Confirmed: Electric Maserati MC20 supercar cancelled but Quattroporte EV still in development
And combustion engines may continue across range, as brand focuses on giving customers a choice
The electric version of the Maserati MC20 supercar was cancelled as far back as the end of 2024, the Italian brand’s new boss for the UK and Scandinavia has confirmed.
Speculation that the model was under threat emerged last week, after it was reported that Maserati owner Stellantis had written off a €1.5bn (£1.2bn) investment in the trident marque. Financial documents revealed that this would result in “the cancellation of certain projects prior to their launch”, and Autocar described the future of the MC20 Folgore (as Maserati’s electric models are dubbed) as “in doubt”.
However, the decision on the future of the model was decided as far back as November last year, Driving.co.uk has been told, and part of the cutbacks were related to the development of that model.
“It has been discontinued and this was made official at the end of 2024,” confirmed Mariangela Del Vecchio, who was appointed head of Maserati North Europe in September. “[The decision was made] because of a lack of demand from consumers in that specific segment of the super sport cars,” she added.
There was also doubt cast on the future of the electric version of the new Quattroporte luxury saloon, though Del Vecchio said that model was still in development. “We don’t have a lot of information about all the details [but] we know that in Modena they are working on it.”
Maserati had committed to be a fully electric carmaker by 2028, but slow sales, the pulling of investment and the doubt over its future model plan have raised questions about a volte-face. Asked whether petrol engine will now continue beyond 2028, a spokesperson told Driving.co.uk that “if there is a market demand, then potentially. But we don’t have any information to say that that’s happening or not happening.”
A number of other luxury carmakers have scaled back or delayed electric car plans due to weaker than expected demand. Aston Martin cancelled its electric Rapide E grand tourer in January 2020 and in February this year pushed back its plan to launch its first electric car from 2025 to “the latter part of this decade.” The British brand will instead focus on plug-in hybrid powertrains.
Bentley is on target to launch its first electric model next year but has pushed back its plan to be electric-only from 2030 to 2033. Mercedes-Benz has watered down plans to become an EV-only brand by 2030 in certain markets, and has renewed its focus on combustion vehicles to launch alongside new EVs.
“Currently [Maserati] is still focused a lot on electric mobility,” said Del Vecchio. “We finished launching the product range last year, and it includes Grecale Folgore, Gran Turismo Folgore and Gran Cabrio Folgore. So this is clearly what we have as of now.”
The future is less clear. Maserati describes itself as a “customer driven company”, and said that it is focused on giving customers choice, pointing out that all of its cars are developed to take both combustion and electric powertrains.
The updated Quattroporte and Levante, now expected to be released as electric models towards the end of the decade, were described as “still very much a work in progress”. Maserati said it is keeping its eye on the marketplace and seeing what consumers want, further suggesting the new products are likely to be available an EVs but the door is still open to petrol-powered variants.
“We don’t know what is going to be the evolution [of the market] in the next weeks or months,” she said. “We believe we have made important steps forward. We are such an historic, long-standing brand — an iconic brand, over 110 years — so we are strong in our legacy. But we are also looking ahead, because we’re giving the opportunity to the consumers to choose between ice and electric.”
Del Vecchio refused to say whether its traditional customers are enthusiastic about electric vehicles, vehemently opposed or ambivalent, but again pointed to the fact that Maserati is offering them a choice.
“Consider [that the] Gran Cabrio is the only car in the upper premium luxury segment in electric version as well as combustion”, she said. “So it’s up to our customers. We accommodate their wishes as much as we can.”
It’s also too soon to say whether Maserati’s current Folgore models are a success, claimed Del Vecchio, as the product range was only completed at the end of 2024 and the company hasn’t seen a full year of sales yet.
“For us it’s probably early days, she said. “We see there’s an interest but we don’t really have enough data to say. We will see during this year the evolution [of the market].”
For now, though, Maserati is hedging its bets and continuing to roll out new petrol models, including 490hp versions of the Gran Turismo and Gran Cabrio (“because of the demand in that part of the segment”), as well as the GT2 Stradale, which is a road-legal version of the twin-turbocharged V6-powered GT2 racing car (in turn based on the MC20 supercar), producing 630bhp and capable of 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds.
“This is what the brand Maserati stands for,” said Del Vecchio. “It’s a combination of heritage and legacy, Italian craftsmanship and elegance, and a look to the future through innovation like electric mobility. Therefore now we are both dedicating on the two supplies: electric and ice.”
Related articles
- If you were interested in Maserati cancelling the electric MC20 supercar, you might like to read our review of the MC20 Cielo drop-top
- Also check out our review of another Maserati convertible, the Gran Cabrio
- And don’t miss our Maserati Grecale Folgore review: its first electric SUV is good … but will it worry Porsche?
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