ByJames Morris
, Contributor.
The Maserati GranTurismo Folgore is an exceptionally fun electric drive.
There have been few electric sports cars so far, although this is no surprise. It’s a huge risk bringing out a low-volume vehicle format with a drivetrain type that is growing but still also small in volume. In fact, the only affordable BEV sports cabriolet so far has been the MG Cyberster. Go further upmarket, however, and Maserati has more choices for you: the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore and its open-top derivative the GranCabrio. I took both for a test drive.
Whether you go for the hard top GranTurismo or soft top GranCabrio, this is a beautiful vehicle. After all it’s an Italian luxury sports car. If it wasn’t pretty, what would be the point? The lines are swoopy, rather than looking like they were calculated for maximum efficiency using software. The grille at the front might seem superfluous, but it’s there because there are internal combustion versions that share the same platform. There are Modena and Trofeo variants of both GranTurismo and GranCabrio
However, grille aside, the GranTurismo is designed to be equally good whichever drivetrain you choose. The EV batteries aren’t below the floor, but sit in the transmission tunnel, so the driving position is the same while weight remains even distributed. In fact, you wouldn’t immediately know whether you were sitting in a Folgore or Trofeo / Modena. There are some subtle trim differences, and the name on the outside, plus an alternative wheel design for the Folgore. But Maserati’s intention was to make the buyer’s powertrain choice about driving experience rather than appearance.
The GranTurismo is definitely a +2 rather than a four-seater.
The GranTurismo and GranCabrio have four seats, although this is definitely a 2+2, with the rear more for emergencies than regular use. At first glance it looks like you’d need to have lost your legs to fit in the back of the GranTurismo or GranCabrio. However, there is a recess in the back of the seat in front that makes it just about possible to make use of the two rear seats, at a pinch. The comfort in the front is unquestionable, though, with the sense of luxury you’d hope for in a Maserati.
You don’t spend the kind of money a Maserati sports car costs without expecting the ultimate driving experience. The GranTurismo Folgore was always meant to be more sedate than a supercar like the MC20 I test drove last year, and the GranCabrio even more so. But both cars are still incredibly quick.
This is despite the weight we have come to expect from BEVs. The GranTurismo is 2,260kg without the driver, and the GranCabrio is 80kg heavier still. But the there are three 300hp electric motors – one driving the front wheels, and two at the back. Not all that grunt can be used at once, due to battery output constraints. The total available power output is a whopping 761hp with 1,350Nm of torque, which is balanced between front and rear as needed.
The GranCabrio is almost as quick as the GranTurismo, only in topless form.
This propels the GranTurismo Folgore to 62mph in just 2.7 seconds, and the GranCabrio is only slightly slower at 2.8 seconds. The GranTurismo tops out at 202mph while the GranCabrio is limited to 180mph. A knob on the steering wheel lets you choose between Comfort, GT, Sport and Corsa modes.
Corsa is a bit aggressive for public roads, but in Sport mode these Folgore cars are still exhilaratingly relentless under acceleration. I test drove both the GranTurismo and the GranCabrio Folgore on British country A roads around the Surrey area, and it was one of the most enjoyable driving experiences I’ve had on public roads.
The sense of immense power available immediately whenever you want is hugely pleasurable. Despite the weight, both soft and hard top feel entirely sure footed, too. It’s also worth noting that the suspension isn’t annoyingly hard, which would be a deal breaker in a grand tourer. While cornering is flat, the GranTurismo and GranCabrio deal with bumpy roads better than, for example, the 2020 Tesla Model 3 Performance that is my daily driver.
The GranTurismo Folgore may be a grand tourer, but it still has plenty of track capability.
The Rimac Nevera is the most exciting EV I’ve ever driven, but that’s a $2 million hypercar. The GranTurismo and GranCabrio are still very expensive but a bit more within the realm of a car you’d drive regularly (if you’re very rich). The performance, handling and sense of occasion make the GranTurismo a car you’ll long to drive, while the GranCabrio has even more style – assuming the weather lets you get the top down regularly.
I’ve also been driven around the Formula E track in Misano in the GranTurismo, which really showed its sporting credentials. The launch acceleration was brain-numbing. The weight made cornering a battle at the extremities of grip, but the GranTurismo is no Sunday cruiser. This is a proper performance car with unquestionable abilities if you want to drive incredibly fast.
The main reason for the weight of these Folgore cars is their batteries, which have been made big enough to satisfy the grand touring implied by the name. A 92.5kWh battery (83kWh net) has been used, giving the GranTurismo a range of 280 miles, while the GranCabrio goes four miles fewer. Those aren’t enormous distances compared to today’s best EVs, but Maserati has used an 800V architecture, so DC charging goes up to 270kW. This means that the battery can replenish 62 miles of range in five minutes.
The GranTurismo will be great for munching through highway miles.
The GrandTurismo Folgore achieved 2.4 miles per kWh during my test driving, which was mostly on British A-roads with 50 or 60mph limits and through villages, with little highway. This would equate to around 200 miles of real-world range. With the rapid charging, you’d probably only need to stop for 15-20 minutes every two or three hours during a long journey, which is entirely acceptable if you’re planning to drive across Europe.
As I mentioned earlier, Maserati hasn’t put all its eggs in electric basket with these cars. Both are also available with the company’s excellent V6 Nettuno internal combustion engine. For comparison, I also took the GranTurismo Trofeo for a spin on the same roads.
The Trofeo weighs 1,795kg, 465kg less than the Folgore, and you notice this in corners. The steering is lighter and lither with greater willingness to change directions. The Folgore’s driven front wheels makes its steering heavier, whereas the Trofeo is rear-wheel drive. You can flick the rack around very quickly.
A Maserati GranTurismo Folgore would be the perfect electric addition to anyone's stately home.
However, despite the excellent automatic gearbox in the Trofeo and ability to shift down with the steering wheel paddles, the reduction in immediate torque is also obvious. The Trofeo “only” has 550hp and 650Nm of torque, so hits 62mph in 3.5 seconds. In other words, The Trofeo is clearly not so brutally quick in a straight line as the Folgore, and after driving a Folgore you really notice the less immediate throttle response.But it’s quick enough, and with lighter steering and a lighter car in general, the Trofeo is an A-road monster. In summation, the Trofeo handles supremely but doesn’t feel as powerful, whereas the Folgore handles well and has serious acceleration muscle. Which you prefer will be a matter of taste. As an EV torque addict, I err on the side of the Folgore. But if you’re in the market for a GranTurismo or GranCabrio, try both Folgore and Trofeo versions to see which you prefer.
Of course, you will need to be a High Net Worth Individual to afford any of these cars. The Maserati GranTurismo Folgore starts at £178,330 ($231,000) and the one I drove had extras lifting this to £195,370 ($253,000), while the GranCabrio Folgore starts at £183,990 ($238,000) and my test car was £195,080 ($252,500). The GranTurismo Trofeo is a bit cheaper at £159,630 ($207,000), with my test car priced at £173,480 ($224,500). Sadly, Maserati has purportedly cancelled its plans for an electric version of the MC20 due to “lack of demand”, so we won’t be seeing the company’s abilities making electric performance cars in an even more extreme form. That’s a shame, because the Folgore cars are brilliant. Now all I need is to find an extra £195,000 for that GranCabrio. What’s the going rate for a kidney these days?
