Maserati’s new mid-sized SUV will receive a hot performance variant.
Maserati North America CEO William Peffer told The Drive the Grecale, set to be revealed in November, will receive a Trofeo flagship.
He stopped short of confirming what engine will power the Grecale Trofeo.
The Trofeo variants of the Ghibli and Quattroporte use a Ferrari-built twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre petrol V8 engine producing 433kW of power and 730Nm of torque, while the Levante Trofeo produces 441kW.
Another possibility is the powerplant used in the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, with which the Grecale will share its Giorgio platform.
It’s a Ferrari-developed twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 engine producing 375kW of power and 600Nm of torque.
A third possibility is a detuned version of Maserati’s new ‘Nettuno’ twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6, developed in-house for the MC20 supercar.
In the MC20, it’s mid-mounted and produces 463kW and 730Nm.
Any of these powertrains would put the Grecale Trofeo in good stead in this segment.
The flagship Porsche Macan GTS produces 324kW of power from its twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 engine, while the BMW X3 and X4 M Competition models produce 375kW and 650Nm from their twin-turbo 3.0-litre inline-six.
The Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S puts out 375kW and 700Nm from a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine, though its successor is all but certain to use an electrified four-cylinder like the new C63 sedan.
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio 
Maserati has previously confirmed the Grecale will offer an all-electric Folgore variant to rival the likes of the BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz EQC.
The brand is rolling out a unified naming structure for its trim levels, with entry-level models bearing the GT name, sportier models branded Modena, and flagship high-performance models called Trofeo.
The Grecale is a crucial new model for Maserati as it’ll represent a new entry point, particularly as the Ghibli mid-sized sedan will reportedly be discontinued at the end of its lifecycle in 2023.
The base Ghibli is Maserati’s most affordable model in many markets, though here it’s undercut by the entry-level Levante 350.
There’s been no indication yet of pricing for the Grecale, however it’ll likely undercut the Levante 350 which opens at $127,000 before on-roads.
It’ll also likely be priced above the Stelvio, the core model range of which is priced from $64,950 to $78,950 before on-roads.
The flagship Quadrifoglio rings up at $146,950 before on-roads, while the 2022 Porsche Macan range slots neatly in between this price gap.
