Maserati GranTurismo Folgore receives a convertible sibling that will create a new niche market for electric vehicles in the USA. Maserati GranCabrio Folgore is scheduled to arrive in the USA in the fourth quarter, as a 2025 model, with a price tag of over $200,000, making it likely the first luxury electric convertible for this market. It will also be the first electric convertible of any kind sold in the USA since the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive Cabriolet and the Tesla Roadster were discontinued.
A simplified convertible version of the GranTurismo Folgore coupe launched last year as Maserati's first EV, the GranCabrio features a soft top that can be opened in 14 seconds and closed in 16 seconds while driving at speeds of up to 31 mph. Operation is done through a button on the central console or via gesture controls, swiping and holding left or right on the touchscreen.
The mentioned touchscreen measures 12.3 inches and is paired with an 8.8-inch screen for climate control. The leather-trimmed interior also features a 12.2-inch digital instrument cluster and standard neck-heating devices to make top-down driving more enjoyable in a wider range of conditions. The GranCabrio also offers 5.3 cubic feet of trunk space, which decreases to 4.0 cubic feet with the roof stored.
Three electric motors - one in the front and two in the rear - each have 402 horsepower. This adds up to a nominal power of over 1,200 horsepower, but the actual power is limited to 760 horsepower by inverters, silicon carbide items that Maserati claims are developed for Formula E racing. A synthesized sound column is provided, along with regenerative braking capable of a claimed deceleration of 0.65 g, but which abruptly stops (no pun intended) single-pedal driving.
Maserati estimates 0-62 mph in 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph, compared to 2.7 seconds and 199 mph for the GranTurismo Folgore coupe. So while the GranCabrio Folgore seemed like a potential rival for the next-generation Tesla Roadster, it's not quite in that realm of performance. However, it should be more luxurious, and the adjustable rear torque vectoring available in Corsa driving mode (one of four, along with Max-Range, GT, and Sport) is promising for maneuverability.
A 92.5 kWh (83.0 kWh usable) T-shaped battery pack is located in the transmission tunnel and behind the rear seats, ensuring a 50:50 weight distribution. EPA range is not yet certified, but Maserati estimates around 250 miles. An 800-volt electrical architecture allows for fast DC charging speeds capable of achieving a 20%-80% charge in 18 minutes, according to Maserati.
After the GranTurismo and GranCabrio, Maserati plans to launch a fully electric Folgore version of the Grecale SUV, its current entry-level model. These are the first steps toward the goals of having electric versions for all models by 2025 and gradually phasing out combustion engines by 2030.
Carlos Tavares, CEO of Maserati's parent company Stellantis, said EV technology is politicians' preferred technology, not the industry's, so will Maserati be able to inject the right kind of sentiment into these vehicles? Or is it just regulatory appeasement?
