Maserati GranCabrio Folgore makes its debut at “Maserati Folgore Day” in Modena as the first EV convertible in its segment.
“Folgore” is Italian for “lightning” and it is the moniker applied to Maserati’s full-electric models.
Unveiled recently during the brand’s “Folgore Day” in Modena to celebrate Maserati’s journey towards luxury electrified performance vehicles, the GranCabrio Folgore – a 290km/h 2+2 convertible – joins its all-electric brethren, the GranTurismo Folgore coupe and Grecale Folgore crossover.
If you're wondering, this isn't just another concept, but a production-ready model. The order-books are open, with the first cars expected Q4 2024.
Maserati’s vision is for the entire model range to be fully electrified by 2028, including the MC20 sportscar, with a Folgore model expected to make its debut in 2025.
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With a commodious 2929mm wheelbase, the GranCabrio is engineered to be a proper 2+2 soft-top convertible, with rear-seats that aren’t intended to be jump-seats for shorties.
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True to brand form, the GranCabrio Folgore’s cabin is meticulously executed with and well-appointed with the latest technology and UI, especially relating to the car’s electrification and charging status, as well as real-time operating range – this takes into account charging points en route and at the destination.
We reckon that cabrios are more sensitive to cabin colourway combinations, because it’s a chance to flash your sartorial taste to passers-by when you put the roof down.
The Formula E-derived all-electric powertrain sits on 800V architecture, and boasts a cool benefit – apart from the huge hit of torque from the triple 300kW motors and the fact that you can keep it running when it’s stationary – you certainly won’t smell your own exhaust fumes with the roof-down.
For optimum handling balance, the placement of the battery modules around the central tunnel results in lower inertia resistance force, because the weight of the battery modules remains in the centre of the car, both vertically and horizontally.
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The stats are hugely impressive for this grand tourer convertible, with the GranCabrio Folgore serving up 760hp (830hp with MaxBoost) and a massive 1350Nm. It even has the ability to be enjoyed in either rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive modes, with the familiar choices in driving modes to suit one's moods – GT, Sport, Corsa and specific to the EV, Max Range.
Naturally, the soundtrack remains an emotive element of owning and driving a sportscar, especially when the going gets fast. Some purists could be up in arms over the GranCabrio Folgore’s synthesised sound, where the natural acoustics of the electric motors have been integrated with Maserati’s familiar V8 tunes for a uniquely electric soundtrack.
We haven’t driven any of the Folgore models as yet, but given how well Porsche has created such an evocative soundtrack for the Taycan with its Porsche Electric Sport Sound feature, we reckon Maserati’s interpretation of an electric sportscar’s sound shouldn’t be far off the mark.
For a car with such advanced electric hardware, the GranCabrio Folgore tips the scales at 2.3-tonnes (over 65 per cent is made of aluminium), but it will zap from standstill to 100km/h in 2.8secs and still return a range of over 400km with a full charge on the WLTP cycle.
PHOTOS BY Maserati
