Maserati Brings ‘Italian Gran Turismo’ to California with the new Grecale, GranTurismo and GranCabrio North American Media Drive
12-11-2026 19:03 - MARKET NEWS
Maserati Americas brought its new lineup to Southern California in October for its North American Media Drive. The program offered 34 automotive and lifestyle journalists, influencers, and content creators from the United States, Canada, and Latin America their first dedicated opportunity to drive the new Grecale, GranTurismo, and GranCabrio on North American roads. Following the models’ dynamic debut at July’s International Driving Experience in Trieste, Italy, the invitation-only California program followed a route from Santa Monica’s streets and highways to Pacific Coast Highway and the canyon roads above Malibu.
The new models introduce updates to performance, equipment, and electric range. In North America, the new 385-hp Grecale V6 SUV joins the Grecale Modena V6 and 523-hp Grecale Trofeo, with every gasoline-powered Grecale now equipped with Maserati’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo Nettuno V6. GranTurismo Trofeo and GranCabrio Trofeo each gain 40 hp over the previous model year, bringing output to 582 hp. The Sportivo exhaust also becomes standard on all V6 versions of both grand tourers in North America. A new Country driving mode increases ground clearance by 20 millimeters on the 483-hp and Folgore versions of GranTurismo and GranCabrio. Electric range also improves: GranTurismo Folgore offers 254 miles per charge, up 21 miles from the 2026 model, while Grecale Folgore gains up to 33 miles of range on 21-inch wheels.
The Santa Monica Proper Hotel served as the program’s design-focused base. The opening evening at Casa Maserati in Pacific Palisades brought together an aperitivo, a private dinner overlooking the Los Angeles skyline, and listening demonstrations featuring Sonus faber, the Italian audio partner behind Maserati’s premium in-car sound systems.
Pre-drive briefings explored the design and engineering of the new models, with informal discussions throughout the program offering further insight into the lineup. The all-electric Grecale Folgore, GranTurismo Folgore, and GranCabrio Folgore complemented the drive program through static displays and guided product walk-arounds.
Santa Monica’s streets and highway sections highlighted the Grecale Modena V6’s response at low engine speeds, while the sweeping curves of Pacific Coast Highway showcased the four-seat GranTurismo and open-top GranCabrio, both equipped with standard all-wheel drive and height-adjustable air suspension. A stop at Malibu Farm on Malibu Pier offered a coastal break, with a Maserati pop-up Italian coffee bar overlooking the Pacific Ocean. From the pier, the route climbed into the Santa Monica Mountains, where steeper gradients highlighted the Grecale Trofeo’s character at higher engine speeds. In GranTurismo Trofeo and GranCabrio Trofeo, Sport mode delivered firmer damping and a fuller note from the Sportivo exhaust. A Tuscan-inspired vineyard lunch at Cielo Farms Malibu provided a break before guests switched between SUVs and grand tourers for the afternoon drive. A static display of the MCPURA Cielo at the estate offered a closer look at the design language shared across the lineup. The sharper, more horizontal front-end designs of the three 2027 models reflect a direction first explored with the track-only MCXtrema.
The drive concluded at Santa Monica’s Bergamot Station Arts Center with a private gallery conversation exploring art, design, and personalization. Drawing on the exhibitions’ use of color and materials, the discussion explored the possibilities for personal expression offered by the Maserati Fuoriserie Customization Program. For 2027, the Fuoriserie palette for GranTurismo and GranCabrio adds seven exterior colors, including Green Jupiter Matte and Blu Denim. Clients can also commission a bespoke GranCabrio soft top for the first time.
The new models introduce updates to performance, equipment, and electric range. In North America, the new 385-hp Grecale V6 SUV joins the Grecale Modena V6 and 523-hp Grecale Trofeo, with every gasoline-powered Grecale now equipped with Maserati’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo Nettuno V6. GranTurismo Trofeo and GranCabrio Trofeo each gain 40 hp over the previous model year, bringing output to 582 hp. The Sportivo exhaust also becomes standard on all V6 versions of both grand tourers in North America. A new Country driving mode increases ground clearance by 20 millimeters on the 483-hp and Folgore versions of GranTurismo and GranCabrio. Electric range also improves: GranTurismo Folgore offers 254 miles per charge, up 21 miles from the 2026 model, while Grecale Folgore gains up to 33 miles of range on 21-inch wheels.
The Santa Monica Proper Hotel served as the program’s design-focused base. The opening evening at Casa Maserati in Pacific Palisades brought together an aperitivo, a private dinner overlooking the Los Angeles skyline, and listening demonstrations featuring Sonus faber, the Italian audio partner behind Maserati’s premium in-car sound systems.
Pre-drive briefings explored the design and engineering of the new models, with informal discussions throughout the program offering further insight into the lineup. The all-electric Grecale Folgore, GranTurismo Folgore, and GranCabrio Folgore complemented the drive program through static displays and guided product walk-arounds.
Santa Monica’s streets and highway sections highlighted the Grecale Modena V6’s response at low engine speeds, while the sweeping curves of Pacific Coast Highway showcased the four-seat GranTurismo and open-top GranCabrio, both equipped with standard all-wheel drive and height-adjustable air suspension. A stop at Malibu Farm on Malibu Pier offered a coastal break, with a Maserati pop-up Italian coffee bar overlooking the Pacific Ocean. From the pier, the route climbed into the Santa Monica Mountains, where steeper gradients highlighted the Grecale Trofeo’s character at higher engine speeds. In GranTurismo Trofeo and GranCabrio Trofeo, Sport mode delivered firmer damping and a fuller note from the Sportivo exhaust. A Tuscan-inspired vineyard lunch at Cielo Farms Malibu provided a break before guests switched between SUVs and grand tourers for the afternoon drive. A static display of the MCPURA Cielo at the estate offered a closer look at the design language shared across the lineup. The sharper, more horizontal front-end designs of the three 2027 models reflect a direction first explored with the track-only MCXtrema.
The drive concluded at Santa Monica’s Bergamot Station Arts Center with a private gallery conversation exploring art, design, and personalization. Drawing on the exhibitions’ use of color and materials, the discussion explored the possibilities for personal expression offered by the Maserati Fuoriserie Customization Program. For 2027, the Fuoriserie palette for GranTurismo and GranCabrio adds seven exterior colors, including Green Jupiter Matte and Blu Denim. Clients can also commission a bespoke GranCabrio soft top for the first time.
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