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2022 Maserati Grecale SUV begins prowling the streets of Modena

Maserati has started testing the Grecale, its second SUV, on the streets of Modena, Italy. Aimed directly at the Porsche Macan, the Levante's smaller sibling will take the 107-year old Italian firm into a lucrative new segment. Klaus Busse, the head of Maserati's design department, told Autoblog that the new MC20 coupe points to the direction stylists will take the rest of the range in, and official spy shots give us a better idea of what he meant. It looks like the Grecale's front end is dominated by an oval grille shaped a lot like the MC20's. An image we took at the company's headquarters in the fall of 2020 provides an even clearer view of what the model will look like. Its overall proportions remind us of the Levante's, meaning it's far more sporty than utilitarian — you didn't think Maserati would try to rain on the Ford Bronco's parade, did you? Even several layers of psychedelic camouflage can't mask the shapely quarter panels and the sloping roof line accented by a spoiler.  It's too early to tell what's under the camouflage, let alone what's lurking beneath the sheet metal, but unverified rumors claim the Grecale shares its basic underpinnings with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, which is widely praised as one of the best-driving SUVs on the market. If the report is accurate, Maserati's next SUV could land with four- and six-cylinders on its palette of available engines. One might be the 3.0-liter Nettuno developed for the MC20. Maserati will take the Grecale on a world tour to put it through its paces in the freezing cold, in triple-digit heat, on challenging race tracks, and even on a few off-road trails. Its official unveiling is scheduled for later in 2021, and series production will start in Cassino, Italy, shortly after. We expect to see it in America as a 2022 model. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2022 Maserati Grecale, official spy shots Maserati SUV Luxury Performance

Maserati bringing new sports car concept to Geneva?

Maserati is in the midst of a major product overhaul. The Quattroporte was recently redone, the Ghibli is a fresh new model and the Levante crossover is still in the pipeline. But what about its two-door line? Surely Maserati hasn't forgotten about those, right?
Not according to the latest gossip, it hasn't. Word has it that in celebration of its centenary this year, the Trident marque is preparing a new sports car concept to unveil at the Geneva Motor Show. Apparently smaller than the aging GranTurismo, the new concept is said to take aim at the Jaguar F-Type - not to mention the Porsche 911.
According to GTSpirit, the concept could pack the Modenese automaker's new twin-turbo V6 or V8 engines, but no matter how many cylinders, it's understood we're likely looking at a front-engine/rear-drive layout and an automatic transmission.

Former BMW M boss and Maserati CEO killed in freak motorcycle accident

It's a tragic coincidence that on the same weekend the BMW M4 Coupe Concept was introduced in Monterey, one of the men most integral to BMW's M and Motorsports divisions, Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, was killed in England. Kalbfell, a vintage motorcycle enthusiast, was set to compete in the Lansdowne Classic Series at Brands Hatch and had an accident during a practice session. After going wide at Druids Corner and falling, he was hit by a competitor following close behind and died of his injuries after being transported to hospital.
Kalbfell, an engineer, began his career at BMW in 1977 in the communications department; a decade later he was chairman of BMW M GmbH, overseeing development of some of the cars responsible for the myth of M. In 1994 he was named chairman of BMW Motorsport, and his cap full of feathers includes getting the BMW V12 into the McLaren F1, getting the BMW V8 into two Morgan cars, along with developing BMW's Formula One engine and return to the sport. Not incidentally, he also assumed leadership of Project Rolls-Royce after BMW bought the British marque in 1998, which means he oversaw the Goodwood factory upfit and the creation of the Phantom.
He left Rolls-Royce for a brief stint at Fiat, heading Alfa Romeo and Maserati, then went into consulting for clients like Lotus and Paragon, who built the Artega GT. As Autocar notes, Kalbfell "had an abiding sense that customers needed to be attracted to cars by their aura and reputation, not just their engineering." He will be missed.