Battery size: 83kWh
Range: 279 miles
Fast DC charge speed: 270kW
Miles per kWh: 2.7
Introduction and Model History
The Maserati GranCabrio Folgore enters the electric car market as the first all-electric four-seat convertible—a niche but unique offering. Building on Maserati’s legacy of glamorous GTs, the Folgore complements its combustion-engine equivalent, the V6-powered Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo, by bringing electrification to the lineup.
Competing against electric GTs like the Porsche Taycan Turbo and Lotus Emeya R, the GranCabrio aims to balance Italian styling with battery-powered performance, to create a sumptuous, prestige daily GT. You can even squeeze the kids in the back seats, for the occasional short journey.
Oh, and it's got 818bhp for a 0-62mph of 2.8 seconds. Bit much? Maybe. But maybe not... Read on to find out why the abundance of power actually works just fine, but there are other aspects of the GranCabrio Folgore that make it very hard to justify.
What I will say with conviction is that the Maserati is a real beauty. I know that styling is subjective, and I can totally understand why you might prefer the more modern lines of the Porsche Taycan or Lotus Emeya, but for me the classic proportions and pretty styling of the Maserati is just enough to be head-turning, without being too attention seeking. And classic Italian design like this is always timeless, isn't it? I think it's just beautiful.
And I'd have the soft-top GranCabrio over the hard-top GranTurismo Folgore coupe, too, as I think electric power suits open-air driving just perfectly.
Range, Battery and Charging
Underneath its svelte body, the GranCabrio Folgore has a lithium-ion NMC battery with 83kWh usable capacity (92.5kWh total). That delivers a WLTP range of 279 miles, which is on the lower end when compared to rivals like the Taycan and Emeya, both of which manage close to 400 miles.
However, 800V charging in the Maserati allows for 270kW DC ultra-rapid charging—enough to add 62 miles in 5 minutes in ideal conditions. Notably, it doesn't get vehicle-to-grid or vehicle-to-load tech, which is a shame, but at least the rapid charging speeds are competitive in this class. You get a heat pump as standard, too, which should help with cold weather range and efficiency.
Having said that, we've not tried the electric Maserati in winter conditions, so I'd estimate that you'll see around 160- to 240 miles in between charges depending on weather and driving conditions.
Practicality and Boot Space
Practicality is not the Maserati's strong suit, which is hardly unsurprising for a luxury convertible - even if it is capable of seating four people. You will get a couple of kids in those back seats and I'd actually say that it's slightly better for rear passengers than a Porsche 911, for instance. But it's not somewhere that anyone is going to want to sit for a long time, so think of it as a 2+2 kind of car that'll be great for weekend days out.
Of course, boot capacity is also limited by its drop-top design and battery layout, so you get a rather pokey 131-litres of space with the roof down, or 172-litres with the roof up. Obvoiusly, saloon competitors like the Taycan offer better cargo and rear seat room, but let's fave it - the Maserati is more about style and experience than practicality. And for two people it'll be a sumptuous car to spend time in, with enough space for luggage if you use those back seats as well as the boot, a decent amount of cubbies around the cabin and great refinement and protection from wind bluster even with the roof down at higher speeds.
Interior, Design/Styling and Technology
The Folgore is rather lovely inside, complete with dense-feeling materials and a smart dashboard layout that matches its exterior elegance. There are areas where the materials maybe don't quite feel up to scratch for this sort of price, particularly lower down in the cabin and around the door trim, but it does look and feel really nice - albeit the Lotus and Porsche both have better perceived material quality overall.
Equipment includes a new infotainment touchscreen that's a huge improvement on older Maseratis, and it gets all the features you want including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A secondary screen juts out beneath the main infotainment screen and houses all your cabin comfort features including air-con and heated seats, but to be honest I'd rather see some classy physical switchgear for those.
Generally, the infotainment system is pretty easy to use, although I found it so annoying that it kicks you out of Apple CarPlay when you change drive mode. Seems a bit weird, that. At least slim steering wheel (I'd definitely pay the extra for the Alcantara steering wheel finish) is very lovely, and a joy to use.
Motors, Performance and Handling
With three electric motors delivering up to 751bhp (818bhp on boost) and 996lb ft of torque, the GranCabrio hits 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds and tops out at 180mph.
It is, of course, all-wheel drive as standard, and you also get adaptive air suspension included on the GranCabrio Folgore, which has had its suspension tweaked to better deal with the additional weight of that huge battery.
These are supercar figures, but the moment I set off in the Maserati it was obvious that this is still a grand tourer in nature. Don't get me wrong, if you snick the drive mode switch on the steering wheel into Sport then everything tautens up and you can flow down a good road neatly, with satisfying control and at a frankly alarming speed if you want to. It's great fun - and well worthwhile - to drive the GranCabrio Folgore with a bit of vigour. But generally it feels most in its element when you're surfing that huge wave of torque, and relaxing through big miles - ideally with the roof down, and some great scenery to enjoy. It's a boulevard car, let's face it. And there's nothing wrong with that!
Running Costs and Pricing
The £185,610 price tag positions the Folgore deep into luxury territory. You could get a Porsche Taycan or Porsche 911 for drastically less than that. With an efficiency of 2.68 miles/kWh, the Maserati won’t win any awards for frugality either, although for a car like as powerful as this that's hardly an unreasonable level of efficiency.
Buyers aren’t likely to be budget-conscious, but it’s worth noting that you can spend a huge amount on extras for the Folgore. Yes, it has most of the convenience and comfort features you want in a car like this, but with a huge array of options ranging from a £600 wind deflector (come on Maserati, surely that should be standard?!) to paint and interior trim upgrades and a driver-assistance pack that can each add many thousands, you can find yourself well past the £200,000 mark when speccing your Maserati GranCabrio Folgore.
Verdict
It will come as no surprise when I tell you that cars like the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT offer much better value and range, and they'll likely hold their value better as well. But, the GranCabrio Folgore is an emotional purchase. No Maserati has ever been bought because it makes practical sense, and that hasn't changed just because this one is electric.
It's classically beautiful in a way that few modern cars are, not to mention ferociously fast, and unique in its ability to deliver open-top electric GT cruising with four-seat convenience. It's a decadent car, ideal for those who value style and exclusivity over outright driving dynamics and value for money.
Is it difficult to justify, even in the scheme of luxury cars - petrol or electric? You bet. But I sincerely hope that you do buy one, or that your eccentric, rich friend buys one, because I love that Maserati has had the courage to make an electric car of this nature, and I sincerely hope that it succeeds.
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