Maserati Grecale 2022: Italy’s premium midsize SUV nears production with snow testing in a light disguise

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Maserati has given us another taste of its forthcoming premium midsize SUV, the Grecale, taking on challenging snow conditions in Sweden. 

The Grecale prototypes were being tested for their start-up and driveability performance at extreme temperatures, as well as to check vehicle dynamics and to maintain in-car comfort even at temperatures as low as -30 degrees celsius. 

As Chasing Cars has previously reported, the new Grecale will look very much like its Levante SUV sibling, only smaller in almost all directions. 

When released, the Grecale in Trofeo trim is expected to take on rivals such as the Audi RS Q3, BMW X3 M and Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S. 

The Maserati Grecale SUV needs to be a winner for the company when it launches later this year, however further technical details remain very much under wraps. 

Noticeably smaller than the Levante but with similar proportions and sharing many of its design cues, the Grecale launch has been delayed due to a shortage of semiconductors, with the quantity of production not enough to meet expected global demand. 

So what will power the Grecale SUV?

Reports from Autocar (who have already driven a prototype version in Europe) have stated that the new Grecale SUV will have two powertrain options. 

The first will be a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder with mild-hybrid assistance to make 220kW of power, whereas higher-spec versions are likely to feature Maserati’s 3.0-litre ‘Nettuno’ V6 which also powers the MC20 supercar. In the Grecale, however, it will most definitely be de-tuned, though exact power and torque outputs for this V6 engine have not been released just yet. 

Power for both engines will run through an all-wheel-drive system – the same Q4 set-up used by Alfa Romeo. According to Autocar, the system can split torque 50:50 between axles, however it is expected that for a higher spec Trofeo model, torque will be able to be delivered solely to the rear axles for some sideways racetrack fun. 

The Grecale SUV is scheduled for international launch in Autumn 2022 – for Maserati’s sake, hopefully when semiconductor shortages are a thing of the past. 

Australian launch timing is yet to be confirmed.