Watch your back, Porsche Macan! 2022 Maserati Grecale Australian launch timing confirmed, pricing to target popular luxury SUV players

Maserati Australia is gearing up for the launch of the all-new Grecale mid-size luxury SUV in early 2023, which is expected to double the brand’s sales and offer up a direct rival to the Porsche Macan, BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC.

Orders will open for the Grecale later this year, but pricing for the new model is still being kept under wraps for now.

Speaking to journalists at a local event, Maserati Australia boss Grant Barling underscored the importance of the Grecale to the brand.

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“This will compete directly against the Porsche Macan, which is a huge success,” he said.

“We’re really positioning it in that segment, which is booming.

“Having the GT as an entry-level car, the Modena and then the top-of-the-range Trofeo, we believe in that segment, based on elasticity where you need to be priced, then we can, as a brand, potentially double our volume.

“We see this as the way we’re going to move the brand forward.”

In 2021, Maserati sold 560 cars, so the incoming Grecale could push the brand into the four-digit territory to surpass sister-brand Alfa Romeo (618 sales in 2021) and Genesis (734 sales in 2021), and even come close to Jaguar (1222 sales in 2021).

In fact, for the first seven months of 2022, Maserati sales have jumped 4.5 per cent year on year, and its 351-unit haul is already ahead of Alfa Romeo (326 YTD).

The Grecale will land in Australia in three forms initially – the entry-level GT, mid-spec Modena and top-spec Trofeo that uses a 395kW 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 – before an all-electric version lands in early 2024.

Mr Barling said he expects the Grecale to be an instant hit when it lands in local showrooms, accounting for the lion’s share of the brand’s volume and taking over the Levante as the new best seller.

“This [Grecale] will be 60-70 per cent of our volume, 100 per cent,” he said.

“With the Levante V6 with 350 horsepower being discontinued, we’ve got a price difference now.

“We’ve got the entry-level GT at [about] $145,000 and then the V6 with 430 horsepower at [about] $200,000, so that car at that price will obviously drop in volume.

“We’ll see [sales] come in for Grecale.

“We will be 60-70 per cent Grecale, 20-30 per cent Levante, and then the rest is Ghibli, MC20, Quattroporte.”

Mr Barling would not be drawn on even indicative pricing for the new model, but confirmed the information will soon-be-finalised, and customers were already putting their hands up for the Grecale.

“I’m still working on options; I’m still working on price point for Australia and New Zealand,” he said.

“Dealers are getting letters of offers from customers with pricing to be confirmed, and we’ve got over 120 orders at the moment, just in expressions of interest.

“Once the price is done, then we go into production.

“So, literally next month, the month after, we’ll have to build cars, so we’ll have a price.”

Mr Barling also does not foresee much of a problem in supplying the Grecale to local customers, with no restrictions on numbers earmarked for Australia.

Maserati Australia national marketing manager Tim Stanton added that Grecale is expected to draw new customers to the brand.

“We’re talking to a different audience than what we have before,” he said.

“Potentially a lot younger, potentially opening ourselves up to more women with children of all ages because of the rear legroom – so things like baby capsules, teenage kids that are taller.

“This car appeals to a different audience than what Levante was and will.”

The Grecale will be built out of the same factory as the Alfa Romeo Stelvio in Italy, and shares similar dimensions and rides on a modified version of the FCA Giorgio platform.

However, the Grecale’s 4846mm length, 2163mm width, 1670mm height and 2901mm wheelbase affords its more interior space and a larger 570-litre boot in Trofeo trim.

The entry-level GT and mid-spec Modena meanwhile, only has space for 538L due to the mild-hybrid components, with the former producing 223kW and the latter making do with 246kW – both from a four-cylinder petrol engine.