By Charles Bradley – November 14, 2026
Driving Destinations: Malibu in Maseratis
The Southern California coast provides an ideal setting for the grand touring experience, where dramatic ocean vistas, winding mountain roads and sophisticated destinations combine to make the journey as memorable as the arrival. Last month, Maserati brought its 2027 lineup direct from Italy to California for its North American Media Drive, giving us the opportunity to experience the very latest Grecale and GranTurismo models. Following the range’s dynamic debut at July’s International Driving Experience in Trieste, Italy, the invitation-only program began in Santa Monica before tracing a route along the Pacific Coast Highway and into the canyons above Malibu. It was an opportunity to explore the character of three distinctly Italian models against a backdrop that celebrates the same balance of performance, style and open-air living that defines Maserati’s grand touring philosophy – it did invent the genre, after all. The updated lineup brings meaningful developments in design, power and equipment. Every gasoline-powered Grecale now features Maserati’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo Nettuno V6, with the North American range including a new 385-hp Grecale V6 alongside the Grecale Modena and 523-hp Grecale Trofeo. Meanwhile, the GranTurismo Trofeo and drop-top sibling GranCabrio Trofeo gain 40 horsepower, reaching 582 hp, with the Sportivo exhaust now standard across all V6 versions of both grand tourers. Beyond the driving experience, the program reflected Maserati’s broader appreciation for Italian design, craftsmanship and hospitality. The Santa Monica Proper Hotel provided a design-focused base, while an opening evening at Casa Maserati in Pacific Palisades brought guests together for an aperitivo, a private dinner overlooking the Los Angeles skyline and listening demonstrations from Sonus faber, the Italian audio specialist behind the marque’s premium in-car sound systems. From the coastal setting of Malibu Farm on the pier to a Tuscan-inspired vineyard lunch at Cielo Farms (below), the route paired the exhilaration of the drive with some of the region’s most distinctive destinations. The experience concluded at Bergamot Station Arts Center in Santa Monica, where a private gallery conversation explored the relationship between art, design and personalization through Maserati’s Fuoriserie Customization Program. With seven new exterior colors for the 2027 GranTurismo and GranCabrio, including Green Jupiter Matte and Blu Denim, and the introduction of a bespoke soft-top option for the GranCabrio, the program offered a fitting final expression of Maserati’s belief that performance and personal style should go hand in hand. Lodging For a design-led stay in Southern California, few properties capture the relaxed sophistication of the coast quite like Santa Monica Proper Hotel. Located in the heart of Santa Monica, the 262-room luxury boutique hotel combines contemporary architecture, thoughtful craftsmanship and a distinctly California sensibility. Designed by acclaimed interior designer Kelly Wearstler, the property balances sculptural details, layered textures and natural materials, creating an inviting retreat that feels equally connected to the energy of Los Angeles and the easygoing rhythm of the Pacific coast. Guest accommodations range from elegantly appointed rooms to signature suites, many offering terraces and views of the surrounding landscape. Interiors feature midcentury European-inspired furnishings, custom details and Proper beds dressed in Italian linens, while bathrooms include travertine walk-in showers, marble vanities and premium Aesop amenities. Dining is another highlight, with Palma providing an art-filled lobby lounge for all-day dining that includes a spectacular signature breakfast, while Calabra brings Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, seasonal cocktails and panoramic coastal views to the rooftop. Our lunchtime chicken souvlaki skewer was an absolute highlight. The hotel’s rooftop pool, cabanas and lounge areas offer a particularly appealing setting for unwinding after a day exploring the coast. Wellness facilities include the Ayurvedic treatments at Surya Spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center and dedicated recovery suites featuring sauna, cold plunge and red-light therapy. Beyond the hotel, Santa Monica offers an appealing blend of Southern California beach culture, boutique shopping and sophisticated dining. The Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Beach are a brief walk away, while the iconic Santa Monica Pier – at the very end of Route 66 – provides a quintessential coastal experience, with its Ferris wheel, oceanfront attractions and sweeping views of the shoreline. Nearby Third Street Promenade offers pedestrian-friendly shopping, restaurants and entertainment – where we bumped into Maserati’s design chief Klaus Busse (above) taking a stroll! – while the neighborhood’s farmers market brings a more local perspective to the city’s lifestyle. Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu’s Canyon Roads Few drives capture the spirit of Southern California quite like the Pacific Coast Highway. Stretching along the dramatic shoreline, sadly ravaged by wildfires in recent years, this iconic coastal route is celebrated for its sweeping ocean views, rugged cliffs and picturesque beach communities. Leaving Santa Monica and heading north toward Malibu, the highway offers a constantly changing panorama of sandy beaches, rocky headlands and the deep blue Pacific, making it one of the region’s most rewarding roads to explore behind the wheel. In Malibu, the experience is as much about the destinations along the way as the drive itself. Oceanfront restaurants, secluded beaches and scenic overlooks provide opportunities to pause and take in the coastline, while the relaxed atmosphere reflects the understated luxury of California’s beach lifestyle. The route’s flowing curves and open stretches also make it an ideal setting for experiencing the character of a grand touring car, with the ocean providing a spectacular backdrop. Beyond the coast, the roads climbing into the Santa Monica Mountains reveal another side of the region. Winding routes cut through the hillsides, with tight bends, elevation changes, and steeper gradients offering a more engaging driving experience. Away from the oceanfront communities, the scenery shifts to rugged hills, winding valleys and expansive views across the surrounding landscape. These canyon roads provide a natural contrast to the Pacific Coast Highway, rewarding drivers with a more technical route that puts handling, balance and responsiveness to the test. Together, the coastline and canyons make Malibu an exceptional driving destination, offering two distinctly different experiences within a short distance. From relaxed cruising beside the Pacific to spirited drives through the hills, the region embodies the California ideal of enjoying the journey as much as the destination. How to Get There Santa Monica is easily accessible from across the country through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), located approximately eight miles from the city’s beachfront. Depending on traffic, the drive to Santa Monica Proper Hotel takes around 20 to 40 minutes, typically via Interstate 405 and Interstate 10. Hollywood Burbank Airport is another option for domestic travelers, approximately 22 miles away, while Long Beach Airport provides an alternative for regional arrivals. For those arriving by private aircraft, Van Nuys Airport offers a convenient general aviation gateway to the Los Angeles area, while Santa Monica Municipal Airport remains an option for smaller aircraft, with a 3,500-foot runway. Larger business jets will generally require an arrival through Van Nuys or LAX. The Drive I start the day in Maserati’s Grecale Modena, which now features the versatile 3.0-liter twin-turbo Nettuno V6, producing 385 horsepower versus the higher Trofeo spec’s 523 hp. Straight away in the lavishly appointed interior, I notice the new aluminum push-button PRND shift buttons, something that Maserati has responded to customer feedback, which intersect the stacked 12.3-inch central touchscreens, where the lower screen is dedicated to HVAC controls. There’s also a new centrally-positioned clock display with customizable content, including a compass, and a horologically-inspired, polished aluminum-edged bezel. Starting the engine and pulling away in our convoy along the coastline, I never cease to be impressed with this V6 powerplant, which is a detuned version of what you find in Maserati’s MC20/MCPura supercar. It may lack a little immediate punch away from the lights, but the torque feels like it goes on forever in the mid-range once the turbos join the party, and it’s more than enough to ensure this is a luxury SUV with sporty chops on our initial cruise to Malibu Farm at the Pier, where we stop for coffee and pastries. Once underway, I hand the keys to our test driver Michael Teo Van Runkle, as the next stint is a hard-right turn into the hills where he grew up. He even points out his early family home, as we rattle along through the climb, the Grecale proving its sure-footedness as we make quick progress through the canyon roads. It’s an impressive ride from the passenger seat of this compact SUV, as Michael knows these roads like the back of his hand, and it’s not long until we reach our lunch stop at Cielo Farms, which boasts marvelous views across its vineyards. Now it’s my turn to take back the wheel, as we pick a bright yellow GranTurismo Trofeo for the afternoon’s driving sessions. I must confess, I really enjoy this car. Speaking to the engineers, the way they’ve managed to push the V6 as far back as possible means that the center of gravity – for a car with such a long nose – provides a perfect balance. It means you can really charge into the tight corners, with tires whimpering and protesting, and the chassis just sticks. Not quite as breathtakingly as a Porsche, or as dramatic as a Ferrari, but thrilling nonetheless with great feedback through its light steering. And if you feel like cruising, rather than canyon carving, then it’s really good at that too, as the suspension gracefully soaks up the road’s undulations. On the misty hilltop of Lois Ewen Overlook Trailhead, we swap over once more, and Van Runkle charges back down the hill, with some sideways moments that pushes the GranTurismo to its upper limits before we return to the PCH and trundle home to cool down the Trofeo after its strenuous workout, parking up at Bergamot Station Arts Center back in Santa Monica. After an infusion of private gallery conversation that explored art, design and personalization led by Klaus Busse (below), as we cruise back to the hotel, it’s the perfect time to reflect upon the 2027 facelift that has introduced cleaner surfaces and some more purposeful sheet metal – especially at the front end of all models across the range, giving them all a far sharper look. For this trip to try out Maserati’s latest products, Malibu was an especially fitting destination: a place where the pleasure of the open road and twisty canyons meet the relaxed elegance of coastal living and a vibrant local art scene. View All Maseratis for Sale IMAGES COURTESY OF MASERATI, CHARLES BRADLEY
