Ian Lamming feels special as he drives Maserati’s new SUV, the Grecale
NO matter how great our lives there are times when they seem mundane, routine, a bit too groundhog day for our liking.
It’s only when you hear the plight of others, struck down by disease and disaster, that we break free from our reverie to appreciate our lot. If you wake up in the morning pain-free then it has to be a good day.
Luxury sports brand Maserati gets this and at least wants to inject energy into our lives, even if it’s just on the drive to and from work, if you do indeed drive to and from work nowadays.
Its marketing hype describes this as ‘the everyday exceptional’ and in this case they aretalking about their new small SUV the Grecale.
Translate the moniker and you get ‘Greek’ or the name of a strong and cold wind that blows from the northeast – they were obviously thinking of England when they named it – perhaps it should have been called Inglese.
What the Grecale recognises is the shortness of life and the need to sprinkle a little bit of stardust into it every day of our lives. It says don’t just drive any old SUV, drive an Italian one, drive a Maserati.
And sure enough the Grecale does make you feel special. Maseratis always have me at the badge; I love that trident emblem. It’s so distinctive, so Neptune, so charismatic. And don’t get me started on the clock. For years I’ve had to battle my kleptomania gene, using all my self-control to stop me taking a screwdriver to it in order for it to become my bedside table timepiece. The new one is a digital version and even uses voice recognition to communicate – must resist.
The grille couldn’t be from any other manufacturer only Maserati. It’s like an attractive mouth. If it was mine I’d be like some sort of automotive dentist constantly polishing and flossing its tussipegs.
It transforms the SUV shell into something sporty not utilitarian adding to the Grecale’s compact and muscular lines. In many ways it’s a simple silhouette, clean, tidy, minimalist.But the details abound. On top of the badging there are three gills on the front wings mirroring the prongs of the trident. Top of the range gets a splitter at the front and four chrome pipes poking out at the rear.
Grecale sits at the luxury end of the SUV market, well it would, it’s a Maserati after all.Yet the entry price for such a lavish and stylish vehicle doesn’t seem bad at all for something designer and Italian, especially when you look at theprice of electric vehicles nowadays.
Entry point is the GT at £61,570.00 and that gives you style plus a 300hp, 2.0, four cylinder, mild hybrid engine, offering a top speed of 149mph and impressive sprint time of 0-62mph in 5.6 secs.
Mid-range Modena, at £67,180, offers 330hp, a 0-62mph time of 5.3 seconds, plus a limited slip differential and electrically variable active damping system for better handling.
Granted top of the range Trofeo does add a chunk to the price weighing in at £99,700. But then it does come with a 3.0 V6 twin turbo engine, 530hp, 620Nm of torque, 177mph top speed and 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds – so that’s supercar credentials then. The carbon fibre loveliness inside and out, quad exhausts and aluminium paddle shifters are mere courtesy details my dear.
All models come with a quick-changing ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox and stunning Sonus Faber Italian hi-fi.
The interior is just plain gorgeous with stitched leather sports seats, small chunky flat-bottomed steering wheel and ergonomics second to none. Again it all conspires to make you feel very special
The centre console is dominated by two touchscreens and you can connect the infotainment to your smart watch or home Alexa, which is all very modern and interactive. You can even ask Alexa how much fuel you have left in your Grecale. Won’t be long before she’s driving the car for you, I’m sure.
Well, I’ll never let her because the driving experience is too good to miss. All the models are rapid, the Trofeo truly blistering, with blood vessel bursting power across the rev range, accompanied by a menacing roar.
Steering is rapier sharp, the ride firm and controlled and the levels of grip astound the senses. In the Grecale life will never be mundane, routine, or a bit too groundhog day for your liking. In fact I can see how every day it will be exceptional. So it wasn’t marketing hype after all.
Fact File
Maserati Grecale
Engine: 2.0 – 3.0 twin turbo V6 petrol
Power: 300 – 530HP
Top speed: 149 – 177mph
0-62mph: 2.9 secs – 5.6 secs
Combined MPG: 25 – 32
Transmission: eight-speed auto
CO2 g/km: 198 – 254
Price: From £61,570.00 – £99,700 including extra
