2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo: First Drive Review

The final time I received behind the wheel of a Maserati, the pandemic was in full swing. The automaker invited me to Willow Springs for a number of laps of its freshly minted Trofeo lineup – the Levante, Ghibli, and Quattroporte. I used to be anticipating to heap breathless reward onto the Ferrari-derived, twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 resting underneath the hood, however it wasn’t to be.

With out the Roma-chic flat-plane crank and equal-length exhausts, the Trofeo trio was sedate, tame, and virtually boring. Detracting from the expertise was a cabin that seemed (and smelled) prefer it had been plucked from Chrysler’s clearance rack – particularly within the Ghibli. As a substitute of Osteria di Modena Rossi and Name Me By Your Title, I received Olive Backyard and Everyone Loves Raymond.

You possibly can think about my skepticism, then, when Maserati dropped a Grecale Trofeo on my driveway. Not solely had I been burned previously with excessive expectations, however this new Trident didn’t even have that Ferrari DNA to fall again on. Insteadthere’s a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 that comes from the MC20 sports activities automotive – though that’s an admittedly good machine, a V6-powered crossover doesn’t precisely encourage plenty of lust. Fortunately, I used to be as improper concerning the Grecale Trofeo as I used to be about its Ghibli sibling.

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Modenese Supermodel

It’s laborious to disclaim that the Grecale’s one hell of a looker. The upturned daylight opening (borrowed from the first- and fifth-generation Quattroporte) provides a splash of Italianate, mid-century type to the modern-crossover proportions. In the meantime, the sloping hood, peaked fenders, and bottom-feeder grille look as fabulous right here as they do on every thing from the Mistral to the most recent Gran Turismo. And when you squint, you’ll see shades of the not-for-USA 3200GT within the boomerang-shaped taillight accents.

All these heritage design cues wouldn’t rely for a lot if the Grecale didn’t have already got an interesting kind issue, however other than the longish entrance overhang, it’s nearly good. The stance is low and extensive, with a protracted wheelbase and color-matched physique cladding to make it look much more hunkered down. And though the Grecale’s form remembers the Alfa Romeo Stelvio platform-mate, the Maserati’s chiseled contours give it a special visible persona.

The Grecale’s inside is suitably fabulous, and though there’s nonetheless loads of Stellantis affect within the electronics, a lot of the touchpoints are distinctive. My tester’s black leather-based with crimson stitching gave the cabin a wealthy, couture aroma decidedly not like the rubbery Ghibli, and the 3D Carbon trim is a delight for the eyes and fingertips. What’s extra, the leather-based and carbon fiber each come freed from cost, so the automaker doesn’t even cost you for the tactile, fragrant pleasure. Ask your Porsche seller for a similar courtesy in a Macan and also you’ll get laughed all the best way to the Unique division.

The one actually dangerous information contained in the cabin is the irritating infotainment package deal. The principle 12.3-inch touchscreen and identically sized gauge cluster use a reskinned model of the Uconnect 4 and the contact response isn’t phenomenal, requiring laborious presses on the middle show to make issues occur. Worse nonetheless, the 8.8-inch “consolation show” mounted low on the middle stack tries to do an excessive amount of, with every thing from local weather and seat therapeutic massage changes to headlamp and ambient lighting controls. The menu construction is byzantine at greatest, leaving newbies bewildered for the primary few weeks of possession.

Rebrand the ergonomic frustration “Mediterranean attraction” and the Grecale Trofeo makes a tiny bit extra sense – in any case, I doubt the Maserati brothers cared about things like button placement or headlight operation or airbags or seat belts. So let’s simply cease quibbling about touchscreens and go for a drive.

Coronary heart Racing

That V6 thrums to life through a button mounted on the steering wheel, greeting me on chilly begins with a vibrant little rev earlier than settling right into a sedate idle. The sound is healthier suited to a Monaco boulevardier than a Grand Prix legend, however the Grecale makes sportier noises than I used to be anticipating given my earlier expertise with a Trofeo. In its default GT drive mode – to which it annoyingly reverts at each key cycle – the Masi is straightforward to drive easily, with genteel throttle tip-in that provides approach to good around-town thrust as you dig in deeper.

Maserati claims the Grecale Trofeo will hit 60 miles per hour in simply 3.6 seconds earlier than charging to a high velocity of 177 miles per hour. Extra spectacular than the numbers is the sheer quantity of thrust on faucet from nearly any gear and any engine velocity. A part of the recipe for good response is the “Nettuno” V6 engine’s pre-combustion chamber with its personal spark plug. Gasoline fills the pre-chamber in the course of the compression stroke the place it’s ignited, and that ignition spreads to the primary combustion chamber very effectively, giving the automotive extra energy and sooner turbo response than it would in any other case have.

The four-corner air suspension with adaptive dampers additionally offers good physique management and journey consolation in that default mode, with little of the squishy, land-yacht feeling that may typically be a characteristic of balloon springs. That mentioned, if you would like a bit of extra grand and rather less touring, you possibly can spin the drive mode dial over to Consolation and get all of the floaty, slushy responses of the DeVille you owned in 1982.

On the different finish of the Grecale’s register is the Sport driving mode, which uncorks the V6 engine for a much more thrilling vocal efficiency and the throttle response of a chopsaw. Shifts from the eight-speed automated transmission are firmer and extra aggressive, with downshifts and overruns accompanied by a scintillating crackle from the exhaust. The gearbox has an obedient guide mode with chunky, aluminum paddle shifters; it’ll even bounce off the rev limiter reasonably than routinely upshifting. However even with the TCU doing the decision-making, the Grecale holds gears by means of corners and readily downshifts on laborious braking.

The suspension corporations up as properly, eliminating physique motions and yielding a barely firmer journey whereas nonetheless sustaining good wheel management over tough asphalt. On the winding, plunging street by means of Little Tujunga Canyon, the Grecale defaulted towards delicate, secure understeer, however it additionally communicated these intentions very early, permitting me to ease up on the throttle and tighten the cornering line. The Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires – commonplace on each Trofeo – have resolute ranges of grip, they usually hand over traction progressively so {that a} expert driver can alter conduct earlier than that occurs.

Just like the rolling inventory and suspension, the steering is surprisingly communicative. Little Tujunga Canyon Highway isn’t a paragon of smoothness, and in consequence, I felt some kickback by means of the steering wheel over midcorner bumps. Whereas that may not be acceptable for a extra luxury-oriented crossover, it solely provides to the Grecale’s attraction, affording me the knowledge I wanted to extract probably the most efficiency out of the little yellow SUV. From the snappy throttle, and crackling exhaust to the chatty suspenders and helm, Maserati has virtually utterly made up for no matter soul could have been lacking from earlier Trofeos.

There’s At all times A Catch

I solely say “virtually” as a result of there’s a heady worth to pay for the Grecale’s efficiency. Beginning at $106,995 together with vacation spot, ballooning to $136,795 for the instance I drove. The lion’s share of that comes from the distinctive “Fuoriserie” Corse Yellow paint, which prices a staggering $19,000 all by itself – an 18-percent upcharge. Ditch the particular out-of-series colour and the value drops to a way more palatable $117,795. However even at its base worth, the Trofeo is about $18,000 dearer than a 434-hp Macan GTS and $26,000 greater than a 472-hp BMW X4 M. Neither are as fast, however for 20 grand, who’s counting?

The place the Grecale Trofeo comes good is in providing a driving expertise befitting its distinctive, Romagnolo heritage. Beginning life in Bologna earlier than shifting to close by Modena, Maserati comes from part of Italy the place everybody – from schoolboys to wizened outdated women – appreciates good exhaust notes as a lot nearly as good tortellini in brodo. And whereas its Trofeo forebears appeared content material to water that hereditary ardour down a bit, the Grecale’s heritage comes by means of as sturdy as ever. Maserati is again, and it’s in search of a torrid and tragic love affair to rejoice the homecoming.

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