Smaller Maserati Grecale SUV won't be cheap

The biggest new-model push in Maserati history will take the Italian sports car company to new sales records in Australia.

The fresh model onslaught starts this week with the Maserati MC20, which made its local debut overnight and is already sold out Down Under despite a $438K price tag.

While the all-new mid-engined supercar is a new halo model for the trident brand, its key additional model will be the Maserati Grecale – the Italian company’s second SUV.

The smaller sidekick to the Levante, which helped set Maserati Australia’ sales record of 863 cars in its first year on sale here, will ride on a bespoke Maserati platform and offer both hybrid power and a version of the Nettuno V6 from the MC20,” the COO of Maserati Australia, Glen Sealey, told carsales.

The all-new mid-size luxury SUV will be joined by everything from a hybrid and V8-powered Ghibli to new GranTurismo, GranCabrio and Quattroporte models, plus Spyder and EV versions of the MC20.

“In coming months you are going to see a lot more from Maserati. Grecale will be right at the end of 2021,” said Sealey.

“For sure you would see a hybrid in it, and engines with technology coming out of Nettuno. The platform will be a Maserati platform.”

Sealey says the Maserati Grecale is the pivotal model but is not giving much away. It is certain to set a new price point for Maserati, with the Levante currently starting at $125,000.

But Sealey doesn’t want to create an unrealistic expectation and confirmed the Maserati Grecale will be priced well above rivals like the Alfa Romeo Stelvio (from $65,900), Audi Q5 ($66,900), BMW X3 ($68,900), Mercedes-Benz GLC ($70,300) or even the Porsche Macan ($84,300).

“It’s not going to be an $80,000 car. That’s just not happening,” he said.

“We won’t ever be the cheapest in the segment, but nor do we want to be. The best place for Maserati is to be an exclusive brand, not an exotic brand. We don’t start at $40,000.

“We’ve been known to be well above $300,000 throughout our history and people are often surprised that they can buy a Levante … for $140,000 on the road.”

Sealey only sees around 150 Maserati sales this year because of COVID-19 but is predicting a significant increase in 2021.

“Ideally, we’ll see a level of recovery in the Australian market by then. The interest in the MC20 has been very healthy indeed.

“Maserati will never be a massive brand. It will always be an exclusive brand. It’s the nature of where it sits.

“You can’t push it too far or it will spoil the mystique of what it is. That said, there is room for more [sales] than there is today.”

Before the Grecale arrives later than expected in about 12 months, Maserati Australia will land the MC20 in the third quarter of 2021 and, early next year, the first hybrid and V8 versions of the Ghibli sedan, plus an upgraded Levante.

“Our first electrified model is Ghibli hybrid, which will arrive in Australia in December-January. It’s a [four-cylinder] mild-hybrid, 48-volt,” confirmed Sealey.

“At the other end of the scale, we’ve got a Trofeo range coming in March, which is putting the Ferrari-sourced V8 with 590 horsepower into Ghibli, Quattroporte and Levante as our halo of the current series.

“The Levante – it’s the model year ’21 – is due in March, all three variants.”

Further afield, new-generation GranTurismo and GranCabrio models will be revealed as Maserati’s first fully electric, battery-powered models next year.

But like the MC20 Spyder, they may not arrive in Australia until 2022, when the MC20 Folgore EV is also due.

“The first fully-electric cars for Maserati will be the GranTurismo and GranCabrio, which are due to be unveiled next year,” said Sealey.

“They are a new platform. They will be ahead of the MC20 electric.”

What’s coming from Maserati:
Ghibli hybrid – Jan 2021
Ghibli Trofeo V8 – March 2021
Quattroporte Trofeo – March 2021
Levante facelift – March 2021
MC20 – Third quarter 2021
Grecale – late 2021
GranTurismo – late 2021
MC20 Spyder – late 2021
GranCabrio – 2022
MC20 Folgore EV – 2022