I just lately drove the 2025 Maserati GranCabrio round Italy in each gas-powered Trofeo and totally electrical Folgore guises and whereas I actually loved my time with each automobiles, I can’t recover from simply how good the Folgore EV is to drive. Truthfully, I feel it’s the most effective driving electrical car that cash can purchase proper now, and this feat comes right down to the general engineering and car design selections made by the workforce behind the GranCabrio. I’ll break all of it down for you.
Most of right now’s electrical automobiles, no matter worth, all share one factor in widespread: a skateboard structure. Principally, the batteries are organized in a type of “skateboard” format beneath the ground. That places lots of the burden down low, nevertheless it has the difficulty of placing maybe an excessive amount of weight close to the corners, inflicting many EVs to understeer once you’re making a fast flip. The GranCabrio Folgore bucks this pattern, because it has a T-shaped battery pack — identical to what’s utilized by the Rimac Nevera and Pininfarina Battista — and the Folgore is all the higher for it.
As a substitute of putting the battery cells as low-down as doable, they’re stacked in a T-shape contained in the GranCabrio’s gear tunnel and underneath the rear seats. It’s a extremely environment friendly packaging answer that doesn’t take up any actual room contained in the pretty spacious four-seat cabin. Actually, the one method I may inform the Folgore’s inside was completely different from the gas-powered Trofeo was the taller rear heart console, however hand on coronary heart, that was it. That’s some actually spectacular engineering, people.
The 2 GranCabrio exterior designs aren’t too completely different, both, additionally because of the battery packaging. The Folgore is not any taller than the Trofeo, one thing that wouldn’t be doable with a skateboard setup in response to chief designer Klaus Busse. That additionally means the driving place continues to be low-down within the automobile. Incredible. The one visible tells that you just’re taking a look at an electrical GranCabrio are the wheel designs, a blocked-off grille, a Folgore badge on the fender and the shortage of exhaust suggestions. It’s good in case you don’t really feel the necessity to promote to the world that you just went electrical.
Its design is all effectively and good, however the actually incredible factor concerning the GranCabrio Folgore is how it drives. Within the many moons I’ve been an automotive journalist, I’ve had the chance to drive a few of the most high-powered and performance-oriented EVs you should purchase. I can confidently say the GranTurismo Folgore drives higher than them — not simply in a straight line, however going round corners, one thing most EVs battle with.
Merely put, the GranCabrio Folgore feels like a Maserati, and despite the fact that the firm was on a downswing for just a few years, it nonetheless is aware of make a high-dollar automobile really feel particular to drive. It doesn’t have that heavy “using on rails” really feel that almost all different EVs have, which is a bit unnatural in case you ask me. It corners and steers like a well-tuned gas-powered automobile, impartial and well-balanced within the corners, and similar to the Trofeo. Thank that T-shaped battery pack once more. It’s tremendous participating to drive, and that doesn’t even bear in mind the huge energy it supplies.
And it’s large energy. The Folgore makes 751 horsepower (or 818 utilizing the MaxBoost operate) and a wild 996 pound-feet of torque from three motors, one on the entrance axle and two on the rear. Stated torque goes to all 4 wheels, and Maserati says the 5,250-pound automobile can get from 0 to 60 mph in simply 2.7 seconds and go on to a high velocity of 180 mph. That’s wacky, man. All of the whereas, its comparatively small 92.5-kWh battery pack will provide you with 233 miles of vary — greater than sufficient for what the typical Folgore purchaser will do, I think.
That pure driving expertise continues with the regenerative braking. Its severity is managed with the column-mounted paddles behind the steering wheel, and it may go from non-existent to just about one-pedal driving (although it may’t carry you to a whole cease). The entire system blends rather well, resulting in a confidence-inspiring braking setup.
All of that’s the reason I desire the electrical Folgore to the fuel Trofeo. This eclectic automobile makes the lovely-sounding Trofeo’s twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 really feel like yesterday’s information. It’s definitely not good, particularly for the worth — the automobile I drove was spec’d as much as a bit underneath $240,000 (together with vacation spot), and that’s lots of money for a automobile with Chrysler buttons inside. However, in case you’re prepared for the change to EVs and provides a shit about driving, the Maserati GranCabrio Folgore is difficult to beat at any worth.
