Maserati is testing updated Grecale, GranTurismo and GranCabrio but this needs to be more than a facelift

Three important models, one important message

The prototypes were photographed around Modena, where Maserati uses a mix of city streets, hilly roads, provincial routes and motorways to fine-tune its cars in different real-world conditions.

The biggest seller here is the Grecale, especially now that the Levante is no longer part of the range. That makes the compact luxury SUV absolutely critical for Maserati’s future. If the Grecale does not perform strongly, Maserati loses one of the few volume opportunities it still has in the premium market. The GranTurismo and GranCabrio, on the other hand, are not volume cars.

The Grecale probably gets the most important update

From the first images, the Grecale appears to receive subtle changes to the front bumper, with larger intakes and a revised grille treatment. The lighting units seem to retain their general shape, although new light signatures are likely.

The more important changes may happen inside and underneath. A move towards newer Stellantis software and infotainment architecture would make sense, especially if Maserati wants the cabin experience to feel more modern and less dependent on aging systems.

The Grecale also needs to keep improving as both a combustion and electric SUV. The Grecale Folgore is the model that should carry Maserati’s electric ambitions in a more usable format, and any range, performance or efficiency improvement would be welcome.

GranTurismo and GranCabrio need emotional sharpness

The updated GranTurismo and GranCabrio appear to follow the same philosophy: subtle front-end revisions, probably sharper bumpers and detail changes rather than a full visual rethink.

The current GranTurismo is already one of Maserati’s most elegant modern designs. It does not need to be made louder for the sake of it. But it does need to feel more desirable, more polished and more emotionally convincing.

The Nettuno V6 remains central to that story. It replaced the old Ferrari-derived naturally aspirated V8 era, and while the V6 is technically impressive, Maserati still has to work harder to create the same emotional pull.

Maserati’s biggest problem is not design

This is the uncomfortable part. Maserati’s current cars are not bad-looking. In fact, the GranTurismo and GranCabrio are still genuinely beautiful, and the Grecale has the right basic ingredients for the luxury SUV market. The bigger issue is positioning.

Maserati sits in one of the hardest spaces in the car industry. It needs to feel more special than BMW M, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche, but more usable and attainable than Ferrari, Lamborghini or Aston Martin. That is a very narrow emotional corridor.

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The Grecale, GranTurismo and GranCabrio already have the foundations to work, but Maserati must make them sharper, more modern and more desirable in a market that has become brutally competitive. A few bumper changes will not be enough if the technology, pricing, customer experience and emotional storytelling do not move forward at the same time.

The GranTurismo and GranCabrio should remind people why Maserati still matters as a grand touring brand. The Grecale should prove that Maserati can build a luxury SUV that people choose not only because it is different, but because it is genuinely competitive. That is the real challenge.