Maserati’s Electric Revolution: The GranCabrio Folgore Unveiled

Maserati Teases new vehicle on social media
Unveiling scheduled for April 15th
GranCabrio Folgore expected

On April 9th, Maserati teased a new vehicle release on its official social media accounts by posting a short teaser video. The video hinted at an April 15th date, with Maserati captioning it, “The Trident (Maserati’s logo) has gained a new chapter.”

International media speculates that this release aligns with Maserati’s recent announcement that production for their electric car, the MC20, will begin in 2025. They suggest the new vehicle could be the GranCabrio’s electric model, the GranCabrio Folgore.

Based on a tri-motor 800V architecture, a total output estimated at 1,184 horsepower

The GranCabrio Folgore is the first electric luxury grand tourer convertible based on the same tri-motor 800V architecture as the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore. It has one electric motor in the front and two in the rear, allowing precise torque vectoring. While the total motor output is estimated at 1,184 horsepower, it is still a theoretical figure.

The 92.5kWh battery pack is not located under the car’s floor but is instead arranged in a T-shape in the vehicle’s center. This design enables a low driving position and maintains the sleek roofline that defines Maserati’s grand tourers. The battery can charge at a maximum rate of 270 kW, but the GranCabrio Folgore’s range is expected to fall short of approximately 280 miles due to the folding roof.

Overall, the GranCabrio Folgore maintains a design similar to the internal combustion engine model.

As the GranCabrio transitions to an electric model, the added weight of the battery and motors will likely slow down the time it takes to reach 62 mph. However, since the GranTurismo Folgore accelerated to 62 mph in just 2.7 seconds, the GranCabrio is expected to achieve similar speeds.

Previous spy shots of the GranCabrio Folgore revealed a fabric roof, a front bumper with small air vents for reduced drag, and aerodynamically optimized 20—and 21-inch wheels. The Folgore has maintained a design language similar to the internal combustion engine model.

Convertible electric cars are challenging to make

The Maserati GranTurismo convertible is approximately $200,000, about $58,000 more expensive than the hardtop model. The GranTurismo Folgore is roughly $260,000, so the GranCabrio Folgore will likely be priced above $292,000.

Meanwhile, convertible electric cars are pretty rare in the auto market.
This is due to the difficulty of incorporating the weight of the battery and electric motors into a convertible body. Convertible electric cars include the MINI Convertible Electric, the soon-to-be-released MG Cyberster, and the Polestar 6 Roadster. If the GranCabrio Folgore is released, it will join the niche market of convertible electric cars.