offers more power with a V6 known from the MC20 with 620 Newton meters from 3.0 liters displacement. The 100 km/h sprint is over after 3.8 seconds, a maximum of 285 km/h is possible. Unlike the MC20, the V6 in the Grecale offers the option of switching off a cylinder bank in lean operation, which is primarily intended to reduce fuel consumption.
The Grecale Folgore will not need any fuel at all, which is visually distinguished by a more aerodynamically designed front, among other things. The BEV version, which will not be available until 2023, will have the same space as the petrol variants. The battery-electric version is powered by two electric motors that deliver 400 kW/544 hp and 800 Newton meters of torque.
Maserati has not yet made any statements about consumption, charging technology or driving values. The battery holds 105 kWh. The prices will probably start at the level of the Porsche Macan, which costs around 63,000 euros, and should therefore be well below the Levante, which costs around 80,000 euros.
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