It’s likely that, wherever in the world you are, say the name Maserati and most people will immediately know that you are talking about the prestige Italian car maker. The design of cars changes over time and sometimes manufacturers can make mistakes and have a dud on their hands. When it comes to how a car should look however, Maserati never, ever, put a foot wrong. Automotive beauty is instilled into their designers’ drawing-boards as if by magic and it’s no different on this occasion with our featured model. There is though one main difference; this premium convertible is all-electric.
Although the 20th Century has seen many changes, Maserati still believe in open-top cars, as proved when launching the very desirable petrol GranCabrio in 2009. Designed by Pininfarina, it embodied the essence of Italian style and elegance by offering a powerful V8 engine and cutting-edge technology, continuing the brand’s commitment to combining driving pleasure with uncompromising performance.
Now we have the new GranCabrio, the direct successor to the GranTurismo. It’s a luxury car that, then as now, continues to turn heads and ruffle hair in the wind. In this Folgore version, we have the first full-electric open-top car in its class. Another step towards the future?
The Exterior
The new Maserati GranCabrio Folgore was created in parallel with the GranTurismo and follows the understatement and elegance of its lines, reaffirming the concept expressed by the coupé version, with the optimal balance between aesthetic approach and unostentatious functionality. No fads; just timeless beauty and best-in-class mechanics, emphasising a purity of form and subtle design cues.
The classic proportions of the brand's cars have been maintained, especially with the long bonnet. The fabric roof maintains the clean line when closed and highlights the luxury of the passenger compartment when open, maintaining the clean design lines. The simultaneously elegant and decisive profile gives the surfaces a pleasantly dynamic appearance, the lines are sinuous with specific characterisation in the wheel arches to highlight the transition between the refinement of the design and the technical aspects of the car.
As with all new Maserati models the front of the GranCabrio also features vertical lights, bringing back what has become a new lighting signature for the brand. This stylistic decision gives the car a fresh, sporty look. Conversely, the front grille includes, as ever, the legendary 3D Trident logo.
The rear features the tail-lights first seen in the GranTurismo. Illuminated by Full LED technology, this shape also gives the GranCabrio an unmistakable, very assertive signature at the rear. The sports car offers the driver and their passengers an exclusive welcome, featuring an interior and exterior lighting strategy, triggered by how far the key is away from the vehicle. The system uses interior and exterior lights to provide a greater sense of welcome and security when the user gets into the vehicle in the dark. The lights turn on as you approach and move away. The feature also supports locking and unlocking the doors and tailgate, based on, again, how close the key fob is to the vehicle.
The Interior
The GranCabrio Folgore trim level is bold and sophisticated; it fully embodies the spirit of Maserati by combining traditional Italian design with the use of premium materials that perfectly define the elegance of said design. Once again tradition and Italian artisan-ship are juxtaposed with innovation and technology. With its top down, the contrast between luxury and technology immediately catches the eye when you look at the uniquely crafted materials, then at the screens that bring together the controls. The uniqueness of the materials, stitching and processes used in the car are an expression of engineered craftsmanship.
The completely clutter-free central tunnel (all commands are digital) is a celebration of high-quality materials. The layout is that of a sports car, with a highly dynamic design for the door panels and a colour division that highlights the design of the dashboard: A slim, delicate upper section appears to soar over the main part, enhanced by the craftsmanship of the various trim levels. What makes the difference is the seemingly obsessive attention to detail. Everything you touch inside the cabin feels ‘real’.
The sporty yet comfortable seats, with built-in headrests, take up the theme of the dashboard, even in the backrest. They are built on a lightweight frame, for a lower overall weight of the car. The rear seats also follow the look of their front counterparts, as two real, extremely comfortable spaces. The seat configuration provides 18 options for adjustment, managed via the levers located on the lower side of the seats. Some functions can be controlled from the ‘Comfort’ display.
Meanwhile, the GranCabrio Folgore’s multi-function leather steering wheel takes sportiness to the next level. The start/stop button on the left emphasises the sporty ambition when starting the car. On the right, the second rotary switch provides a choice between drive modes and activates the optional air suspension. Comfort in the passenger compartment, even with the top down, is ensured by the neck warmer, which envelops the driver and passenger by blowing warm air directly from the newly designed seats. As standard on all models, it can be activated via a dedicated button on the comfort display, which can also be used to adjust the intensity of the air to any of the three speeds available.
Electric Motivation
The Folgore power-train has been developed around cutting-edge 800-volt technology, with state of the electric art when it comes to performance and charging time. In terms of components, the GranCabrio Folgore is driven by three motors, one in the front and two in the rear, to deliver massive power. Specially designed for exclusive use by Maserati, they reach higher levels of power density and are driven by silicon carbide inverters derived from the Formula E racing car, no less.
This solution makes it possible to precisely control the flow of energy to the motors with the concrete advantage of reducing the power loss typical of more traditional inverters. The two totally decoupled rear motors – with no transmission to interconnect the wheels – make it possible to direct the torque to each individual side, independently of each other. This kind of torque management for each individual wheel is known as torque vectoring which adjusts the car’s level of rotation not only when accelerating but also when the pedal is released and when braking.
The system acts in a similar way to a sophisticated electronically controlled differential. Each motor can be controlled independently of the others via the ‘Vehicle Domain Control Module’. The GranCabrio Folgore can therefore be driven solely in RWD or in AWD. The battery has a nominal capacity of 92.5 kWh and a discharge capacity of 610 kW, to continuously deliver around 750 bhp to the wheels. This modern motive science is all very well but if electric motoring suits your lifestyle then just looking at the car should be enough. Clients interested in the Maserati portfolio of current models comprising sports cars, saloons and SUV’s, can contact us here at MHH International to find out more about exporting from the UK to various destinations around the world. Check out our website for more information.
