New or traditional, two-door or 4, gas-burning or electrical, there are specific issues {that a} Maserati-badged car should do. It should be lovely, it should be unusual, it should be idiosyncratic, it should be quick, and it should exhibit distinctive dealing with character on compelling roads.
The problem for the 2024 Maserati GranTurismo Folgore – “folgore” which means “lightning” in Italian, in addition to the weird-to-pronounce new sub-brand for all Maserati electrical autos – is find out how to keep away from the one frequent flaw in EV efficiency autos: homogeneity.
Managing Editor Brandon Turkus mentioned it in addition to I may hope to, in his current assessment of the 2022 Mercedes-AMG EQS.
“First, all electrical motors speed up vehicles from all manufacturers in the identical approach. And whereas that instant torque is pleasant, the depth is all that modifications – the general expertise, no matter model, is relentlessly linear and, due to this fact, one-dimensional.”
For Maserati, a tiny model sitting atop the Stellantis portfolio like a trident-shaped crown, making a “one-dimensional” expertise for its first EV, in its most storied and essential car nameplate, merely wouldn’t do. Fortunately, due to a cleverly formed battery again, a no-holds-barred strategy to drive mode modulation, an Italian strategy to chassis and suspension tuning, and a splash of magic, this little lightning bolt is something however homogenous.
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| Fast Stats | 2024 Maserati GranTurismo Folgore |
| Motors: | Three Radial-Flux Motors |
| Output: | 751 Horsepower / 996 Pound-Toes |
| 0-62 MPH: | 2.7 Seconds |
| EV Vary: | 250 Miles (est) |
| Base Worth: |
15 Pictures
Mass In The Center
Most of at this time’s electrical autos that boast both excessive efficiency, lengthy vary, or each, settle for the compromise of placing a big, flat battery pack underneath a lot of the ground of the car. Extra cells, extra juice, extra vary.
The draw back to that technique is, after all, weight, but in addition distribution of that weight out to the all-important corners of the car. Large-battery EVs really feel amazingly steady at excessive speeds in a straight line; some, just like the Lucid Air, additionally handle to really feel fairly good at fast speeds on curvy roads. Only a few, this new Maser now amongst them, really feel mild and magically agile mid-corner, when pushing exhausting.
At practically 5,000 kilos, the GranTurismo Folgore shouldn’t be a light-weight factor, nevertheless it does have the distinct benefit of a T-shaped battery pack. With the mass of that 92.5 kilowatt-hour (84 kWh usable) battery confined to the middle and rear of the car – you recognize, like a race automotive – an entire world of exact and refined dealing with opens up. Placing the middle of mass within the heart of the car seems to be an ideal concept.
I used to be fortunate sufficient to drive this early Folgore on the wonderful nation roads north of Rome, instantly after hours behind the wheel of the brand new, gas-engined GranTurismo. I used to be shocked to search out that the GT EV mimicked the way in which through which its ICE counterpart joyfully turned in, was correctable mid-corner, and customarily excelled at dancing round a bend quite than merely powering via.
Steering really feel isn’t overwhelming right here however there’s sufficient details about the grip coming from the entrance to maintain you pushing and smiling. Wanting Porsche’s extremely nimble Taycan, this could be the brand new normal bearer for enthusiastic EV driving.
Race-Derived Energy
Maserati is likely one of the OGs of the Components E grid, competing because the all-electric collection’ inception in 2014. The model has used what it’s realized in that strenuous competitors setting to develop an electrical powertrain with actual pedigree.
Three 300-kilowatt radial motors, two on the again axle and one out entrance, put an impressive 751 horsepower and 996 pound-feet of peak torque to all 4 wheels. Totally deployed, Maserati estimates that the GranTurismo Folgore can dash from zero to 62 miles per hour in 2.7 seconds and grind out a prime pace of 202 mph. For uncooked acceleration, that places the Maser within the combine with vehicles just like the Lucid Air Grand Touring Efficiency and Audi RS E-Tron GT and a shade slower than the Tesla Mannequin S Plaid and the sub-2-second Lucid Air Sapphire.
The best way through which that energy is deployed to the wheels, with the torque vectored out to every nook, is coloured vastly by which drive mode you choose, too. Maserati presents drivers a selection of 4 distinct modes that have an effect on energy supply and torque vectoring, suspension setup, stability management, and auditory expertise.
Max Vary mode tamps down the enjoyable in favor of energy conservation however may additionally be well-used as a result of GranTurismo’s vary shortcomings (extra on that in a minute). GT mode limits drivers to 80 % of the accessible energy with a softer suspension setting that I appreciated on the usually poorly surfaced Italian roads. Sport mode provides 100% of the ability and a louder engineered drive sound (which nonetheless isn’t very noticeable); it alsoloosens the reins on traction and stability management.
Corsa mode, properly, Corsa will get its personal paragraph. Our minders from Maserati had been characteristically laid again in the course of the day of driving, with a notable exception being their insistence that utilizing Corsa mode on public streets wasn’t advisable. In fact, I’m a automotive author and a typically moron, so I made a decision I’d go forward and see for myself.
A fast twist of a steering wheel-mounted knob modifications the drive mode, and to be sincere, I’d flicked into Corsa largely simply to see what modifications it confirmed on the totally digital instrument cluster. A couple of minutes later site visitors via a sluggish village cleared, and the street opened after a steep righthand flip over a really small bridge. I cleared the bridge with only a whisper of lock nonetheless utilized to the steering wheel and received overeager on the accelerator. In another drive mode traction management would’ve mitigated wheel spin, however in Corsa the tail stepped out instantly and violently.
The upshot is that this: Maserati is differentiating its range-topping EV by permitting it to be as unhinged and as driver-determined as you’d prefer it to be. I find it irresistible.
Made In Italy
The structure of Maserati’s all-new battery electrical system is spectacular in methods aside from the way it sends energy to the wheels. Constructed largely in-house (pouch-style cells within the battery pack come from blue chip provider LG Chem) and in Italy, the powertrain is essential for Maserati and sure a important first stake within the floor for future Stellantis EV merchandise. Compact and energy dense – the corporate quotes a determine of 9.2 kilowatts per kilogram – the triple electrical motors are pushed by the identical silicon carbide inverters used within the Components E program.
The 800-volt system presents DC charging as much as 270 kW, with Maserati estimating that it’ll take solely 18 minutes to go from 20 to 80 % state of cost. There’s additionally a 22-kW onboard charger for AC charging at a price of roughly 55 miles per hour (extrapolated from WLTP figures).
We’re nonetheless a bit away from realizing how the Folgore will web out when it comes to EPA vary rankings, however what we will infer from the quoted determine of roughly 280 miles (450 km) in line with WLTP requirements isn’t completely promising. The corporate was mum on US vary targets, however one thing like 230 to 250 miles of most vary appears possible given the information we have now. Stretching to 250 miles would put GT Folgore only a few ticks above the Taycan Turbo S (222 miles) however nonetheless properly behind a category chief just like the Lucid Air Grand Touring.
In case your want for vary outstrips your want for one thing actually particular, greatest to look elsewhere.
Works In Progress
You might be inspired to click on over to Motor1.com, the place I’ve reviewed the ICE model of the automotive, for a deeper dialog concerning the “vibes” contained in the cabin of the brand new GranTurismo. In the end, irrespective of the powertrain, Maserati has created a spacious (for a coupe) evocative driving atmosphere with infotainment know-how that places even different current choices from the model to disgrace.
With that mentioned, the GranTurismo Folgore that was accessible for me to drive in Italy wasn’t shut sufficient to manufacturing spec for me to attract refined conclusions. To present you some concept, the entrance cupholder areas had been occupied by twin kill switches – one thing required by an Italian watchdog company for non-production-spec electrical autos. There have been a a number of rattles and bizarre noises, not-quite-flush trim items, and some glitches inside the infotainment menus. None of that was evident within the fuel burner, so I’ve excessive hopes that the Folgore will come near justifying its $200K-plus price ticket.
Some in-cabin objects that received’t change are seats trimmed in a brand new form of materials that Maserati has dubbed Econyl. Basically recycled nylon derived from previous fishing nets (a pleasant nod to each a standard Italian occupation and the model emblem’s origins), the fabric is a tangible expression of the corporate’s want to search out sustainable options. The difficulty is that Econyl isn’t significantly good to the touch or have a look at (although it does appear fairly grippy), and finally doesn’t really feel right in a automotive at this worth level
There isn’t really a “phase” for EV sports activities vehicles but, at this stratospheric worth level or another. The Maserati GranTurismo Folgore finds itself both on the tip of the spear then (or trident), or weirdly wedged in subsequent to the likes of vehicles just like the Audi RS E-Tron GT, Lucid Air Touring, or Porsche Taycan Turbo S.
The GranTurismo is definitely extra unique, with extra overt intercourse enchantment than any of these glorious contenders. Nevertheless it stays to be seen how a lot model fairness Maserati will carry to the desk for EV fans, who are sometimes keyed in on efficiency and effectivity even in very costly merchandise. (To a sure extent, it doesn’t matter. There are sufficient wealthy of us within the cadre of current Maserati house owners to fill the order books within the early going, with out a problem.)
I additionally need to level out that our car scoring system doesn’t work elegantly when a car has no true rivals. We make a giant effort to appropriately categorize autos for true apples-to-apples comparisons, however in instances like this, that’s not doable. Does my “intestine” inform me that this sensuous, modern, high-performance EV ought to rank an 8.3 on a scale of 10? No. However when it’s priced like an unique, favors efficiency over vary, and presents house and storage of a giant coupe, not a sedan or wagon… properly, the rating goes down.
Right here’s hoping that Bentley, Tesla, and Porsche all have entries on this extraordinary phase, sooner quite than later. Within the meantime, Maserati and future GranTurismo Folgore house owners can take pleasure in exclusivity whereas additionally having fun with one of the vital singular EV driving experiences on the planet.
