Recently we’ve had the pleasure of flying out to Dubai for a supposed drive to Abu Dhabi with the new Maserati GranTurismo. But if you’ve been keeping up with the news in Dubai, you’d probably be able to predict that we didn’t manage to do that initially planned drive due to the weather conditions. And that’s exactly what happened with us. Not one to give up on providing us with a novel and memorable experience, Maserati whipped out the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore prototype for us to see in the flesh instead.
And yes, you read the title and the first paragraph right, what you see in the images here is in fact the prototype of the GranTurismo Folgore. The car was already unveiled to the world back in late 2022 together with the new-generation GranTurismo, but deliveries have yet to begin for the all-electric grand tourer. Anyway, let’s get back to checking out the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore right here.
If you didn’t know it yet, “Folgore” is Italian for “lightning” and it is the moniker used by Maserati for all of its electric cars. There is the Grecale Folgore and the GranCabrio Folgore as well. This new moniker sits on the “Cofango” of the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore quite proudly, indicating its all-electric powertrain. And if you didn’t know what “Cofango” means, it is basically the combination of the Italian words “Cofano” and “Parafango” which mean Hood and Fender respectively.
The “Cofango” is one of the new updates of the new-generation Maserati GranTurismo. And while we may be focusing on the Folgore right here, its appearance pretty much sums up the general updates to the GranTurismo through this generational leap. That “Cofango” leads you right into the new set of headlights that the GranTurismo has now, which are more “vertical” than before. The front bumper for the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore is slightly different, but it isn’t a massive departure from the petrol version. In fact, this EV still retains a rather legitimate “grille” with the Maserati trident.
The wheels on the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore adopt the same staggered setup as its petrol counterparts with 20-inch wheels at the front and 21-inch wheels at the back. The tyres are also wider at the back, measuring 295 mm wide, 30 mm wider than the front tyres. As for the brakes, the Folgore uses 6-piston brakes at the front and 4-piston brakes at the back.
To give you the complete grand tourer experience, the Maserati Gran Turismo Folgore sits on an all-around air suspension system. A double wishbone setup is used for the front wheels while a multi-link setup is used at the rear. The Folgore weighs 2,260 kg, making it 465 kg heavier than the Trofeo and Modena versions.
That extra weight is countered by the extra power that the Folgore makes – and it makes a lot of power with its tri-motor setup. With one electric motor at the front and two at the back, the Folgore is supposedly capable of a maximum output of 1,200 hp (metric) and 1,350 Nm. However, due to battery limitations, the Folgore can only output 761 hp (metric) and 1,350 Nm at maximum. This enables it to do 0-100 km/h in just 2.7 seconds and 0-200 km/h in just 8.8 seconds. Should you have the perfect stretch of road, the Folgore can even hit a top speed of 325 km/h. It is simply the most powerful and the fastest version of the all-new GranTurismo. And that should give you an idea of where Maserati is heading.
And while the battery of the Folgore may not sound so advanced due to the maximum power limit that it imposes, it boasts pretty much one of the best battery technologies of today with its 800-volt architecture. With it, the GranTurismo Folgore can handle a maximum DC charging rate of 270 kW. This means that it only takes 18 minutes for its battery to from 20% to 80% State of Charge (SoC).
And if there are no DC chargers, the GranTurismo Folgore can handle a maximum AC charging rate of 22 kW. This can supposedly help the Folgore regain 100 km of range in just 1 hour. With a fully charged battery, the GranTurismo Folgore can be driven for 450 km (at least on the WLTP test cycle).
Inside, the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore sports the same cabin layout as its petrol counterparts, albeit with some extra EV functions in the head unit. It also reflects the new GranTurismo’s cabin which now gets more screens than before. If we include the rearview camera and the digital “analogue” clock, there are five digital screens in the new GranTurismo.
The particular unit that we perused featured a blue and white interior colour theme, which reminded me of the BYD Atto 3 or the Chery Omoda E5. With those similarities in mind, the other interior colour options for the Folgore sure become a lot more appealing.
The new GranTurismo (and that includes the Folgore) features a new multi-function steering wheel, a revamped dashboard, and a new electronic gear control system which is simply an array of buttons above the HVAC controls.
All else, the GranTurismo Folgore’s cabin is that of a sports car as it should be. Although it is a grand tourer, Maserati takes pride in the fact that the new GranTurismo has strong sportscar characteristics.
There is a second row in the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore, making it a 4-seater Grand Tourer. Having sat inside the car for a short while, we would say that it is a 4-seater for short trips, but a 2-seater for the ultimate grand touring experience.
The all-new Maserati GranTurismo’s petrol variants have already been launched in Malaysia with the Modena costing RM738,800 and the Trofeo costing RM878,800. There have been hints that the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore, may soon be making its debut in Malaysia.
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