2023 Maserati Grecale SUV debuts with up to 530 hp

Italian luxury automaker Maserati has taken the wraps off its latest offering, the 2023 Grecale compact crossover SUV. This new model comes with a range of gasoline, hybrid, and full electric powertrains, the most potent of which packs 530 horsepower. 

In keeping with Maserati convention, the Grecale derives its moniker from a Mediterranean wind, specifically one blowing from the northeast. But more than being a force of nature, the Grecale is being positioned by Maserati as an exceptional daily driver, equally at home in bringing kids to school as it is in painting the town red.

Exterior 

Outside dimensions for the Grecale are listed at 4,846mm long, 1,948mm wide, and 1,670mm high on a 2,901mm wheelbase. The fascia is headlined by the wide yet low-slung grille, adorned with the trademark vertical slats and the Maserati trident at the center. Shapely LED headlamps with daytime running lights hover above, while a honeycomb lower intake sits close to the ground. 

The Maserati Grecale cuts a handsome profile  

Other than the familiar triple ports on the front fenders and more of the trident on the C-pillar, the Grecale’s profile is smooth and subdued, with even the fender flares blending into the wheel arches that house up to 21-inch alloy wheels. Rounding out the curved silhouette is a wide tailgate bordered by wraparound LED tail lamps above a rear diffuser incorporating twin banks of dual exhaust tips. 

The rear of the crossover evokes streamlined sportiness

Each of the Grecale’s three variants at launch carries a distinctive body color. The GT trim is rendered in Bronzo Opaco (opaque bronze), the Modena comes in Grigio Cangiante (iridescent grey), while the Trofeo is finished in Giallo Corse (racing yellow).   

Interior 

One of the things occupants might notice when entering the cabin is the animated analog clock on the dashboard, a Maserati first that upgrades the original mechanical timepiece. Apart from telling the time, it can also acknowledge voice commands with a response signal, and incorporates both compass and G-force meter functions.   

Almost all interfaces are touch-actuated

Up to five people can settle down comfortably on leather seats, with Maserati claiming that the Grecale boasts best-in-class interior space and rear legroom. The rear cargo area features a flat-loading floor and underfloor cargo box, with luggage space expandable by folding down the rear bench.

Tech & Safety

Accompanied by controls that are now largely actuated by touch, twin displays are at the disposal of the vehicle’s occupants. There’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster behind the leather D-shaped steering wheel, along with another 12.3-inch touchscreen monitor at the center running the Maserati Intelligent Assistant (MIA) multimedia system offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, patched to a 21-speaker Sonus faber sound system.  

The rear seats can be folded down to expand luggage space

This is accompanied by an 8.8-inch lower display for the three-zone climate control and other functions. A fourth screen at the back of the center console presents controls for the rear passengers, while an optional heads-up display provides another information portal on the windshield area facing the driver.  

Maserati's iconic analog clock is now digitally rendered, concealing other functions such as a compass and G-force meter

Leading the Grecale’s safety features is a comprehensive range of Level 2 Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS). These include Automated Emergency Braking, Intelligent Speed Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop &Go, Active Driving Assist, and Active Lane Management.

Engine & Drivetrain

Each of the Grecale’s available trim levels represents a particular powertrain. The base GT variant, for instance, sports a 2.0-liter inline-4 turbocharged gasoline engine with mild-hybrid technology that includes an electric supercharger, good for 300 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque. 

A boosted version of this setup sits in the engine bay of the Modena variant, generating 330 horsepower that takes the SUV from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in five seconds flat. Meanwhile, the Trofeo packs a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 kicking up 530 horspower and 620 Nm of torque, with a top speed of 285 kilometers per hour.  

The top-spec Trofeo variant packs a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6

The upcoming Grecale Folgore (thunderbolt) trim will boast a fully electric powertrain, a first for any Maserati SUV, with 800 Nm of torque made possible by a 105 kilowatt-hour battery using 400V technology.  

All Grecale units in the range equipped with combustion engines come standard with an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive.
A new Vehicle Dynamic Control Module (VDCM) governs the Grecale’s dynamics for handling and ride comfort. Up to five modes are offered to tackle various driving conditions: Comfort, GT, Sport, Corsa, and Off-Road.   

Pricing

An upcoming Folgore trim will feature Maserati's first fully electric SUV drivetrain 

Prices for the 2023 Maserati Grecale will reportedly start at $64,995 (Php 3.4 million) for the GT trim. A Modena Limited Edition will be the first offered for reservations, with a base price of $78,895 (Php 4.13 million), while the top-spec Trofeo is expected to carry a sticker price of over $80,000 (Php 4.19 million).    

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