Maserati Grecale mid-sized SUV that lands in SG next year with three models, should cost from S$300k, electric version in the works too

SINGAPORE 

Italian luxury carmaker’s first midsized SUV, the Grecale, will debut in Singapore in early 2023. The car will be a rival for luxury midsized SUVs, a hotly contested segment including cars like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Porsche Macan, and we can expect pricing to begin around S$300k.

It will be available in three variants – the GT and Modena mild hybrid versions with a 2.0-litre turbo engine, and the high-performance Trofeo version with a V6 derived from the MC20 supercar’s Nettuno engine. A fully electric version will be announced in 2023, named the Grecale Folgore (meaning ‘lightning’). 

Unlike Alfa Romeo, which has the Giulia executive sedan and the Stelvio midsized SUV, the Grecale is the first car in the midsized luxury segment for the brand, and thus has the potential to be one of the more mainstream and possibly a breakout model in the way the Macan was for Porsche.

More photos of the Grecale Trofeo which we previewed at the Maserati showroom in Singapore

Styling and platform 

The Grecale takes obvious styling cues from the Levante large SUV and the just-launched MC20 supercar. That includes small diamond-shaped headlights, the wide and vaguely diamond-shaped grille with large trident emblem and vertical louvres. It’s an SUV, but coupe-styled as Italian SUVs inevitably are – we don’t think any Italian SUV has done tall and chunky just yet. 

The car shares platform with Stellantis sister brand Alfa Romeo’s own Stelvio, and the two are very similar in dimensions. At 4,846mm long, 1,670mm tall, and 2,163mm wide, the car has a 2,901mm wheelbase. That makes it slightly larger than the BMW X3 (and the other Germans, which are of a similar size) which is 4,716mm long, 1,897mm wide, 1,676mm tall, and packing a 2,864mm wheelbase.

However size and tech comes with a cost, as the Grecale is also notably heavier than its rivals – 1,870kg for the GT, 1,895kg for the Modena, and 2,027kg for the Trofeo. Compare that to the BMW X3 xDrive20i at 1,810kg (with mild hybrid tech), the six-cylinder BMW X3 M40i at 1,910kg, and BMW X3 M at 2,010kg.

Review: We drive Maserati’s new supercar in Singapore – the MC20

Engines/variants 

Three versions with two drivetrains have been announced globally, and all three are coming to Singapore. Interestingly enough, the Grecale’s entry-level model already packs 300hp – that seems to imply that Maserati is aiming at a slightly higher sub-category of luxury buyer. All three versions will have an eight-speed automatic transmission and come with all-wheel drive.

Maserati says driving dynamics are selectable via modes and improved across the board thanks to a new Vehicle Dynamic Control Module (VDCM) which is able to ‘orchestrate’ all of the car’s dynamics systems in concert, and to provide predictive control rather than just reactive control. 

The Grecale GT and Modena share the same drivetrain in different states of tune. There is an integrated belt starter-generator which will provide an unmentioned amount of boost under acceleration. The Modena and Trofeo models have a wider rear track, 34mm more over the GT, and extended fenders, as well as different bumpers and trim. 

Grecale GT

2.0-litre inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine, mild hybrid system 
300hp and 450Nm, 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds, top speed 240km/h
8.9L/100km WLTP average consumption 
All-wheel drive with optional locking rear LSD, adaptive suspension standard with optional air suspension 

Grecale Modena

2.0-litre inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine, mild hybrid system
330hp and 450Nm, 0-100km/h in 5.3 seconds, top speed 240km/h 
9.0L/100km WLTP average consumption
All-wheel drive with locking rear LSD, adaptive suspension standard with optional air suspension

Grecale Trofeo 

3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo engine
530hp and 620Nm, 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds, top speed 285km/h
11.2L/100km WLTP average consumption

All-wheel drive with electronically-controlled rear LSD, active air suspension as standard, uprated six-piston Brembo front and four-piston rear brakes 

Inside: Technology boost

Maserati’s have never been at the cutting edge of tech, but the Grecale aims to change that. It has four screens in the cockpit – a 12.3-inch driver’s display, a main 12.3-inch touchscreen, and a lower 8.8-inch touchscreen for other functions. Lastly, the round clock is now also an LCD display – still counts as a screen we guess. 

Maserati Intelligent Assistant (MIA) is the name of its new infotainment system and it’ll ensure you are never MIA because it uses Android Auto as its base OS. Much like Polestar’s infotainment system, it integrates info, maps and voice assistance from Google. A 12.3-inch touchscreen is the centre of the system – Maserati says it’s the largest in a Trident badged car to date.

Interestingly enough, while it’s based on Android Auto (like Polestar’s infotainment system), users will still have access to not just Android Auto via smartphone, but also Apple CarPlay. It also touts the ability to connect two Bluetooth devices to the system at once.