Porsche Macan rival has been shown in full camouflage ahead of spring unveiling
- V6 petrol and electric versions due
- All electric Maseratis to get Folgore badging
- Will share design cues with the Levante SUV
The new Maserati Grecale has been previewed ahead of its unveiling later this year. The Italian brand has released images showing its forthcoming performance SUV undergoing winter testing, giving us our best look yet at the new model.
Maserati’s new SUV is expected to be revealed in spring, and will be available with a V6 petrol engine and a fully electrified powertrain. When it arrives in showrooms, it will be a rival to performance SUVs such as the Jaguar F-Pace, Mercedes GLC and Porsche Macan.
Despite the car’s heavy camouflage, we can see that it will feature Maserati’s signature concave-oval grille, as seen in other models such as the Quattroporte. The high-mounted headlights incorporate a more rounded design whereas the thin, strip-like taillights are reminiscent of those on the new Maserati MC20 supercar. There are four exhausts at the rear, although these are almost certain to disappear on electric versions. The Grecale will probably look similar to the bigger Maserati Levante, and there seem to be hints of Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Jaguar E-Pace in its design, too.
The electric version will be named ‘Folgore’, which means ‘lightning’ in Italian. No specifications are available yet but we’re told the car will have the same charging tech as the Porsche Taycan and will be able to accept fast-charging at up to 300kW. That should mean an 80% top-up takes around 20 minutes, or even less if you can find a powerful enough charger.
A powerful V6 petrol engine will also be offered. The 3.0-litre twin-turbo engine will most likely be taken from the MC20 that was launched in September 2020. In the MC20, the engine produces 622bhp; that would make the Grecale one of the most powerful SUVs on sale. The Grecale will be built on the same production line as the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, and the two cars will share some parts.
Maserati will also offer electrified options between the V6 and Folgore models. We’d expect the new mild-hybrid engine from the Maserati Ghibli to be fitted, while a plug-in hybrid powertrain can’t be ruled out either.
It’s thought Maserati will look to introduce electric versions of nearly every car it sells by 2024, all with the Folgore badging. Replacements for the Maserati Gran Turismo and GranCabrio will be the first models to feature fully electric options. The electric Grecale Folgore will rival the BMW iX3, Jaguar I-Pace and the upcoming Porsche Macan EV.
Keyword: New Maserati Grecale SUV pictured during winter testing