Price (as tested) đź’˛: $117,095
Powertrain ⚙️: 3.0-liter Twin-Turbocharged V6
Output đź’Ş: 523 hp/457 lb-ft of torque
Transmission đź•ą: 8-Speed Automatic
0-60 MPH 🚦: 3.6 seconds
Top Speed đź’Ą: 177 mph
MPG (as tested) ⛽️: 18 city/25 hwy/20 combined
Curb weight ⚖️: 4,650 lbs
Every so often, car brands must go through a renaissance. When past hits have fizzled, sales have slumped, and competitors are scooping up their constituents, it’s time for fresh automotive figureheads.
Of course, enthusiasts want all great car companies to whittle their lineups to flagships and hardcore offerings, but such vehicles don’t scale and can’t pad the bottom line sufficiently. And so, often, renaissances are powered by mass market plays – like the Grecale.
The Cayenne saved Porsche years ago, and the Grecale may save Maserati. With its soft, handsome curves, cutting-edge technology, and striking interior design, the Grecale has classic Maserati charm in a compact SUV package that current car buyers crave.
There’s enthusiast content as well – the Grecale Trofeo packs 523 horsepower from a Ferrari-derived twin-turbo V6, plus-sized aluminum paddle shifters, and suspension tweaks to tighten the Grecale’s dynamics.
The clear aim is to attach a question mark to the Porsche Macan GTS, and for luxury-minded buyers, the punctuation may stick. The Grecale is sharp and boisterous enough to scratch the performance SUV itch, but offers swankier cabin scenery than its main rivals.
Posh comes at a premium, however; those considering the Grecale Trofeo will spend $20K over the GTS starting figure. But what’s a good Renaissance without a little [price] disruption?