- The Maserati GranCabrio Folgore shines with 750bhp, leading the way in electric luxury.
- Reinventing the convertible, it sets a new standard in four-seat electric motoring, outpacing rivals like the Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e and Genesis X Convertible.
- With three electric motors delivering a combined 751bhp and 996lb ft, it promises exhilarating performance while hinting at future enhancements in battery technology.
Electrifying Elegance: Unveiling the Maserati GranCabrio Folgore’s 750bhp Powerhouse
Maserati has unveiled the stunning GranCabrio Folgore, leading the charge with its breathtaking design. As one of the rare four-seat all-electric convertibles, it’s a trailblazer ahead of competitors like the Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e and the Genesis X Convertible.
The Folgore (Italian for lightning) ditches its combustion engine counterpart’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, opting instead for the trio of electric motors found in the Maserati Granturismo Folgore.
One motor is situated at the front axle, while the remaining two are positioned at the rear, each generating an impressive 402bhp. Combined, they reach a staggering output of 751bhp and 996lb ft. However, due to the 83kWh (usable) battery’s discharge limit of 600kW (805bhp) at any given moment, the total power output is capped. Maserati hinted at the potential for this limit to increase in future facelifts as battery technology advances.
Maserati has not officially disclosed the GranCabrio Folgore’s range, but indicated it should match the performance of the electric Granturismo, capable of covering 280 miles on a single charge.
The GranCabrio Folgore’s structure has undergone reinforcement around the sills and rear tray to uphold ride quality. Maserati’s emphasis on comfort over agility ensures an indulgent cabriolet experience.
Davide Danesin, engineering chief for the GT and Quattroporte product lines, said;
“The customer of Grancabrio is different from a customer of the GT. The Grancabrio customer is not usually a hard driver looking for the best performance from the car – it’s a different way to enjoy the product. They want a status product, they want to enjoy the free life in a good environment.”
Despite the additional 90kg from the reinforced steel in the GranCabrio compared to the coupe, its straight-line performance remains nearly unchanged. Accelerating from 0-62mph in just 2.8 seconds, it trails the Granturismo Folgore by a mere 0.1 seconds. This also outpaces the dual-motor MG Cyberster by 0.4 seconds, the only other electric drop-top GT slated for the UK in the next year.
In terms of design, the Folgore diverges from its petrol counterpart by featuring ‘inverted’ surfacing instead of the slatted grille. This means that each grille pillar on the petrol version is an open area on the electric vehicle, and vice versa. Maserati’s design chief, Klaus Busse, chose to reimagine the grille rather than adopt a flat surface to prevent the car from appearing “faceless.”
Though prices are yet to be confirmed by Maserati UK, they are expected to start at around £185,000.
