Maserati Grecale to touch down Q1 next year

MASERATI Australia says it will launch an ‘unprecedented’ number of new models locally within the next 12-18 months, beginning with the Porsche Macan-rivalling Grecale in the first quarter of 2023.

Speaking to GoAuto at the Australian debut of the Fuoriserie Program in Melbourne this week, Maserati Australia and New Zealand general manager Grant Barling said production of the Grecale is set to commence in October (2022) with the first customer deliveries expected to take place early in the new year.

“Depending on global demand – because I know that once this car launches global demand will be strong – I would say that the Grecale will be a leader for us in terms of sales,” he predicted.

“This car will be 60 to 70 per cent of our volume, with 20 to 30 per cent coming from the Levante and the rest Ghibli, MC20 and Quattroporte.

“We are still working on options and a price point for the Australian and New Zealand markets. We already have 120 customer orders from within the network and many more expressions of interest.

“We believe that there needs to be some elasticity in this segment, your need to be priced to achieve volume, and we firmly believe that this car has the potential to double our volume – it really is exciting.

“Our dealers agree that this car will move the brand forward,” he added.

The Grecale, whose initial launch was delayed because of the global microprocessor shortage, will be the first vehicle from Stellantis-owned Maserati to arrive with a “true entry model” as part of what the brand is describing as its “fullest range ever”.

Mild-hybrid, turbo-V6 and battery electric versions will compete directly with the Porsche Macan, as well as up-spec variants of the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC.

The launch line-up will comprise three variants beginning with the Grecale GT – powered by a twin-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine (with a belt-integrated starter-generator, a 48-volt battery, an e-Booster and a DC/DC converter) with an eight-speed automatic transmission that drives all four wheels.

The mild-hybrid offering produces peak outputs of 221kW/450Nm, or enough to propel the variant to 100km/h in 5.6 seconds.

The mid-tier Grecale Modena also features a twin-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder/mild-hybrid driveline, this time with 25kW more power, a mechanical limited-slip differential and a 0-100km/h time of 5.3 seconds.

Finally, and serving as the range-topper of the line-up until such time as the battery electric version emerges, is the Grecale Trofeo.

A true sports variant, the model will run a detuned version of the twin-turbo 3.0-litre Nettuno V6 engine fitted to the MC20 sportscar, which was launched in Australia late last year.

With peak outputs of 390kW and 620Nm, Maserati’s foil to M-, AMG- and RS-badged flagship medium SUVs from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi, is said to be capable of dispatching 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds and go on to a heady top speed of 285km/h.

The Grecale Trofeo runs on active shock absorbers and air suspension, the latter of which avails 65mm of adjustability, and stopping power is provided by 360mm perforated and ventilated discs with six-pot callipers at the front and 350mm rotors with four-pot callipers at the back.

But it’s the electric version – and Maserati’s first all-electric SUV – that has “significant interest” from “savvy buyers”. Mr Barling told GoAuto that Maserati and new-to-brand customers have shown keen interest in the variant, despite full specifications and pricing still being some time away.

“The electric version is due to arrive 12 months after production (of the ICE model). That 12-month delay will be quite typical for a time, between the arrival of new ICE models and BEV models, but that may become a little longer as we introduce more models into the range,” he detailed.

“Our strategy is to have at least one electrified variant within each model range before 2025 and then, by 2030, to be fully electric across the range.”

Maserati has not revealed much about the upcoming battery-electric Grecale ‘Folgore’ apart from saying it will use 105kWh battery and 400-volt technology when it arrives around a year after the launch line-up.

Powered by a pair of electric motors (one front, one rear), the flagship eSUV will “be capable of delivering as much as 800Nm of torque” and will be recognisable by its exclusive Rame Folgore colour.

All Grecale variants are equipped with Maserati's Vehicle Dynamic Control Module (drive-mode selector) that enables drivers to toggle between Comfort, GT, Sport, Corsa (Trofeo only) and Off-road programs.

The Grecale is 4846mm long (with a 2901mm wheelbase), 1670mm high and 2163mm wide (including side mirrors), with a rear-wheel track of 1948mm and, predictably, the company claims that its new model offers best-in-class interior space, driveability, handling, acceleration, sound quality and use of fine materials such as wood, carbon-fibre and leather.

“We’ll also have the MC20 Spyder (coming next year) and series production of that model will start from January, so we should see first customer deliveries in quarter two,” Mr Barling added.

“We have already sold-out our allocation for quarter two and quarter three on the MC20 Spyder and MC20 Coupe, so if you were to order a car now, it would be at least July next year (before it is delivered).”

The Grecale and MC20 will be followed by new versions of the GranTurismo and GranCabrio in 2023, and Quattroporte, Levante and electrified MC20 models in 2025.

Despite being Maserati’s second-best selling model, GoAuto understands the Ghibli will not be replaced owing to declining interest in the sedan sector.