Maserati GranTurismo Folgore review

​Introduction and Model History​

There isn't anything else quite like the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore. Rivals such as Audi e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan offer high performance, four-door coupes, but the two-door GranTurismo Folgore stands out as your only option if the style of a classic grand tourer with fully-electric power is what you lust for. Unless you can stretch to a Rolls-Royce Spectre, I suppose! 

Beyond the GranTurismo Folgore, Maserati has also launched a fully-electric version of its mid-size Grecale SUV, as well as the convertible version of the GranTurismo - the GranCabrio. 

The first thing you’ll notice when you see the GranTurismo Folgore is just how low it is to the ground. While other electric sports cars are usually a little higher than combustion powered alternatives given the packaging needs of the underfloor battery, the Maserati’s posture is very similar to that of a traditional sports car.

This is made possible by the way the battery has been integrated into the GranTurismo Folgore. Rather than being hindered by using an adapted version of the V6 powered car’s chassis, Maserati’s engineers have put its limitations to good use. The batteries run down the spine of the car, in place of where the transmission would be in the combustion powered GranTurismo, leading into a compartment behind the rear passengers. It forms a large T-shape pack, resulting in no compromise in design or ride height and keeping the car low and sporty. 

The style is an evolution of the GranTurismo’s traditional, low-slung grand tourer format incorporating some of Maserati’s newer design elements. It’s only 1,353mm tall, with a long bonnet stretching out in front of the car to give it a near five-metre footprint.

But it looks remarkably similar to its petrol-powered sibling - touches such as the badging, trim colour and the more aerodynamic grille are the only giveaways that this is powered by a battery.

Battery, range and charging

As mentioned earlier, the T-shaped, lithium-ion NMC battery snaking down the spine of the car and into a compartment behind the rear seats provides the GranTurismo with a low-slung, sports car like look and driving position. But this unconventional shape is large in capacity, too. Net capacity stands at 92.5kWh, of which 83kWh is usable. That results in a WLTP range of 280 miles, according to Maserati.

Perhaps the most impressive figures are revealed when you look into the GranTurismo’s powertrain. It uses a triple electric-motor setup, one driving the front axle with two driving the rear, providing four-wheel-drive. In ‘normal’ mode, a staggering 751bhp is available, while an electric overboost function provides up to 818bhp for short bursts.

And GranTurismo is not only fast when driving, but also when charging. The car boasts cutting-edge 800-volt technology - the peak standard among European manufacturers -  which enables a maximum charging rate of 270kW. In ideal circumstances, and with a powerful enough charging station, you can add up to 62 miles of range in under five minutes. The GranTurismo also automatically pre-condition the battery for best possible charging speeds, provided you put the charging stop into the nav, and it gets a heat pump for better winter efficiency. There's no vehicle-to-load or vehicle-to-grid, though. 

For AC charging, there's 22kW three-phase compatibility as standard, which could be really useful for kerbside charging in cities, where you're most likely to find this sort of charger. A standard 7kW home charger will deliver a full battery in around 13 hours, and you can even have a Maserati-branded home wallbox installed, if you fancy.

​Interior, Design/Styling and Technology​

The first thing you’ll notice inside the GranTurismo Folgore is how digital the cabin environment has become. There are four main points of interaction, all making use of display technology. The instrumentation is fully digital, comprising a 12.2-inch panel behind the steering wheel. But the centre console is heavily digitalised, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment unit sitting above an 8.8-inch control panel. Everything from adjusting the temperature, to the heated and ventilated seats and the volume is controlled via this touch sensitive panel.

The final element is the digital clock mounted at the top of the dashboard. Maserati introduced this in the Grecale SUV, and it doubles as an interface for the voice assistant function. It’s also a notifications hub for any connected smartphones, and the car’s charging functions.

The heavy display count may go against more traditional sports car interior design, but the Maserati proves a wonderful exercise in material selection and finish. This starts with the loving perforations in the seat covers woven from recycled nylon, and ends with the copper threads, which run finely chiselled through the consoles as a nod to the car’s electric drivetrain.

Two passengers will be more than happy up front, and even though the GranTurismo is technically a 2+2, the rear seats are pretty useful too. There’s more space back there than in a Bentley Continental GT, for example.

Storage is a little compromised though. The boot is a Ford Fiesta rivalling 270 litres, and there’s no storage under the huge bonnet. It’s bolted shut as important high-voltage electrics are housed there, and can only be opened by Maserati with a special tool.

Maserati GranTurismo Folgore performance and driving

Arming the launch control function and sinking the accelerator pedal to the floor hurls the two-tonne coupe violently forward, with 0-62mph coming up in a supercar beating 2.7 seconds. Keep going all the way, and the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore will go all the way on to a top speed of 202mph - quite incredible for an electric car with a single gear.

The driving experience is spectacular, and worthy of the sports car image worn on the outside. Combined with the simply unbelievable speed is a tight chassis, direct steering, and variable torque distribution made possible by the two rear wheels each having an independent electric motor. But it doesn’t forget its grand tourer roots either, and remains comfortable no matter which of the four drive modes you’ve selected.

One of the best aspects - easily overlooked - is the natural seating position afforded by the battery layout. You’re sat close to the ground, enhancing the sensation of speed and enjoyment. And to go with the performance and solid ergonomics is a soundtrack developed especially for the GranTurismo Folgore.

Running Costs and Pricing

Prices for the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore start at under £180,000, but let's face it - that's not cheap, even before you've thrown even more thousands at it to get the paint colour and trim that you want. Not to mention another £5,000 for a semi-autonomoud rive mode with stop-start traffic jam assist... Maserati (as with all prestige brands) really does know how to charge. 

Of course, provided you charge at home the Folgore will be vastly cheaper to fuel than a petrol equivalent - it'll cost as little as 5p per mile if you use an off-peak tariff at home, compared with well over 20p per mile for a petrol sports car.

Even so, it's not cheap and depreciation could be verging on ruinous. The financial prospect of a luxury sports car like this is rarely good, and in this case it's definitely only for the very brave. 

Verdict

We think that there's a lot to like about the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore. It's gorgeous, as a classic coupe uncompromised by its electric powertrain, while the level of performance gives the Porsche Taycan Turbo S something to think about. It's likely to be a very expensive option though, but you'll be paying for a somewhat unique, and future-proof electric coupe with enormous power, poise, and quality.