Maserati Grecale debut postponed due to semiconductor shortage

KUALA LUMPUR: Maserati scheduled the Grecale debut for the coming November, but as the global chip shortage strikes again, the reveal pushed back to next year. Yes, we need to wait for several more months to see the Italian automaker’s upcoming SUV.

In the official press release, Maserati mentioned the interruptions in the supply chains for the key components, particularly semiconductors, necessary to complete Grecale’s production process. The car needs microchips for its connectivity and human-machine interface areas, which are not available right now.

“The quantity of production would not allow us to respond properly to the expected global demand,” the automaker added.

What do we know so far about the Maserati Grecale?

Maserati revealed a few blurry images of the Grecale prototype earlier this year that told us the SUV will not pursue a new design language. Instead, it will rely on the Maserati signature cues. The rear profile of the upcoming vehicle looks more like the Levante with a similar diffuser, boot lid, and quad exhaust system.

In the automaker’s SUV lineup, the Grecale is positioned below the Levante and it underpins 'Giorgio' architecture borrowed from the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The arrival of a performance-focused Grecale Trofeo version is also confirmed.

Regarding the car’s engine specs, no official information is there. However, the Trofeo is expected to get the Maserati MC20’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 Nettuno mill with a different state of tune. An eight-speed automatic transmission and an AWD setup could be added to the mix. 

In addition, the brand’s product plan also dropped a hint of a fully electric option to be rolled out later. We can relate this to Maserati’s mission of electrifying all its models within the next five years.

The automaker is assembling the Grecale at Stellantis' plant in Cassino, Italy, which received an investment of €800 million (approx RM 3 billion) for renovation a few months back. 

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