The popularity of SUVs in the domestic automotive market is on fire. According to the Korea Automobile Importers Association, last year, 110,808 SUVs were registered as new imported cars in Korea, making up about half of all registrations. The SUV craze is expected to continue this year.
Maserati recently launched the super SUV ‘Grecale’, targeting the MZ generation, which values spacious interiors and practicality, marking its second entry into the super SUV market.
Meaning ‘the powerful northeast wind of the Mediterranean’, the Grecale shares characteristics of design and powertrain with Maserati’s super sports car, the ‘MC20’. It features a blend of elegance and sporty charm, boasting the best-in-class interior space, performance, and safety, promising to create another wave in the luxury SUV market.
Unlike existing Maserati models, which are synonymous with classic Italian luxury, the Grecale maintains the tradition of using premium materials while adding cutting-edge conveniences, making it the most innovative and forward-looking Maserati model to date.
The Grecale embodies a significant shift towards digitizing its previously analog-feeling interior features in line with the times. It features the brand’s first digital clock and a customizable digital display that changes skins and appearances, along with a head-up display offering the latest conveniences.
The Maserati Intelligent Assistant (MIA) multimedia system is incorporated, with a 12.3-inch center display and an 8.8-inch comfort display operable via touch. The central panel has eliminated buttons, resulting in a more spacious armrest area.
The Grecale GT, equipped with a mild hybrid engine like the Ghibli GT and Levante GT models, has been commended for successfully inheriting Maserati’s unique performance. With a combined fuel economy of 9.9 km/l, it boasts the best efficiency among Maserati hybrid models. While it shares the same maximum torque as its competitor, the Cayenne Coupe, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds—a bit faster than the Cayenne’s 6 seconds—and is priced 30 million KRW lower, providing powerful performance while considering fuel economy and environmental impacts.
The Grecale boasts class-leading interior space, measuring 4,850 × 1,950 × 1,670 mm, which is quite comparable to the Porsche Cayenne (4,920 × 1,985 × 1,655 mm). It presents itself as an option for customers wishing to transition from premium sedans to SUVs.
With a wheelbase of 2,901 mm, the Grecale offers more generous space for second-row occupants compared to the Cayenne (2,895 mm). It also features ample trunk storage, including an additional storage compartment beneath the floor, and a button in the trunk for folding the second row to enhance space utilization. The trunk capacity ranges from 535 to 570 liters.
The Grecale inherits the design from Maserati’s super sports car, the MC20, which was awarded ‘Most Beautiful Sports Car of the Year’ at the International Automobile Festival held in France last year, capturing attention both domestically and internationally.
The ‘Grecale’ features design elements that focus vertically rather than horizontally, suitable for a high-bodied SUV. The front stands out with a low and impressive grille that’s not overly aggressive. The Grecale Trofeo variant exhibits a more protruding grille, enhancing its sporty aspect.
The rear showcases boomerang taillights and Maserati’s signature trapezoidal lines, with an interior space finished like a sports car, a sleek rear window, and design features that visually lower the center of gravity, emphasizing the sporty characteristics unique to the Grecale.
Meanwhile, the Grecale is set for delivery to domestic customers, available in three trims: GT, Modena, and Trofeo. A 100% electric version, the Folgore, is also expected to be released shortly.
Jin Lee, daedusj@autodiary.kr