Grecale Trofeo and XM Ready for Launch
Competing with Porsche Macan and Cayenne
Mercedes-Benz GLC AMG Expected to Debut This Year
The imported car industry is consecutively launching high-performance sports utility vehicles (SUVs). These vehicles are expected to compete with Porsche Cayenne and Macan, the 'champions of super SUVs.' Competition in the rapidly growing imported SUV market is expected to intensify.
The high-performance model Trofeo of the Italian luxury brand Maserati's mid-size SUV Grecale completed environmental emission and noise certification on the 24th. This is a mandatory procedure before a new car launch. A Maserati official stated, "The Trofeo model is scheduled to be released next month along with the GT and Modena models."
Maserati expects the initial supply for the first half of the year to be sold out following the official launch announcement of Grecale in November last year. It is known that about 200 units have already been reserved.
Grecale is Maserati's second SUV introduced after the Levante in 2016, marking a seven-year gap. Trofeo boasts the highest performance among Grecale models. It is equipped with a twin-turbo V6 Nettuno engine and a ZF 8-speed transmission. Maximum output is 530 horsepower, and maximum torque is 63.2 kg·m. The top speed is 285 km/h, and it takes 3.8 seconds to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h. Fuel efficiency is 8 km/l based on combined standards. The price starts at 169 million KRW.
BMW, which ranked first in the imported SUV segment last year (34,845 units sold), is also releasing a high-performance SUV. The large Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) XM will be introduced starting with a launch event on the 28th and will be publicly unveiled at the Seoul Mobility Show on the 30th. It is BMW's first M-exclusive model since 1978 and operates as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The M TwinPower Turbo V8 gasoline engine combined with an electric motor delivers a maximum output of 653 horsepower and maximum torque of 81.6 kg·m. Equipped with a 29.5 kWh high-voltage battery, it can travel approximately 80 km on pure electric power under the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) standard on a single charge. The price starts at 220 million KRW.
The competitors for these two vehicles are the Porsche Macan GTS and Cayenne Turbo GT. Porsche stands out in the high-performance SUV market. From last year through February this year, the combined sales of these two models (Macan GTS 432 units, Cayenne Turbo GTS 153 units) totaled 585 units. In contrast, BMW X6 M and X5 M, which have similar price ranges and performance to the Cayenne, sold 177 units.
As the imported SUV market continues to grow steadily, Mercedes-Benz, the top imported car brand, is also joining the high-performance SUV battle. Imported SUV sales surpassed 100,000 units for the first time in 2020 (104,985 units), followed by 118,840 units in 2021 and 123,499 units last year. Mercedes-Benz unveiled the fully redesigned GLC Coupe on the 14th. The high-performance version of this model, the AMG GLC, is expected to be released as early as this year, and test drives have already been spotted.
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