Everyday Exceptional |
Maserati South Africa has unveiled the Maserati Grecale, a statement of genuine Italian Audacity in making luxury and exceptional performance a part of the daily routine.
The Maserati Grecale is named for a hot and fast north-easterly wind that blows from the Mediterranean to Europe as the seasons change. Indeed, the Maserati Grecale is the wind of change for high-performance luxury urban utility vehicles, with best-in-class space, features, and technology.
For Maserati South Africa, the Grecale also introduces a new season. It has a unique, contemporary design, a futuristic digital cockpit, a mix of high-power hybrid and V6 turbo petrol engines and a level of luxury that can only come from Maserati.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
For the design of the Grecale, Maserati designers chose a design approach called ‘balance of opposites’.
Classic design cues mix with modern materials such as carbon fibre, econyl (made from recycled ocean waste), leather and aluminium to create a striking, sculpted visual signature with the same design longevity as all other Maserati models.
The design proves that form and function can coexist. The Grecale will enter the market for luxury urban utility vehicles with the best-in-class interior space and boot capacity. It will also add unique features such as 40/20/40 folding seats and perfectly balanced weight distribution of 52%/48% between the front and rear.
LESS IS MORE
Inside the cabin, Maserati designers have followed a philosophy of digital minimalism.
Four digital screens replace many supplementary vehicle controls and, with the deletion of the traditional gear lever, create a striking and minimalist interior.
The digital screens include a digital instrument cluster, a full-colour head-up display, a stunning 12.3” central screen – the largest ever in a Maserati – and an 8.8” comfort display, which controls vehicle climate and comfort settings. Indeed, even the classic Maserati clock has been digitised and now acts as both a timepiece and the centre for the vehicle’s Alexa-enabled smart interface.
From the driver’s seat behind the Maserati steering wheel, the driver can control vehicle features through their preferred smartphone assistant and with “Hey Maserati” voice commands. That means settings such as climate control, audio controls and even complex vehicle functions can be changed without ever taking your eyes off the road.
Other features include adaptive ambient lighting, wireless charging and a unique Maserati key that can be worn as a luxury bracelet.
PERFORMANCE PERFECTED
The new Grecale sets the standard for future performance-focused urban utility vehicles.
Grecale customers can choose a four-cylinder 300 or 330-horsepower electric-and-petrol engine in the Grecale GT and Grecale Modena. Both models deliver more power and more immediate torque than similar V6 engines from competitors.
For true performance enthusiasts, the Grecale Trofeo is fitted with Maserati’s hand-crafted Nettuno dual-turbo V6 with an incredible 530 horsepower. Top speed on the Grecale Trofeo is a class-leading 285 km/h, and the zero to 100 km/h sprint is dispatched in an unequalled 3.8 seconds.
Each version of the Grecale has a unique launch colour, and a select few first buyers will have the privilege of buying their chosen Grecale as a numbered version of the limited Primaserie Launch Edition.
All models deliver their power to all four wheels through a silky eight-speed automatic transmission.
Maserati engineers have extensively used high-tensile steel and composite materials to lower vehicle weight. The low weight, adaptive air suspension, perfect weight distribution and the choice of five unique driving modes give the Grecale the best-in-class vehicle dynamics.
The Grecale also sets new standards for luxury vehicles in its class.
All three versions of the Grecale – the GT, Modena and Trofeo – feature a unique exhaust note that invites jealous stares and engages the heart of the driver. In all models, the exhaust note will deepen and become more urgent in the Sport driving mode, and in the Trofeo, this is further enhanced in the Corsa mode.
Inside, there awaits another aural treat.
Maserati has partnered with Sonus faber, the Italian Artisans of Sound, to create two specific sound systems for the Grecale. The system was uniquely engineered for the cabin of the Grecale and was tweaked after hundreds of hours of testing to have the distinctive Voice of Sonus (VoS) audio signature.
In its most luxurious form, the Sonus faber sound system has 21 speakers and uses 360-degree audio technology to create a truly immersive experience.
LAST WORD
Ultimately, every masterful touch, executed in classic Italian style, combines to make the Grecale an exceptional experience. Every day.
Report & Images © Maserati South Africa
