The Maserati Grecale will become the Italian brand’s most affordable vehicle in Australia. Here’s how Drive team would specify cars of their own, admiring from the sidelines.
Customisation is in vogue at the moment, but choice can be seriously confusing. In our configurator challenge, we let the Drive team loose on a manufacturer’s website to create their ideal combination for a certain model.
This week’s challenge covers the new Maserati Grecale mid-size SUV set to launch locally with three distinct model variants.
The Maserati Grecale will become the most affordable model in the Italian car maker’s local line-up while offering a slew of customisation options which the Drive team has demonstrated below.
Tell us what your ideal Maserati Grecale would look like in the comments below (build yours here), and the cars you’d like us to configure next.
James Ward, Director of Content
There are some pretty impressive colours and configurations available for the Grecale, and while I’m sure we’ll see our fair share of black-on-black on the road, I felt a sharp Italian needed a little more flair.
I started with the base-trim Grecale GT in the stunning Verde Smeraldo green, part of the Fuoriserie palette. To knock it out of the park, I’ve paired this with the white asymmetric decal kit, which provides an offset swathe of ‘bianco’ across the bonnet and down the right-hand side of the car.
It incorporates a rather over-the-top trident logo motif on the roof… but maybe don’t look too closely at that. You sadly can’t match this with the panoramic roof (which would remove the giant trident), but can add roof rails and even a Maserati cargo box for a little extra extra.
Wheels have jumped up one size to the 20-inch Etere items in gloss black, and I’ve chosen red brake calipers because you kind of have to.
Inside I’ve continued the white theme by adding Ghiacco (ice) leather and gloss carbon fibre trim.
There’s a sprinkling of black-pack on the outside, and some tech inclusions on the inside just to ensure there is never an identical spec Grecale in the supermarket carpark.
Susannah Guthrie, Senior Journalist
While I don’t love drinking red wine, I am partial to a Shiraz-hued shade. As such, the ‘Bordeaux Pontevecchio’ exterior colour on the Grecale – from Maserati’s Fuoroserie custom colour list – is the only expensive red I need in my life.
I would have loved to double down with burgundy brake calipers and interior trim, but that wasn’t an option so I played it safe with black-painted brake calipers, black ‘Nero’ seats with red stitching and high-gloss piano black trim on the dash.
I love the ostentatious Maserati logo, so obviously I had to have it stitched in red on the seats. And if I’m buying a Maserati, I’m going all out and getting the Trofeo grade, natch.
Alex Misoyannis, Journalist
The entry-level four-cylinder version of the Maserati Grecale would be plenty quick for road use, but the idea of a large SUV with a supercar engine (admittedly, this 390kW Nettuno twin-turbo V6 would been developed for both vehicles…) is too appealing to pass on the top-of-the-range Trofeo.
I’ve opted for the hero colour seen in all the Grecale Trofeo press images, Giallo Corse (race yellow) … for the cool sum of $48,500, equivalent to two new Toyota Yaris hatchbacks. Ouch.
Complementing the exterior colour – which gives new meaning to the term “premium paint” – are the standard black leather seats with red stitching, red brake calipers, 21-inch ‘Crio’ alloy wheels, and 3D carbon-fibre interior inlays, all included in the base list price.
But I haven’t stopped ticking option boxes. In addition to the paint, I’ve selected the $7050 ADAS Level 2 pack (traffic sign recognition and semi-autonomous driving technology), $5950 Sonus Faber “high premium” sound system with 21 speakers, $3290 Tech Assistance Pack (head-up display, wireless phone charging), $2100 front-seat ventilation, and $700 metallic sport pedals.
It is a shame you still need to option traffic sign recognition and a wireless phone charger on a $170,000 luxury SUV in 2023, when they’re fitted to mass-market family cars a third of the price. But they’re must-have items at this price and end of the market, so I’ve ticked the boxes.
The final price for my Maserati Grecale Trofeo configuration is $232,590 plus on-road costs – or likely more than $250,000 drive-away. That includes a significant $67,590 in options (though the yellow paint is much of that).
Ben Zachariah, Journalist
Maserati is to Ferrari as Tudor is to Rolex. Theirs may not be the first choice of a dream car or the go-to poster car of teenagers, but they’re often favoured by people who want a touch more anonymity than the other Italian supercar brands – or a touch more character than the German offerings.
Which brings us to the Maserati Grecale, which makes a very compelling case against the likes of the Porsche Macan, BMW X3 M, and Mercedes-AMG GLC models.
Of course, I would pick the Grecale Trofeo, which borrows the MC20’s 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 – albeit with slightly less power. Still, 390kW is a good number for a daily driver. Solid white Bianco paint is classy for such a machine (black would also be acceptable), optioned with the 21-inch Pegaso glossy black forged wheels, and red brake calipers to match the interior.
An interior finished in a combination of red and black, made all the better with the tech assistance pack, ADAS driving assistance package, and a few other goodies like a premium sound system, heated and ventilated seats, and a heated steering wheel. No, the Grecale isn’t the obvious choice, but it might just be the right one.
Kez Casey, Production Editor
There’s so many different ways to configure a Grecale, but I picture mine as something of a modern grand tourer in which case, the Grecale GT is the perfect starting point.
Verde Royale is the colour of choice, along with chrome window and tailgate trim, and matte grey brake calipers. There’s something of a heritage twist at play here, so the marrone-colored leather and open pore radica wood trim help channel the throw-back look.
While the 20-inch Etere forged alloy wheels (and their trident-styled design) are borrowed from the Modena trim, they shouldn’t impact too heavily on the touring comfort over the standard 19s.
Other continent-crossing touches on my build include the 21-speaker Sonus Faber audio upgrade, interior ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, and matrix headlights.
While the lure of the Grecale Trofeo is tempting, the 221kW/450Nm 2.0-litre turbo engine in the GT should still hit the right spot. Not to mention that some of the more brown-and-wood hued options are locked out of the more powerful engines, but the leather-lined luxury experience is a key part of the GT making it the one for me.
Rob Margeit, Features Editor
I chose Blu Royale for my Maserati Grecale because I like colour names where the letter ‘e’ ends the wrong word and because I’m old and staid.
Standard 21-inch wheels encase yellow calipers which I think contrast nicely with the exterior paint. Inside, it’s black leather with contrast yellow stitching, matching the brake calipers. Carbon-fibre accents inside complete the boy racer look.
Justin Narayan, Senior Journalist
I went for the Modena trim level because I don’t think I need the extra horsepower of the Trofeo.
Given I love green, I’ve opted for the brand’s Verde Smeraldo metallic – a special colour from its Fuoriserie paint range.
As for wheels, opted for the forged 21s, and inside, carbon-copper-twill interior with black leather. Simple, yet stand-out!
Sharlene Wood, Head of Production
I’ve gone with the Azzuro Astro Matte exterior with an ice leather interior. The carbon fiber trim, roof rails and summer tyres with yellow brake calipers compliment the luxury beach-side aesthetic.
Azzurro translates to “the light blue colour” or “colour of the sky”, so when I have my pedal to the metal at 8am on a Monday morning I can pretend I’m flying off to a dreamy coastal adventure instead of the office. Bellissimo.
Tom Fraser, Journalist
As awesome as a near-400kW SUV sounds in my head, that’s way more power than I’ll ever use, so I’ve opted for the restrained Grecale Modena variant. Interestingly, this model grade also allows a wider array of colour combinations and wheel options.
I’ve leaned on Maserati’s tailor-made Fuoriserie colour palette for the gorgeous Blu Maserati hue over my Grecale’s exterior. It already looks amazing on my computer’s screen, but once it’s in the metal I imagine it to be a jaw-dropper. Wheels are the standard 20-inch forged Etere units which evoke the old Maserati Trident motif synonymous with the brand. I’ve also got a set of blue brake calipers underneath to tie in with the exterior paint.
Inside the cabin I’ve gone for Rosso leather with chevron pattern and trident headrest imprints. There’s also 3D-effect carbon print trim, a 21-speaker sound system, stainless steel pedals, sunroof, and a set of roof rails.
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