03 Magazine: October 02, 2023

60 Magazine | Promotion
QUIET LUXURY
03’s editor discovers a sophisticated mode of self-care in the form of the
mindfully designed new Maserati from Euromarque.
WORDS JOSIE STEENHART
had something of an epiphany while test driving the
I brand new Maserati Grecale Modena one recent
spring weekend in Christchurch – that luxury can be
quiet, understated, and that quiet luxury is a current
mood I’m all about – whether it’s behind the wheel of
a car like the Grecale (low-key opulence at its best),
experiencing a long moment of calm and clarity, or
simply enjoying a double scoop of handmade artisan ice
cream from Sumner’s Utopia Ice while passing through
the beachside suburb. Or, as in my case, all three at once.
Quiet luxury in this busy, noisy world translates into a
kind of self-care, a space for moments of mindfulness, to
breathe deeply and find joy and beauty in small details.
How did I get all this from just driving a car? You’ll have
to take a test drive of your own, but the dream team at
Euromarque tell me the manifesto for creating Maserati’s
newest SUV was ‘everyday exceptional’ – to make luxury
and next-level performance part of the daily routine,
and ensure the thrill of luxury and pure innovation,
sportiness and elegance were in perfect balance.
I can concur, it has achieved that. It’s a gorgeous car,
inside, outside and under the hood.
While the name Maserati might initially conjure
roaring engines, racing speeds and bold Italian-ness (and
it certainly can be all those things too), my Grecale
Modena spoke of a more considered style.
It’s a hybrid, for starters, so you won’t be able to rev
the engine or gun it loudly at traffic lights (NB: if that’s
your jam, opt instead for the V6 Twin Turbo 530 HP
Grecale Trofeo) but why would you want to when you
can sit encased in a bubble of decadent calm before
sailing smoothly forth (though rest assured, if you wanted
to, you can still go from 0–100 km/h in just 5.3 seconds).
One of the very special design cues that contributes
to the aforementioned bubble vibe comes via the light
emanating behind the central display, which produces a
‘living room’ effect by using soft, diffused lighting. Another
are the laminated windows, that guarantee optimal
sound absorption but with no loss in the pleasure and
uniqueness of the Maserati sound.
Everything offered in the Grecale Modena is focused
on simplification, to offer a space where the occupants
feel at ease and where the most cutting-edge technology
only comes into play when needed.
Aesthetically, the Grecale is uniquely stylish while still
immediately recognisable as a Maserati, but without
being showy, with high quality interiors and impeccable
attention to detail that makes for an elevated experience.
But somehow it resists feeling too precious – you can
eat a towering cone of dark chocolate and sea salt gelato
in it, load groceries into the enormous boot or sandy
dogs/muddy kids into the soothingly spacious, butter-soft
leather back seats, without stressing.
Then there’s the high technical specifications
(Euromarque can tell you more) and the 360° sound
experience, which takes as a starting point the
typical Maserati roar of the engine to the immersive
acoustic experience provided by Sonus faber Premium
(standard) and High Premium (optional) sound system.
To make the driving experience even more
immediate and enable the driver to configure the car
according to their needs, the Grecale comes with five
different drive modes: COMFORT, GT, SPORT, RACE
and OFF-ROAD.
In my continuing quest for inner peace, I stuck mostly
to COMFORT mode, which is the ideal drive mode
for everyday use, guaranteeing maximum usability and
comfort. Engine boost and kickdown are limited and
improve peak efficiency, while gear changes are gradual.
The suspension is reduced in rigidity and the electric
power steering is set to ensure maximum, effortless
driving pleasure.
It didn’t hurt that the exterior paint colour of my test
model – Bianco Astro – a stunningly beautiful metallic
silver/white (again with the subtle sophistication) – to my
delight matched my nails. As I said, sometimes it’s the
little things.
On that note, one of the most exciting features of all,
in my opinion, is Euromarque’s in-showroom Build Your
Own option, where from the comfort of a designer
couch you can fully customise pretty much every detail
of your soon-to-be new wheels from exterior paint
hues, trims, wheel rims and internal leatherware right
down to the colour of the stitching on the seats.
To learn more, drop by the Euromarque showroom at 120 St Asaph Street in
Christchurch Central or go to euromarque.co.nz.