The Swedish glades sees the continue testing of Maserati’s exciting new ‘baby’ SUV, the Grecale, where extreme conditions and very low grip surface have been exploited to test maximum power and grip capabilities of the new ‘Mazzer’.
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With weather conditions varying from a few degrees above zero to as low as -30°C in Lapland, the Grecale proved its mettle with their cold-starts and drivability in hospitable conditions being fine-tuned to ensure that in-car comfort is maintained at all times, not matter what prevails outside. Vehicle dynamics have also been tested on mixed surfaces of tarmac, snow and ice.
Traction, understeer and oversteer in different drive modes has also been tested and fine-tuned, with varying sizes and types of wheels, too. This is on order to specifically characterise each of the driving modes on offer, regardless of specification.
“The Grecale extols its exceptional soul on low grip handling tracks, completing high-performance laps on various circuits, from steering pads to more demanding routes featuring corners, slopes, long straights and drops, on snowy or icy surfaces,” says Maserati.
As a quick refresher, Grecale is positioned below the Levante and sits on a modified version of the exceptional Giorgio platform upon which the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Giulia are built. In terms of powertrain, the four-cylinder mild-hybrid powertrain is similar to that used in the Ghibli Hybrid, but significantly improved, despite its lower peak power figure.
Regardless, it has very nearly 225 kW and will still do the 0-100km/h sprint in 5,6 seconds. That’s made possible by the ‘e-Booster’ aspect of the 48-volt system, effectively an electric turbocharger that is designed to offset the exhaust-powered turbo’s lag and help enhance performance and efficiency. A not insignificant 450 N.m comes on tap from just 2 000rpm, too.
Additionally, Maserati has hinted that its unlikely that they would develop a new 3,0-litre twin-turbocharged V6, only to then drop it into one car, the MC20. So we can almost certainly expect a really rather aggressive version of the Grecale, as well as a full EV.
Keyword: Masaerati Grecale SUV spotted dancing in the snow