Don't be fooled: this Maserati GranTurismo is all new and now comes with pure-electric power
Meet Maserati’s first EV
After much teasing, Maserati has officially unveiled the new GranTurismo, the latest generation of its luxury coupé, and the big news is that it will be available not only as a petrol car but also in tri-motor electric form with 1,184bhp.
In terms of its looks, there’s certainly no mistaking it for anything other than a Maserati GranTurismo, on account of it looking a lot like the old one.
The front, however, is now inspired by Maserati’s MC20 sports car, with a similar light and grille treatment, while the rear lights are inspired by both a harpoon and the boomerang-shaped lights that featured on the 3200GT of the late 1990s.
Three models make up the new GranTurismo range, all with small visual cues setting them apart from each other; Modena variants are petrol-powered, as are the more powerful Trofeo versions, but it’s the electric GranTurismo, Maserati’s first EV, that can really trump the other two on performance.
Maserati goes electric
Dubbed the Folgore (Italian for lightning), the pure-electric version of the Maserati GranTurismo features three 300kW electric motors, one in the front and two at the rear.
While the 800-volt electric system (twice the voltage of a regular electric family car) can generate a continuous 750bhp, by delving into the driving modes, drivers can access the Maserati GranTurismo Fulgore’s full 1,185bhp for short periods, enabling 0-62mph in as little 2.7 seconds.
Maserati hasn’t yet mentioned the Folgore’s range, though we know it is powered by a battery pack with a 92.5kWh capacity, which is similar to the capacity (gross, rather than net/ usable) of the 245-mile Porsche Taycan Turbo S.
Helping it go further per charge, the electric GranTurismo has bespoke wheels and front splitters to optimise airflow, making the Folgore around 7% more slippery through the air than its petrol-powered equivalents.
It also has Max Range and GT driving modes that reduce the motor output with a view to increasing the range.
Because of the high-voltage electric system, a maximum charging capacity of up to 270kW is possible at a suitable charger.
But GranTurismo petrol power remains
Maserati’s 3-litre twin-turbo Nettuno V6 engine is the petrol option. In the GranTurismo Modena it’s tuned to 483bhp, with power sent to all four wheels.
Modena spec is designed for “devotees of an elegant, sophisticated and refined lifestyle,” according to Maerati, which means people who aren’t likely to take their GranTurismo on a track day.
For customers who want to tap into the model’s performance potential that bit more, the Trofeo uses the same engine and eight-speed automatic transmission but tuned to 542bhp, which is enough to propel it from rest to 62mph in 3.5 seconds. Not quite as quick as the Folgore, then, but no doubt a fair bit noisier.
Beyond the power boost, a few styling and aerodynamic elements set the Trofeo apart from the Modena, namely specific front splitters, gloss-black grille slats, fully-carbon-fibre side skirts and the carbon-fibre accents in the rear bumper.
Stopping power on all models comes courtesy of ventilated discs and Brembo six-piston brake calipers up front, with four-pot calipers at the rear
Luxury interior
Inside, drivers will find themselves faced with a 12.2in digital instrument cluster, a 12.3in central display and another 8in “comfort display” screen.
Giving some idea of the ever-increasing importance of the Chinese market to high-end car-makers, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone technology, there’s also integration with one of their Chinese equivalents, Baidu CarLife.
Just as the Modena, Trofeo and Folgore all have their own distinct external and performance differences, so too do the interiors.
The Modena uses more in the way of wood and leather, for example; the Trofeo uses perforated leather and a herringbone motif throughout; and befitting its eco-credentials, the Folgore makes much use of a nylon material made from recycled fishing nets.
Maserati GranTurismo rivals, on sale date and prices
The new Maserati GranTurismo is due for launch next year and will go toe-to-toe with the likes of the Ferrari Roma, Aston Martin Vantage and Mercedes-AMG SL.
Prices for petrol and electric GranTurismo variants will be revealed closer to their respective arrivals next year (spring for the V6 then autumn for the EV), though expect around £150,000 for the Trofeo (with a premium of £50,000 for the Launch Edition) and prices for the Folgore to start at around £200,000.
Next year is set to be a big one for Maserati with not only the launch of the new GranTurismo but also the Grecale SUV, too.
Another announcement also likely to emerge from the firm is that of a convertible version of the GranTurismo — the GranCabrio — which is also expected in Modena, Trofeo and Folgore guises.
Related articles
- After reading about the new 2023 Maserati GranTurismo, you might like to find out what Jeremy Clarkson thought about the MC20
- Or read our review of the Maserati Grecale SUV
- Check out nine of the most exciting new cars arriving in 2022
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