2023 Grecale Trofeo: Maserati’s Tribute to Italian Roots, V6 Roar, and Timeless Driving Joy

We can attest here at Jim Butler Maserati of St Louis that there is something very inspiring about driving any of our vehicles every day! Just a bit edgy while celebrating the exhilarating connection to the road, the extraordinary 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo was ranked by the Aol.com team as “consistently compelling and blisteringly fast.” The 3.0-liter V6 cranks out 523 horsepower, which finishes at 89 hp more than the top-spec Porsche Macan GTS. 

Sporting the namesake of the Italian word for a pleasant wind from the Northwest, the Grecale exists as a testament to the Mistral touring coupe, the 1978 Bora, and the ongoing Ghibli, who are all named after balmy breezes as well. The Grecale is built on Stellantis’ Giorgio platform, which is cordially shared with the Stelvio crossover and wilderness-conquering Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Grecale’s 114.2-inch wheelbase situates it between the Stelvio and Grand Cherokee but is still meant for leisurely pavement duty instead of the all-out challenge of the trail. The version of the high-performance and innovative Nettuno powerplant is one of the highlights of this modern and viscerally charming SUV. 

Matteo Valentini was hired as the chief designer for the Nettuno and began working from plans originating in 2018. The engine became a project shared between the Maserati Innovation Lab in Modena and the legendary Engine Hub. The first time the Road and Track crew got to test the Nettuno in the MC20, they claimed that it offered up a “return to an era no one would have thought possible.” It definitely takes an older-school stance in the Grecale Trofeo, situating the turbos a bit unusually out of the engine block a stretch. 

Even though “a bit of low-end torque was sacrificed for the making of this film”, the engine has a delightfully revvy and piped-up characteristic, that is paired with the latest version of the ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. This all is then gobbled up astutely by the all-wheel drive system. It turns out 21-inch wheels inside 255/40R21 front and 295/35R21 rear Bridgestone Pontenza Sport summer-spec performance tires. The double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension have been illustrated with air springs that can be individually tuned to compensate for changing road conditions. 

There are ample Stelvio vibes noticeable at first glance of the Grecale, as they cordially agreed to share chassis parts, use the same transmission, and are constructed side by side. The Stellantis’ Cassino Assembly plant in Piedimonte San Germano is the proud employer of 4,300 locals and has produced over 7 million cars during its journey. The Aol.com testing team was thrilled to open things up straight away and proclaimed the 457-lb-lt torque peak at 3000 rpm as the “sweet spot” to enjoy a screaming tone and engaging performance. 

The ZF gearbox is frequently hailed as “among the best manual shifting automatics around”, and it is one of the vital components that adds to the heart-pounding and recreational quality of each outing on pavement. The 0 to 60 mph time is situated smartly at about 3.6 seconds, with the quarter mile passing by swiftly at 11.5 seconds. With a sense of precision and poise that renders world-class drive quality, the Grecale allows for a fantastic opportunity to remember the detailed work Maserati did to render Italy as the superior creator of excellent sports cars. Visualizing the future from a time before social media posts, we are eager to navigate the winds of intense change one glorious and breathtaking model at a time.

Tags: Grecale Trofeo, Jim Butler Maserati, Luxury Vehicle, Maserati Grecale, St. Louis Maserati Dealer
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