First Look: Maserati Grecale
The Maserati Grecale, a new small SUV arrives this fall for the 2023 model year, as the iconic European brand continues to expand its vehicle portfolio. What’s newer for Maserati — its foray into large vehicles that reflect the appetite for luxury SUVs around the world. The brand’s first SUV entry was the Levante in 2016, which offers both space and utility. While the SUV segment is flush, the Grecale stands out as a unique offering that is both chic and practical for daily driving.
Maserati built its reputation for elegant performance based coupes that are highly collectible. Two rare Maseratis will be auctioned at Sotheby’s RM auction in August, including a 1958 Maserati by Fantuzz for the estimated amount of $9 to $11 million and the 1955 Maserati A6G/54 2000 Spyder by Zagato for an estimate around $5 million. Maserati’s heritage means that as it pushes forward it has a storied legacy to reference. What stays true about Maserati: its deep roots in Italian culture that date back to 1914. All Maseratis display the Trident logo, an homage to the Fountain of Neptune in Bologna, Italy, where three brothers dreamed up the brand that lives on a century later.
Like most current Maserati models, Grecale is named after a dramatic wind current. The Grecale is northeasterly wind that sweeps across the Mediterranean Sea. The Grecale made its first public outing at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this summer when David Beckham drove a Grecale Trofeo up the hill to woo an audience of vintage sports car fans.
We first saw the Grecale when it arrived stateside in New York in June for our Maserati Grand Tour in the Hudson Valley. In the afternoon light, the sun captured the proportions of the Grecale and drew in a group for an up close view of the interior. The Grecale cockpit is modern, spacious, and includes a generous backseat that accommodates adults as well as children. Lots of aluminum and precious metals are used throughout the cabin. Materials are tactile in nature. The UX system has a digital cluster, two touchscreens, and the option for a head-up display. Grecale is outfitted with the option for the Sonus Faber sound system. Maserati Connect is the tech system designed to help passengers manage the in-car experience. It’s also equipped with a level two autonomous driving system. The Grecale is slightly more slender than the Levante. It has an 20-cubic feet of ample storage space, a power-rear folding seat, and an extra storage compartment in the rear floor.
The Grecale will initially be offered with three separate trim options and two engines; a mild hybrid is among the current options. Much rides on the Grecale’s success, because it will also be the iconic Italian brand’s entry into electrification in two years when the Grecale Folgore comes to market in 2024. Grecale makes a bold, powerful statement about the journey into the future, where art, material and science underpin progressive automotive design.