New Maserati GranTurismo Folgore all-electric GT revealed for 2023

Launching alongside the petrol-powered GranTurismo V6, luxury Italian maker Maserati is also advancing into the electric age with its all-electric GranTurismo Folgore.

Translated from Italian, ‘Folgore’ means ‘lightning’, with this all-new EV’s performance living up to the name according to Maserati’s claims thanks to an all-wheel drive three-motor powertrain with torque vectoring that offers 1,183bhp of “installed power”.

However, that’s not quite the truth, as the motors actually supply 750bhp to the wheels (a still-considerable output) alongside 1,350Nm of torque. But given this claim from Maserati, expect more hardcore, more powerful versions of the GranTurismo Folgore in the future.

Combined with the new GranTurismo platform’s lightweight construction - making extensive use of lightweight materials such as aluminium and magnesium, helping keep weight down to a claimed 2,260kg - performance is strong, with a claimed 0-62mph time of just 2.7 seconds and a top speed of 198mph.

The main reason for the increase in weight over the 1,795kg V6 GranTurismo is the Folgore’s 92.5kWh battery, of which 83kWh is usable. This provides a claimed range of up to 279 miles, and can accept charging rates up to 270kW, allowing for 62 miles of range to be added in just five minutes thanks to the platform’s 800-volt architecture. The car also comes with a battery pre-conditioner that’s activated as the car approaches a rapid-charge point to ensure maximum charging efficiency.

The Folgore shares its chassis layout with the regular GranTurismo, with a double wishbone suspension layout at the front and a multi-link set-up at the rear, both controlled by adaptive air suspension. While the GranTurismo Folgore also uses six-piston front and four-piston rear brake calipers from Brembo, it also boasts four levels of regenerative braking from its motors to boost range, selectable via paddles on the steering wheel.

Range can be optimised in the Max Range driving mode, which limits the car’s top speed to 80mph, softens the throttle response and pegs back the climate control system to save power.

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As per the petrol GranTurismo, GT, Sport and Corsa modes are available, with the car’s suspension, powertrain and stability control settings getting progressively sportier as you step up through the different profiles.

Selecting Corsa mode unlocks a few more tuneable parameters as part of the infotainment system, with drivers able to alter the torque vectoring and traction control set-up. There are also Max Boost and Endurance modes; the former primes the car for the best possible acceleration, while the latter focuses on prolonged track performance through close temperature management of the battery, also helped by tech derived from Maserati’s Formula E team.

Given the lack of a combustion engine Maserati’s engineers have worked hard to create more driver involvement in the Folgore with a special sound signature. The brand says “The natural acoustic dynamics of the electric motors driven by the inverters have been digitally shaped and integrated with the typical sound taken from the Maserati V8 tradition.

“All this in-depth analysis has made it possible to integrate know-how of the Maserati sound with the noise the vehicle naturally generates, to produce a unique acoustic experience, closely linked to the car yet innovative at the same time.”

Given the relative lack of cooling required for the GranTurismo Folgore compared with its petrol-powered sibling, the EV’s 0.26Cd drag coefficient is slightly slipperier than the V6 model’s 0.28Cd rating.

Apart from the more aero-efficient grille, the Folgore’s body shape is the same, which makes this car the lowest battery-electric grand tourer, according to Maserati. It’s just 1,353mm tall, which is possible thanks to the packaging of the battery in a T-shape down the car’s spine, allowing for a lower seating position and reinforcing the GranTurismo’s sporting intent. The Folgore also boasts two small rear seats and the same 310-litre boot as the V6 model.

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The car’s interior treatment is subtly different, with different materials and textures to carve this out as an EV and reinforce the theme of sustainability. However, the technology on board is the same.

There’s a 12.2-inch digital dash and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen, which is joined by a smaller 8.8-inch panel, both of which control the car’s main media and climate functions. Maserati says this results in an uncluttered, button-free interior. 

The GranTurismo Folgore also offers a configurable head-up display and a digital rear-view mirror, plus a new multi-function steering wheel.

The brand’s voice-activated Maserati Intelligent Assistant is also fitted as part of the Android Automotive-based infotainment set-up, which features over-the-air update capability. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity also available, plus Alexa integration, while Folgore buyers have access to a charging app loaded with a database of 335,000 charge points across Europe.

There’s also an EV Routing 2.0 function that will plot a route on the sat-nav with predicted charging stops in mind based on current energy consumption, while a Dynamic Range Mapping 2.0 system will show the maximum range available overlaid on the map, updated in real-time according to charge status and the customer’s driving style.

To reinforce the GranTurismo’s long-distance touring capabilities - even as a Folgore EV - the brand has fitted plenty of advanced driver assistance tech, including adaptive cruise with lane centring, autonomous emergency braking for when reversing, a 360-degree surround view camera system and a dynamic road view that shows a 3D reconstruction of surrounding vehicles on the digital dash.

Auto Express understands that prices for the GranTurismo will start from around £150,000 for the base-spec V6 Modena model, with the Folgore likely to cost considerably more. This could be in the region of £200,000. Folgore deliveries will arrive in the UK from July at the very earliest next year.

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