As we stated back in July, whether you like it or not, Maserati is a big part of the Mopar culture today. While it is the premium brand for the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) lineup, its vehicle lineup shares a lot of components and future technology with Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, and Ram vehicles. One of its future vehicles could underpin several upcoming new FCA vehicles.
During the last product plan update for the Maserati brand, the premium Italian brand confirmed their all-new D-segment UV (codenamed “182”), will start production in the 2021 calendar year. According to our sources, it will be built at the Cassino Assembly Plant in Piedimonte San Germano, Italy, which is currently the home to the award-winning Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio.
In recent spy photos captured by our friend Walter Vayr of GabetzSpyUnit, we are seeing early mules of the new Maserati SUV hit the road for testing. Because of its shared “Giorgio” architecture with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, it is fitting that the mule running on the road are in fact using Stelvio sheetmetal.
If you close closely in the shots wearing vinyl camouflage coverings, you will clearly see that the Alfa Romeo grille design is absent and in its place is a Maserati grille looking similar to the one found on the recently launched Maserati Trofeo lineup.
Our sources are indicating that the base engine for the Maserati “182” will be the same as the recently announced Maserati Ghibli Hybrid, a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four-cylinder from the FCA Global Medium Engine (GME) family. Power should be identical with 330 horsepower and torque of 450 Nm (332 ft.-lb) delivered from just 1,500 rpm. The 2.0-liter engine will be paired with a 48-volt belt starter generator and an additional electric supercharger (e-Booster), supported by a battery, similar to the eTorque system found on the Ram 1500.
In addition to the belt starter generator, there will be a full plug-in hybrid version utilizing the GME-T4 engine as well. This one is rumored to be in excess of 400 horsepower when the internal combustion engine and electric motor output are combined.
In terms of technology, the Maserati “182” will be the vehicle to bring Level 3 automated driving to the Maserati lineup. As exciting as that may be, it will also be the first Maserati to feature a so-called virtual cockpit. The virtual cockpit will feature a fully digital 12.4-inch customizable screen, which will be able to show a navigation map on it.
We are expecting this new smaller UV to hit the market sometime in 2022.
2022 Maserati “182” D-UV Mule Image Gallery:
