Even during the holidays. Due to the postponement of the unveiling of the new Maserati Grecale, the Italian firm has been able to continue working on the sportier edition of the SUV without exposing its appearance. In light of these spy photographs, the Maserati Grecale Trofeo 2023 is covered under thick layers of vinyl, this time in blue and with characters from the model intended for the United States.
The prototypes of the new Maserati Grecale will be seen totally wrapped in red, yellow, brown, and blue vinyl until next spring, at least. A particular camouflage that the Trident exhibited at the middle of November last year, taking advantage of the calendar date for the botched introduction of this key model.
Maserati’s supporters used the enormous semiconductor issue to excuse the difficulty of the presentation, a crude as well as intelligent strategy. As we’ve seen in the competition, a lack of semiconductors isn’t an obstacle to presenting a new model, so those in charge of the Modena brand might have totally introduced the company’s second SUV. Discovering the model, on the other hand, would have been an issue for them, since they wanted to continue testing the new Maserati Grecale Trofeo 2023 in the open.
As you can see in these spy photographs, the variations are subtle but significant. The suspension is lower, the brake calipers are painted red, and the exhausts are buried in flatter rectangular trimmings at the back, in addition to a front bumper with wider air intakes.
Maserati has taken advantage of the extra time by not revealing the sportier alternative, which will appear in mid-2023, and by conducting a winter testing program at its facilities in northern Sweden.
They were lacking a key fringe, but there was another option, albeit it would have required opening a box of thunder, something the Neapolitans had avoided at all costs. Present the model and continue to test it until it is ready to be put into production and sold. Something that would be typical in the great majority of factories, but not in the Italian ones, where reports of purported difficulties would have sprung up like foam.
The reality is that in this way, the Italian brand maintains the flawless operation of one of the decade’s most essential models.
The Maserati Grecale Trofeo is believed to be powered by a powerful self-developed engine, rather than the Stelvio QV’s 2.9-liter biturbo V6. Instead, the “Nettuno,” a wet sump derivative of the 3.0-liter V6 biturbo engine that powers the MC20, is predicted. A block with 530 CV of maximum power, an 8-speed DCT automated transmission, and all-wheel drive to avoid stepping on the older brother.
Patience is the name of the game today.
A prototype, rather than a premiere: Despite the fact that the Grecale is nearly complete, De Medio sensibly does not want to reveal every element of the most important new release in more than half a decade. After all, fans of the brand will have to wait a long time to get their hands on the SUV, and in the meanwhile, they should avoid rivals such as the Porsche Macan, Jaguar F-Pace, and Audi Q5. They’ve all been around for quite some time.
The Grecale, named after a refreshing Mediterranean breeze, appears to be worth the wait at first appearance. Because the Italians have created a formidable opponent for the existing competition, measuring 4.85 meters in length, 1.67 meters in height, and 2.16 meters in breadth (with exterior mirrors).
By Maserati standards, the Grecale’s lengthy wheelbase – 2.90 meters, almost as long as the Levante, which is one class above – turns it into a space glider. The SUV has highly handy and practical dimensions, especially in the back seats and cargo.
This is especially crucial for wealthier women who choose to shop in the United States or China for a lengthy leg of this size. The Grecale should continue to enchant them. It may work: the Grecale emanates brand-typical distinction thanks to its broad trident grille, flat bonnet in the form of the MC-20 sports vehicle, and light play from matrix headlights and taillights. Nicely done, and the proportions are correct. Some of the drugged, pumped-up rivals are more graceful.
Of course, aficionados of classic sports cars will find plenty to like in a Maserati.
Above all, have a good time cornering. At the start of the fast lap on the Balocco test track, De Medio, noticeably proud, remarks, “We worked extensively on the Giorgio platform for this.” The sibling brand Alfa Romeo has already produced the Giulia and the SUV Stelvio on this foundation. Maserati has now improved the basis for new drives, and we’ll get to it in a minute. Things should be even more dynamic with optimizations in the weight distribution, for example.
Turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower
So, on the steering wheel, push the start button, and off you go: One of the four possible settings in GT mode, in addition to Comfort, Sport, and Offroad. De Medio can explain its specific pride: a four-cylinder turbo with 300 horsepower and 450 Newton meters of torque that was primarily developed in-house.
It comes with a belt starter generator, 48-volt on-board power supply, and an e-booster for added sportsmanship.
The neatly built and not too narrow leather couch, which can be heated and vented on request, reflects this. Even at low speeds, electric and turbo power work well together. It accelerates from a standstill to 100 kilometers per hour in 5.6 seconds, but the maximum speed of 240 kilometers per hour is not attainable on the narrow test track. In any condition, the optional air-sprung all-wheel drive gives sensitive road contact, and the steering provides input without exerting unnecessary effort.
The work is much more tough in sport mode, especially with ESP turned off. To dynamize propulsion, the pilot can use shift paddles instead of an eight-speed automatic (and reduce stress).
Tightened dampers and increased steering forces present a challenge for those who seek it. And when the load changes abruptly, the rear end wobbles more than in the more relaxed modes.
The Grecale’s comfort setting provides enough peace and quiet to make it an excellent family carriage. It makes sense that driving modes are so distinct. Unfortunately, the prototype driver was not allowed to leave the road by the Italians. However, due to the manageable structural restrictions, the Grecale is not a true off-road experience.
Processing that is both loving and style-conscious
The Maserati, on the other hand, can obviously score points for its extremely loving and style-conscious processing – metal, wood, leather: everything is genuine and present. Many things have been lost in the savings frenzy elsewhere.
When it comes to electronics, the Italians are likewise on par with their German counterparts: support systems are advancing toward semi-autonomy and are becoming as advanced as those of their German competitors. On the digital cockpit, head-up display, and wide, sloping touchscreen in the centre, the Android Auto operating system reacts quickly and is easy to read and operate. The break in style, even if it’s just saying “Hey Maserati,” bothers a classic car aficionado.
But, as De Medio puts it, “it only has to become adjusted to the new automotive environment, much like Maserati itself.” The most significant modification is still to come: the Grecale will be available in a completely electric form next year. The battery should not be excessively large, but it must be charged rapidly. The Italians require a vehicle like this for consumers such as German company car drivers, who frequently chose their vehicle based on the environmental benefits.
On the other hand, on the issue of environmental consciousness, certain Grecale possibilities are likely to be hesitant: Because the six-cylinder home-grown Nettuno would also do well under the hood of the Italian; this unfolds in the MC-20 with a patented pre-chamber combustion system from Formula 1, a staggering 630 horsepower and 730 Newton meters of torque. Many Greek sports fans would yearn for a drive like this in a more subdued version. Maserati aficionados, on the other hand, are accustomed to waiting.
Keyword: Maserati Grecale Trofeo 2023 Spy Photos