What happens when you take the engine from a supercar and put it into a mid-size SUV?
Well, that’s exactly what Maserati has done with the new Grecale Trofeo and it’s a beast.
The Supercar Blondie team got to drive it in Italy recently – check it out here!
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Before we get into the real nitty gritty, let’s start with the name.
Maserati has a thing for naming its cars after famous winds.
The Grecale is no different – it’s actually named after a north-easterly Mediterranean wind.
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It also marks a new chapter for the Italian brand, as the Grecale is its first foray into the mid-size SUV segment.
Maserati may be in unchartered waters, but it appears to have hit the nail on the head.
There are three flavors of Grecale to choose from: GT, Modena and Trofeo.
Both the GT and Modena come equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder mild hybrid engine producing 300hp.
Keep your eyes peeled for a full-electric version of the Grecale in the future, too.
But if you’re wanting to stand out from the crowd, the high-performance Trofeo is the way to go.
Design
The front of the Grecale is incredibly distinctive, featuring a low and imposing grille.
The grille has also been shifted slightly forward to make it bolder.
Then there’s the profile, with the movement from the bonnet to the rear really bringing out the SUV’s sporty side.
At the back, there’s a sleek rear window, and boomerang taillights – inspired by the Giugiaro 3200 GT – which take on a characteristically Maserati appearance.
The Trofeo accentuates its sporty character even more, with rear wheel track augmented by 34mm compared to the GT model.
Last but not least, the body features 21” alloy wheels, specific sports exhausts and carbon fiber inserts on the front and rear bumpers, and on the side skirts.
The Maserati Grecale Trofeo’s interior
When you step inside, the Grecale is a mixture of luxury, sport, and modern technology.
It’s also incredibly spacious, so you’ll have no problems fitting a six-foot passenger behind a six-foot driver.
The trunk won’t leave you wanting for space either.
There are plenty of high-performance materials including exposed, three-dimensional carbon fiber and perforated leather paired with chevon motifs and contrast stitching.
It’s a tech fest too, with no less than four screens to fiddle with including a 12.3″ screen and a separate 8.8″ touch screen that houses the controls.
This was done to create a clean, streamlined appearance, uncluttered by tactile buttons.
It works well and the ultra-HD graphics look pretty slick.
It wouldn’t be fair to go without mentioning the Grecale’s digital clock – the first in the Trident brand’s history.
Not only does it tell the time, but it can also emit a response signal every time it receives a voice command.
It can also transform into a compass or G-force meter if necessary.
Drivability
Let’s start with what’s under the hood.
The Grecale Trofeo comes equipped with a detuned version of the 3.0-liter petrol V6 engine featured in the Trident brand’s MC20 supercar.
It may be a bit on the heavy side – 2,072kg to be precise – but with 530hp and 620Nm of torque, it shifts pretty well.
Maserati claims it’ll do 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 3.8 seconds and go on to a top speed of 285 km/h (177 mph).
We found the Grecale Trofeo’s steering to be accurate and well-weighted, and the brakes were powerful enough.
Air suspension comes as standard on the Grecale Trofeo but as an option on the mild hybrid models.
Depending on your mood, the car can be configured to your driving style at the flick of a switch, with five different drive modes to choose from: COMFORT, GT, SPORT, CORSA, and OFF-ROAD.
The height of the air springs is closely related to the drive mode used, with six levels of suspension adjustment that can be selected, too.
Maserati Grecale Trofeo verdict
What Maserati has done with the Grecale Trofeo has to be commended.
It has successfully packaged a supercar engine in a family-friendly body style, with all the trimmings to go with it.
The result is a mid-size SUV that’s not only super fun to drive but also incredibly luxurious, comfortable, and practical.
At more than $100,000, it’s not exactly competitively priced when compared to other luxury SUVs on the market.
That being said, those other performance SUVs don’t have a Nettuno V6 with throaty tones.
