Maserati’s first, fully-electric SUV, the Grecale Folgore offers 410kW, top speed of 220km/h and up to 500km range

Back in June 2020, we brought you the news that big changes were coming to the luxury brand Maserati. At the time they announced their future had changed, indicating a shift to electric. Well 3 years on, they’re now getting serious about bringing it to market.

The Grecale Folgore is the first full-electric SUV in Maserati’s history. It offers an “everyday exceptional” experience, including for customers who enjoy electrification but do not want to forgo performance in pure Maserati style.

It seems that like many legacy automakers, their EV transition won’t happen overnight and Grecale family sadly also includes an internal combustion/hybrid option, as well as the fully-electric model.

With the right balance between sportiness and elegance, Maserati Grecale embodies the concepts of innovation, versatility, luxury, and performance. The Maserati SUV is top-class in terms of spaciousness and comfort; at launch, it inaugurated a new segment for the brand. And now, in its Folgore version, it is taking another significant step forward, entering the future of electrification.

Grecale Folgore arrives on the market one year after the hybrid and petrol models. It is entirely designed, developed and produced in Italy and is equipped with a 105kWh battery using 400V technology.

Maserati’s new electric SUV can deliver as much as 820 Nm of torque, and while they don’t list 0-100km/hr times, they are guaranteeing performance typical of the brand, offering 410kW and a top speed of 220km/h*.

The Rame Folgore exterior colour is the result of extensive research into how paint interacts with light, which evolves into a living being in constant interaction with its surroundings.

The inspiration is drawn from contemporary architecture, specifically from the façade of the Guggenheim in Bilbao, where warm copper hues in the sections in the sun co-exist with cooler shades of bluish grey in the areas in the shade. These colours are made possible using iridescent pigments.

The interior features innovative, sustainable materials such as ECONYL, a new fibre with a unique aesthetic: regenerated nylon made by recovering nylon waste – such as fishing nets from the oceans and aquaculture, fabric scraps from mills and carpets destined for landfill – and turning it into virgin quality nylon yarn for the fashion and interior industries.

This exclusive material, with its unique, highly opaque surface – reminiscent of the fabric used in the bodysuit, combined with laser processing – features a parametric design that expresses a natural dynamism. Inspired by the movements of a ballerina immortalised in a photograph, it speaks of a “controlled performance”, a movement made eternal.

Vehicle designers are often challenged by what to do with the front bar of an electric vehicle, given the traditional air intake for the radiator is no longer necessary. f

At the front, Grecale Folgore remains “unique by design”, with a modified inverted grille for cooling, as an electric vehicle requires. The new Folgore’s front fascia is inspired by the Trofeo version. Outside, the visual longevity of the model makes it recognizable and contemporary. The aero-driven design is all-encompassing, to achieve a competitive target drag coefficient (Cx), alongside the redesigned rear diffusor.

The exterior of the Grecale Folgore features 19”**, 20” or 21″ aero wheels (depending on market), specifically designed for maximum aerodynamics, inspired by the shape of the Trident.

The special Folgore grille has gloss black inserts on a slightly anodised silk black base. The splitters, door handles, DLO and side skirts are also finished in gloss black. The badges and brake callipers are both in copper colours, while the side vents are illuminated.

The interiors of the Grecale Folgore are distinguished by the defining Folgore embossed pattern on the dashboard and the distinctive carbon copper 3D touch interior trim, emphasised by the ambience lights. The sport 14-way ECONYL electric seats in black/tan, in combination with the innovative lasering technique, offer the heated/ventilated features; the innovative regenerated yarn also characterises the headliner and carpet.

With Grecale Folgore, technology is in the name of in-car pleasure, ensuring exceptional emotions and digital performance; digital interfaces are tailored to the driver. The touchscreen is uncompromising: both the 12.3” central display (100% connected) and the 8.8” comfort display are ergonomically positioned to facilitate access to the controls.

Grecale Folgore features quick and easy digital climate controls. The new quick gesture controls, exclusive to Maserati, provide instant control over the temperature and fan speed, without taking your eyes off the road.

Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Baidu CarLife integrate the smartphone experience in just a few seconds. Users can connect up to two phones. On the Grecale Folgore, the on-board WeChat – the Chinese “super App” – with four key features, is now available for China.

The 12.3” digital cockpit is a benchmark in the market for intuitiveness, easy set-up and irresistible graphics. The reconfigurable head-up-display minimises driving distractions by projecting key information such as speed, maps and directions directly onto the windscreen, while the digital clock operates the voice assistant to quickly control climate, media, navigation and phone calls.

The MIA Maserati Intelligent Assistant has been optimised for Grecale Folgore, giving the digital experience unparalleled dynamism and graphical sophistication.

To make the driving experience even more immediate and enable the driver to configure the car according to their needs, the 100% electric Folgore version of the Grecale comes with four different driving modes: MAX RANGE, GT, SPORT, OFFROAD. Adjustments can be made via the drive mode selector on the forged black steering wheel, with drilled leather and blue engine start button: the racing soul of the Grecale Folgore is at your fingertips.

When it comes to ride comfort, you should expect a luxurious experience, as all Folgore models are equipped with air suspension.

MAX RANGE mode, in which the car achieves maximum range by applying strategies to save energy. It is recommended when the battery falls below 16% and there are no charging points nearby. It throttles the top speed to 130 km/h, reduces the response of the accelerator pedal and limits the power of the climate control.

The Grecale Folgore experience

The Grecale Folgore sets a new standard for the expectations and desires of customers who are looking for an electric car with the perfect balance between sportiness and elegance.

Grecale Folgore users can choose whether their full-electric SUV comes with a home or public charging solution. The most discerning customers can choose both.

Grecale Folgore customers who opt for a home charging solution will receive a wallbox to be installed at home or in their preferred location. It supplies charging power between 3 and 22kW, using load-balancing technology to ensure optimum efficiency in system electricity management. As such, and like most enthusiasts for electric, customers will be able to charge their Folgore whilst it is parked in their garage.

With the Grecale Folgore charging in their garage, customers can – for example – pre-warm or pre-cool the car whilst it remains connected to the mains and without depleting the battery, courtesy of the connected services for vehicle pre-conditioning. 

The main features are:

• Automatic battery pre-conditioning: to make the charging experience as efficient and fast as possible, Maserati Grecale Folgore is equipped with automatic battery pre-conditioning, enabled when near an ultra-fast charging point. Pre-conditioning prepares the battery for the charging phase, adjusting its temperature to reduce charging times.
• Cabin temperature maintenance: the new Maserati Grecale Folgore can maintain the interior temperature of the cabin even when the car is not running, ensuring comfort for the passengers inside.
• EV routing: Maserati Grecale Folgore assists customers in journey planning. Fully aware of the battery condition and expected consumption at any time; it can include any charging stops and optimise the total duration of the trip.
• Dynamic range mapping: the maximum distance the Maserati Grecale Folgore can cover is displayed on the map and is updated in real-time according to charge status and the customer’s driving style.

Technical Specs

The 2023 Shanghai Auto Show is on now, running from Tue, Apr 18, 2023 – Thu, Apr 27, 2023.