I Road-Tripped a Maserati Grecale Trofeo and All I Got Were Solar Eclipse Photos

I was standing next to a blue 2023 Maserati Grecale Trofeo in rural Ohio when the sky turned black. I frantically clicked shutters on two cameras, trying to capture the best photos of my life. I only had three minutes under the total solar eclipse, and when the moon’s shadow lifted, I was left with mixed emotions. To explain why, I have to start at the beginning.

I first saw a solar eclipse in Wyoming in 2017. So April 8th, 2024, marked my second time experiencing totality. I was lucky to have snapped some decent pictures back then, but was a relative newbie with a camera and didn’t know much about shooting the sun. I’m still just an amateur photographer, but 30 seconds after my first totality, I knew I’d be underneath the moon’s shadow in 2024, snapping away. 

My only questions were: where to go, and how to get there?

The path of totality would cover pretty much the entire northern half of the state, stretching from Toledo to just north of Cincinnati. Ohio was a quick 300-mile drive from my northern Michigan home, so road-tripping there was a no-brainer. That afforded all kinds of space for taking photos, provided I could find the right spot. Maserati offered me a Grecale Trofeo—the top trim of the company’s entry-level SUV—for the journey. 

Motor1 has sampled the Grecale Trofeo before. To refresh your memory, there’s a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 under the hood making 523 horsepower. Power routes to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic. It doesn’t matter which of the Alfa’s drive modes you choose; When you step on the gas, the Grecale Trofeo goes. Stay on the gas and you’re rewarded with delicious exhaust pops between shifts. For those who love power, the Grecale’s engine is as addicting as deep-fried cocaine. 

But my journey wasn’t to a race track. In the Grecale’s boot I stowed two large folding chairs, a modest fabric cooler, a backpack with miscellaneous electronics, a laptop, and two travel bags with three days of clothes for me and my wife Michelle. My cameras sat on the backseat floor, within easy reach lest something of interest cropped up during the trip. In other words, I was using this crossover for its intended purpose—transporting