Maserati pulled no punches when it said that it was going all in on EVs. The Folgore lineup promised to push the envelope of EV performance and range. While the Maserati MC20 supercar will eventually get a Folgore model of its own, the company is using the approaching days of summer to drop the top on its first production EV, the 2024 Maserati GranCabrio Folgore.
Silence Even With The Top Down
The exterior styling here is shared with the ICE version of the GranCabrio and the two look nearly identical at first glance with the EV even retaining the gas model’s front grille. However, look closer and you’ll see the lack of exhaust pipes as well as trim exclusive wheels that make the Folgore stand out from its traditional counterparts.
Maserati is also making a calculated play here on embracing familiarity with the Italian luxury car maker hoping that the droptops similarity to the ICE model will help convince skeptical Grand Touring buyers to take the plunge and go for an all-electric alternative to a gasoline engine when they cruise down their favorite coastal highway.
Luxury For The Jet Set
The interior of the GranCabrio Folgore is also roughly a carbon copy of the ICE-powered GranCabrio with the model featuring a 16-speaker premium audio system, leather-adorned seats that feature an air scarf feature that blows warm air onto the necks of front passengers as well as other luxury amenities.
Some of the minor differences lay in the way that Maserati chose to equip the Folgore with environmentally friendly materials and exclusive gauges and readouts for the EV powertrain. The rest of the cabin is appointed as you would expect out of a luxury car in its price range with splashes of wood trim and authentic metal accents doing their part to further enhance the luxury offered by the GranCabrio.
All Electric Thrill Ride
While it may seem that Maserati chose to take their proverbial ball and go home with the extent of changes here on the Folgore, you have to look underneath the skin to see where Maserati engineers put in the bulk of their work. The twin-turbocharged V6 and its accompanying components have all been ripped out and replaced with a bespoke EV drivetrain that features three radial-flux permanent-magnet motors with each one even featuring its own silicon carbide inverter. Two of these motors are at the rear while the third one is at the front.
The end result is a combined 818 hp when the Folgore is placed in “MaxBoost” mode. Otherwise, it makes a slightly tamer 751 hp. The T-shaped 92.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack is located between and behind the passengers which allowed engineers to maintain the classic proportions that the GranCabrio is known for. The regenerative braking system can draw 400 kW into the battery pack for a short time and with many charging stations not able to support the Folgore’s 800-volt architecture the Italian luxury brand has thrown in a standard “DC Booster” to help older stations charge the Folgore’s batteries.Â
When Can I Buy One?
Maserati didn’t reveal final pricing for the 2024 Maserati GranCabrio Folgore but look for it to command a sizable premium when compared to its ICE-powered counterpart. We also look forward to hearing more information including U.S> measurements for its range as well as what other surprises are lurking beneath the skin.Â
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.