2022 Maserati Grecale Trofeo spied – Porsche Macan GTS has a hot rival in the wings
Maserati’s high performance midsize SUV is coming, better late than never
It feels like Maserati has been on the precipice of revolution for a generation now, but while we (continue to) wait to drive the stunning new MC20 supercar, and the new generation Gran Turismo, it’s more likely to be this new Grecale SUV that’ll give the range its biggest jolt.
We expect the new Grecale to offer mainstream premium SUV buyers with a base engine, and eventually an all-electric version too, but this prototype looks to be packing something more interesting under the skin that might just tempt Macan GTS buyers from Porsche dealerships.
That’s because this prototype is likely to be the Trofeo model, similar in essence to Maserati's new high-performance range-toppers in its Ghibli, Quattroporte and Levante models. Unlike those models, we suspect the Grecale won’t adopt the Ferrari-derived V8 of its older stablemates due both to packaging and supply constraints, rather it will likely feature a high performance V6, one we suspect will be closely related to the new Nettuno engine found in the MC20, albeit re-tuned for the Grecale’s larger and heavier body.
The Grecale itself will arrive as a rival for the aforementioned Porsche Macan, and judging by its size and cab-back proportions will likely utilise the Giorgio platform that until now has only been used by Alfa Romeo for its Giulia and Stelvio.
This will allude to the use of both four- and six-cylinder engines, a rear-wheel drive bias for the all-wheel drive system, and hopefully a relatively lightweight construction that undercuts traditional rivals from Porsche, BMW and Mercedes-Benz by a few hundred kilograms model-for-model.
Alluding to this prototype’s Trofeo identity are key elements such as the relatively low ride height, large brakes and masked bonnet hiding the classic vents found on all Trofeo models. While we can only speculate on power figures, the Grecale’s placement above Alfa’s Stelvio Quadrifoglio suggests it’ll have a power figure of more than 500bhp, putting it generously ahead of Porsche’s recently updated Macan GTS.
We won’t have to wait long to see Maserati’s new model in the flesh, with its global debut confirmed for mid-October. Considering these prospective Trofeo prototypes are already circulating on the public road, we’d suggest its debut will coincide with the standard models, if not very soon after.
