Twin-Turbo Triumph: Experiencing the Regal Thrills of the 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo

High-end SUVs are situated within a quite unusual segment of the auto hierarchy here at Jim Butler Maserati of St Louis! While many competing brands have done a fair job of offering up feature-rich and athletic models, our passion for top-tier craftsmanship has resulted in a physique that would be perfect for a formal night out. It’s not just the symphony or formal product reveal that we’re talking about, although both are exquisite opportunities. The spellbinding 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo was the subject of attention during a recent test drive for the car pros at Motor1.com. 

Under the hood is a twin-turbo V6 that is shared with our immaculate and unearthly MC20 sports car, but the excited writer wanted to take a large visual drink of the exterior before getting to that! He first remarks that there is a bit of mid-century styling sprinkled nicely with the SUV’s proportions, with a sloping hood, peaked fenders, and lower-slung grille looking fantastic. Fitting and formal enough for the “essempio a fini didattici” or Milan runway show, there are also some sweet elements here that are a bit reminiscent of what you’ll see on the latest Gran Turismo. 

The stance is wide and low, with a long wheelbase and a strapped-down yet scuffle-ready stature. The counters are chiseled, and everything at first glance has a way of being inviting and unique. The interior was billed here as “suitably fabulous”, with compelling touchpoints and the lovely aroma of brand-new red leather stitching. The 3d carbon trim provides a dazzling sense of visual pop and comes as standard on the Grecale. The 8.8-inch comfort display mounted low on the center stack offers responsive control for climate and seat massage adjustments, along with the very cool ambient lighting. 

The V6 came to life after a quick push of the steering wheel button, with a sound “suited to a Monaco Boulevardier.” At this point, it’s clarified that the engine’s sporty sounds are excellent in the default “GT” drive mode and that the throttle tip-in immediately gives way to a quality of thrust that’s ideal for around-town excursions. Hitting 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and capable of a 177-mph top speed, the Grecale’s available thrust is ready and waiting at nearly any engine speed on the spectrum. 

One of the defining additives that allows for such excellent performance is the Nettuno V6, which features a pre-combustion chamber with a dedicated spark plug. Fuel populates the pre-chamber during the compression stroke, and the resulting ignition is distributed to the main combustion chamber with a trailblazing caliber of efficiency. The four-corner air suspension with adaptive dampers is all-in as a means of managing excellent ride comfort. Dialing up the “Comfort” drive mode offers a floaty and refined sense of cruising, while the Sport mode unleashes the spry dimensions of the V6 for a brisk throttle response. 

The 8-speed automatic offers shifts with a firm and reliable characteristic, with overruns emitting a telltale and exhilarating crackle from the exhaust. As writer Brett Evans continued down a challenging stretch of road to gauge whether the Grecale Trofeo was truly worth its salt, he began to unwind and love how the vehicle always provided the means he needed to extract peak performance. With the industry undergoing intense change and future Maserati models will be adapting to the environment’s demands, the Grecale Trofeo is a prime opportunity to roll up one’s sleeves and enjoy a helping of current-day zealous perfection! 

Tags: Jim Butler Maserati, Jim Butler Maserati Grecale, Maserati Grecale, Maserati Grecale Trofeo, Maserati Grecale Trofeo St. Louis
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