Maserati Grecale confirmed for March 22 debut

The Maserati Grecale will finally make its world debut on March 22, following the all-new mid-size luxury SUV’s no-show on November 16 due to COVID-related production delays and its previously expected Australian release in late 2021.

Official confirmation of the 2022 Maserati Grecale’s long-awaited global debut came overnight alongside these fresh teaser shots, which don’t show much more than the camouflaged vehicles seen previously in the snow and within the Italian trident brand’s Modena headquarters.

But the first on-road images of the big Maserati Levante’s baby brother, wrapped in lighter camo, show it won’t be a shrunken version of the car-maker’s first SUV, even if it still refuses to provide any technical details.

“Everyone’s questions will be answered and all of the missing information will be provided on 22 March,” said Maser in its latest teaser release.

First previewed in September 2020 and teased since February 2021, the Grecale is expected to become Maserati’s best-seller, with combined sales of the Grecale and Levante forecast to account for 70 per cent of all Maserati sales by 2025.

The all-new mid-size SUV will be Maserati’s first direct rival for popular premium medium SUVs like the BMW X3 and X4, Audi Q5 and Sportback, Mercedes-Benz GLC and Coupe, Genesis GV70, Jaguar E-PACE and Porsche Macan.

It will be the last Maserati model based on the same Giorgio platform as the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio, alongside which it will be built at Alfa’s Cassino factory in Italy, with the next-generation Ghibli and Levante confirmed to switch to the Stellantis group’s group's more advanced STLA platfrom.

A range of powertrain options is expected, including turbo-petrol four-cylinder, plug-in hybrid and even a high-performance twin-turbo six-cylinder engine for a range-topping Tofeo variant to match the Macan GTS and X4 M, all likely matched to all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard.

The latter will be either a development of the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio's 2.9-litre V6 that currently produces 375kW and 600Nm, or a version of the MC20 supercar’s blistering new 3.0-litre petrol V6 (463kW/730Nm).

However, when it arrives in Australia, which is now unlikely before late 2022, Maserati’s cheapest model won’t be significantly more affordable than the Levante (from $127K), with a starting price of around $100,000.

Join the conversation at 

our Facebook page

Or email us at 

editor@carsales.com.au