Obviously, Maserati sees electrification as a vital component of its future. Not only did the company sign up for the Formula E racing series in 2023 for Season 9, but it also added electric vehicles to its range. At the new Italian Formula E race founded in Misano, I had the opportunity to test how to drive the Maserati Grecale Folgore SUV, as well as revel in the fierce functionality of the GranTurismo Folgore on the track. Obviously, Maserati was looking to prove that its cars were still race cars in the electric age.
The new electric Maseratis are called Folgore because in Italian it means “lightning”: an instantaneous flash of electricity, which is fitting for a logo that owes its heritage to good luck in motorsport. However, like almost all functional car manufacturers, Maserati felt the need to join the SUV party, as this type of vehicle sells out. 51% of cars sold in Europe in 2023 were SUVs, and in the U. S. That figure was 46%. The SUV would arguably be heavily maligned (and rightly so), however, any manufacturer that decides not to include this format in its lineup does so at its own risk, at least as far as monetary fitness is concerned. The question is: Has Maserati managed to retain at least some of its sporty DNA in this electric SUV?
Among cars of this type, the Grecale Folgore is quite beautiful. Maserati has retained the familiar image, with a giant grille at the front, which is evidently not necessary in a car without a combustion engine radiator. The profile is pleasantly rounded, close to an exotic edition of a Porsche Macan, which is also similar in size. The possible paint options presented on the Italian occasion were subtle, elegant and supposedly all blue, adding the matte grey edition I drove.
The interior, unsurprisingly, is sumptuous; After all, this is an Italian luxury car. The leather seats are incredibly comfortable and the stitching on the dashboard is perfectly arranged. The steering wheel turns out to be for your hands. The rear is decidedly spacious for adult passengers. With the rear seats folded down, you get a useful rear load area of 535 litres, making the space sumptuous and practical.
The Grecale Folgore is a twin-engine car with two equal 205 kW (275 hp) engines, for a total of 550 hp and an astonishing 820 Nm of torque. This propels the car from 0 to 100 km/h in 4. 1 seconds. , which is roughly comparable to a frameless Tesla Model X, BMW’s iX M60 is a bit faster. Still, it’s a very fast SUV, and fast enough to get you into trouble. I controlled it to cause a slight shake from behind by stepping too the accelerator when exiting a roundabout, although the traction control compensates very quickly.
While the functionality specs are wonderful on paper, the Grecale Folgore shines with its handling. The weight distribution is almost the best: 47. 2/52. 8 from front to back. Maserati has also done an amazing job with the suspension setup of the Grecale Folgore. He drove the car on the most mountainous roads in Italy, many of which didn’t have the best surfaces. Still, the Maserati swallowed the bumps in the road almost as if they didn’t exist. This type of riding is usually done through a comfortable suspension, but Maserati has managed to offer this comfort, as well as accurate guidance and smooth, reliable cornering, despite the weight. The Grecale Folgore was very much at home on the winding Italian country roads with enthusiasm. As an SUV, the Grecale Folgore is incredibly fun to drive. The power and sleek handling provide a much sportier appeal than you’d expect from such a large and heavy car.
Although the Grecale Folgore is the best seller, the GranTurismo Folgore was Maserati’s first electric vehicle. I haven’t ridden the electric GranTurismo yet, but I was invited to do a lap of the Misano circuit in a single lap with an experienced rider. The car’s 760 horsepower is unholy, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2. 7 seconds and a top speed of 202 km/h. Like the Tesla Model S Plaid, the GranTurismo makes you feel a little weak when accelerating hard. Right from the start, it’s very fast. If you need a true Maserati electric sports experience, the GranTurismo Folgore will be the way to go. But the Grecale Folgore offers a taste of this character in a much more practical package.
However, there are some spaces where the Maserati Grecale Folgore is more mediocre. The battery is a hefty 105 kWh unit, with 95 kWh usable. Despite this capability, Maserati cites a WLTP diversity of between 266 and 313 miles, which is a bit low. Even the WLTP power rating is only 4. 2 km consistent with kWh. The electric formula is also only 400V, and not the 800V used in the GranTurismo Folgore. Therefore, the maximum DC charging speed is 150 kW, which is the best. However, you can still qualify from 20% to 80% in 29 minutes, which will be enough for longer trips, and 22kW AC charging is also standard.
The idler houses too many buttons and handles.
There are also some generally Italian annoyances with the Grecale Folgore. The paddles for adjusting the regeneration point of the electric motor are located just in front of the turn signal lever on the left and the windscreen wiper lever on the right. This means that the two commands can get in each other’s way. The most sensible thing is that there are hidden buttons on the guide wheel at this point. Those on the left control the media and it was only through possibility that I discovered them. Until now, I couldn’t figure out how to turn off the musical formula.
However, other aspects of the infotainment formula are excellent. The head-to-head demo is minimalist but effective, and there’s classic speed instrumentation that can reveal map snippets when navigating. Although the air conditioning is completely screen-controlled, Maserati has provided it via a separate 8. 8-inch panel shown below the 12. 3-inch main center, so that all air temperature and fan speed buttons are available at all times.
Unsurprisingly, the Maserati Grecale Folgore doesn’t come cheap. With a starting price of £109,905 ($137,000), its apparent top competitor is the Lotus Eletre, which has a less expensive entry price, but fetches a similar price in the mid-range with the S. The Eletre is a longer, wider (albeit shorter) car. The Grecale Folgore is 125 kg lighter but also less powerful. The Lotus, like the Maserati, manages to deliver a comfortable ride and driving dynamics that shouldn’t be imaginable for a giant, heavy SUV.
There’s a strong blue theme to the possible paint options at the driving event in Italy.
The Maserati Grecale Folgore is facing a strong festival from Lotus. But that means you’re in smart company. You probably won’t see many of those two cars on the road, with their six-figure value tags. But if you need a sumptuous vehicle that offers a bit of practicality and convenience for 4 adults, or five in a pinch, and you’re willing to pay for it, Maserati has you covered with the Grecale Folgore. And it gives you all of this in addition to the thrill of driving that comes to expect from the Maserati brand.