Italian automaker Maserati has been teasing fans with its luxury compact crossover SUV, the Grecale, for months. Thanks to leaked images and spy shots we've come to get a good idea of what this little Porsche Macan fighter is all about. The Maserati Grecale, named after yet another world famous Mediterranean wind, was promised to join the Levante in less than two months. But thanks to the ongoing semiconductor chip shortages, Maserati announced a delay in production times, noting that the November 16 premier date was no longer feasible. Now, to make matters worse, a development prototype has been crashed.

First posted by Instagram user wilcoblok, we get to see the tragic image of a prototype Grecale smashed into a lamp post at a roundabout at the Piazza Polonia in the northern Italian city of Turin. According to reports, a Ford was also involved in the accident, but luckily no serious injuries were reported. This is not the first time we've seen prototypes involved in accidents, as a Rivian R1T recently smashed into an S-Class. Nevertheless, it's always sad to see, and it is yet unknown if the accident will in any way impede on the release date of the car.

When the Grecale finally decides to make an appearance, we expect to see it arrive with a range of engines starting with a turbocharged 2.0-liter hybrid four-cylinder gas engine in entry level models while the full-fat Trofeo model will likely be made available with a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 from the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio with which the Grecale shares underpinnings. A diesel option will also be likely for European markets, and we wouldn't be surprised if an EV version joins the lineup later on. Pricing has not yet been announced, but you can expect it to slot in neatly under the Levante which starts from $79,400 for 2022.