Italian luxury sports car manufacturer Maserati has announced that it’s continuing the testing of its upcoming Grecale SUV prototypes. Named after the northeast wind of the Mediterranean Sea, the upcoming Grecale will play a key role for Maserati. The brand has continued its legacy of naming cars after the world’s famous winds since 1963, with the legendary Mistral. Maserati has stated that it has invested around 800 million Euros to create a new production line for the Grecale.
Maserati Grecale Prototype: Testing Details
With testing being conducted in the freezing conditions of the Swedish glades, the prototypes delivered maximum power despite the low grip. Maserati claims that even snow and ice did not deter Grecale’s energy as they tested its start-up and driveability. During the testing mission, the company ensured to test the vehicle dynamics of the prototypes in extreme temperatures and mixed surfaces. This allowed them to maintain and test the SUV’s in-car comfort in weather conditions that varied between 0 and -30-degrees.
In Lapland, Sweden, Maserati also conducted tests to fine-tune the Grecale prototype’s traction, understeer, and oversteer in different drive modes. Additionally, Maserati tested the characteristics of each driving mode on offer by equipping different types of wheels in varying sizes. The automaker also stated that even in extreme conditions, the Grecale showcases its performance on low grip handling tracks. Along with completing high-performance laps on various circuits, the Grecale can tackle routes featuring corners, slopes, long straights, and drops.
Maserati Grecale: Design and Expected Powertrain Details
On February 18th, 2021, Maserati first unveiled the images of the Grecale SUV prototype being tested in Modena, Italy. The camouflaged prototype used during recent testing in Sweden retains the same details as the showcased images from 2021. The upcoming SUV sports Maserati’s signature front grille with vertical slats, a central Trident Logo, and sweptback LED headlamps.
Along with large intakes on the front apron, the prototype sports a progressive roofline with aerodynamically optimised alloy wheels. Sources suggest that Maserati will equip the Grecale with the 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, sourced from Alfa Romeo. Additionally, the brand may also end up offering a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine along with introducing a fully-electric version.
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