Maserati is an Italian brand in transition. Its versatile Nettuno V-6 engine is going into multiple models, but the company also committed to offering electric versions of the whole range by 2025. Its first electric is the impressive Folgore version of the four-seat 2024 GranTurismo. We were among the journalists Maserati set loose on the Vallelunga track outside Rome.
Italy has a serious commitment to racing, and Autodromo Vallelunga - opens in new window or tab. dates back to 1951 when it was built as a sand oval. It was home to the Rome Grand Prix starting in 1963. The four-mile track is curvy, with limited straights. We started off with a professional race driver guiding us from the passenger seat.
One Thousand Pound-Feet of Torque
The Folgore is Maserati’s first electric car. (Maserati photo)
After preliminaries on when to brake going into turns, we got three laps behind the wheel. The Folgore is seriously fast, with a zero-to-60 time of 2.7 seconds. The power is delivered via triple 300-kilowatt electric motors, each making 250 horsepower.
Maserati chose not to put a top speed limitation on the Folgore, so it’s free to reach 198 miles per hour. In addition, the Folgore sports a large 92.5-kilowatt-hour battery pack that’s good for 280 miles on a single charge.
The Folgore leaps off the line with nearly 1,000 pound-feet of torque. In three high-speed laps, the electric sedan showed good road manners. All the rubber remained on the tires. The steering is typically Italian—which means very direct—and the handling with all-wheel drive is reassuring. It’s also good at soaking up bumps.
Klaus Busse, Maserati’s design chief, told eBay Motors:
The company is known for its leather interiors and style leadership, but not so much for its technology.
Inside the Folgore. (Maserati photo)
In the case of the GT, style and tech go together, with a design that accommodates an internal-combustion engine and an electric drivetrain.
Stefano Sangermano, technical manager for the GT, said in Rome:
We could have simply installed a big battery made by one of our competitors under the car, but that would not have worked with Klaus’ low and sporty design. It would have resulted in a Folgore that was higher off the ground.
Instead, the Folgore uses LG Chem cells in a T-shaped pack designed by Maserati.
The Gullwing MC20
The MC20 Cielo on the road around Rome. (Jim Motavalli photo)
We took longer road trips in two Maserati supercars: the MC20 two-seater with gullwing doors, and the launch edition of the GranTurismo Trofeo. The scenery around Rome was a series of farming areas, pastoral countryside, and one-main-road small towns, which went by in a blur at the wheel of these cars.
The MC20 is the new Cielo version, a hardtop convertible. The top disappears in 12 seconds, but it was too cold to keep it down. The Cielo’s structure is made up of 57 pieces of carbon fiber, with aluminum housings for the front and rear suspensions and the powertrain.
The fit was snug but comfortable, with a low driving position. The cabin is purposeful, not overly opulent, with controls and screens similar to those in previous Maserati GTs. A row of plastic buttons controls the transmission. Rear visibility isn’t ideal, but the mirrors compensate. The car received many thumbs up from car-conscious Italians as we went through towns.
The New GranTurismo
The GranTurismo design, seen here as a Trofeo, accommodates electric and internal-combustion drivetrains. (Maserati photo)
The made-in-Turin 2024 GranTurismo is a handsome beast, low and swooping, with clear design cues from historical Maseratis. The 550-horsepower Trofeo offers the proper symphony of sounds.
The paddle shifters provide a near-instant response, upping the excitement factor. The Trofeo didn’t feel faster than the electric Folgore and put less power on the road, but it’s plenty potent.
550-horsepower GranTurismo Trofeo V6 drivetrain on display.
GTs don’t typically have usable back seats, but the Trofeo made a stab at it. It has adequate legroom and headroom for two if the driver doesn’t push all the way back. The interior features upholstery from Ermenegildo Zegna and two tiers of Sonos Faber sound system.
Pricing for the GT starts around $174,000 for the Modena version and climbs to more than $200,000 for the Folgore. The MC20 coupe is on sale now, and the Cielo convertible comes later in the year. The GTs are slated for North American sale in April, followed by the Folgore in the fall.
About the author
Share your feedback
This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.