But this isn’t a wise guy from Jersey, but rather Maserati’s first all-electric SUV. ‘Grecale’ refers to a north-eastern Mediterranean wind, and ‘Folgore’? That’s lightning. Fitting, considering this near-2.5-tonne Italian stallion can rocket to 100km/h in just 4.1 seconds.

But don’t let the poetry of the name fool you. The Grecale Folgore is a serious proposition for Maserati, the start of a high-voltage handshake to the future.

Familiar Face, Very Different Heart

At first glance, the Folgore doesn’t scream “EV”, and that’s entirely intentional. Instead of blank grilles and novelty lighting signatures, the Folgore retains the regal elegance of its ICE siblings, albeit with the faintest flicker of copper trim to mark its electric bloodline.

Look closely and you’ll spot subtle tweaks: filled-in front wing vents now glow with LEDs, and the front grille features fewer air openings.

It’s 4.8 metres long, stands 1.6m tall, and has a near-three-metre wheelbase, which translates to a cabin roomy enough for your average basketball forward. Boot space stands at 535 litres.

Up on the flight deck, you still get a Maserati clock – now digital, with changeable faces for g-force, direction, throttle pressure and more. It’s flanked by twin touchscreens (12.3in above, 8.8in below) and a crisp digital instrument cluster.

Infotainment, though, is a mixed bag. The upper touchscreen is sharp and intuitive. The lower climate screen, however, feels like overkill with the array of functions available, and occasionally lagged during our drive.

The driving position sits at a sweet spot between commanding SUV and low-slung GT. The steering wheel is satisfyingly chunky, with cruise and infotainment controls at your thumbs, and a drive selector on the lower spoke. Physical door handles are out; in their place is a soft-touch button system.

Cabin materials are typically premium; leather comes standard, but for the eco-minded, there’s also Econyl, a material spun from recycled fishing nets.

Electric, Not Generic

Push the blue-lit starter button and instead of a barky V6, you’re greeted with a deep, digital hum. It’s not the soul-stirring song of a Ferrari-derived V8, but it sets the tone.

With 550bhp and 820Nm from twin motors, performance is brisk, not ludicrous. Maserati clearly tuned the Grecale for smoothness over savagery. It’s quick enough to surprise unsuspecting hot hatches, but it delivers that speed with a waft, not a wallop.

Built on a heavily reworked version of the Giorgio platform, the Grecale Folgore benefits from adaptive air suspension, multi-link rear geometry and electromagnetic damping. In GT mode, it feels composed, absorbing bumps, ironing out undulations, and masking its bulk with real grace… if you are travelling at modest speeds.

The soft suspension makes the car squat hard when presented with too much power, resulting in the front wheels lifting off and being unable to provide traction. 

This effect is lessened in Sport mode, but the car still feels too soft considering the amount of power it can churn out.

Off-Road mode lifts the car and softens the springs for trail use, or more realistically, navigating multi-storey car park ramps without scraping the splitter. Max Range mode, predictably, dials everything back to preserve electrons.

Steering is progressive and nicely weighted. The braking system is functional but lacks finesse, with regen blending into mechanical stopping in a slightly clumsy fashion. Over-sized regen paddles let you adjust on the fly, and yes, one-pedal driving is available. Relying on a comfortable regen setting and coasting to a stop would provide the best ride for your occupants.

Compared to the ICE Grecale?

If you swapped the Folgore badge for a Trofeo one and turned up the synthetic engine noise, you’d struggle to tell the difference. And that’s the point. Maserati wants this to feel like a Maserati, not an electric experiment. Laminated glass, extra bushings, and extensive sound insulation help it whisper along, even at motorway speeds. It’s quiet, polished, and despite its size, feels nimble enough in daily use.

The 105kWh battery is good for 501 kilometres according to Maserati, but we’d bank on around 390-400 kilometres in real-world conditions. The battery does support up to 205kW DC charging too, which futureproofs the car for the foreseeable future.

A Whisper Of The Old World

The Maserati Grecale Folgore isn’t the quickest, lightest, or most tech-forward electric SUV. It’s not chasing headlines or TikTok drag races. Instead, it’s targeting a more discerning audience, those who want elegance over excess.

Sure, the Porsche Macan EV will likely outrun it. The BMW iX will dazzle with tech. The Lotus Eletre might just dance around it in the bends. But the Maserati? It delivers a different, soulful kind of drama.

Maserati has resisted the urge to scream its electric credentials from the rooftops, instead choosing to craft an EV that feels and drives like it belongs. And in a world of cookie-cutter electric SUVs, that counts for more than ever.

Technical Specifications

Maserati Grecale Folgore

Powertrain: Dual Electric Motors, All-Wheel Drive
Power: 410 kW (550 bhp)
Torque: 820 Nm
Gearbox: Single-Speed (A)
Acceleration: 4.1 Seconds (0-100km/h)
Top Speed: 220 km/h
Battery Capacity: 105 kWh
Drive Range: 501 km
Energy Consumption: 3.6 km/kWh (claimed)
Price: S$438,800 without COE (accurate at the time of this article)

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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And just like that, Modena’s fabled trident carved out a new chapter in Singapore’s electrified motoring scene.

Meet the Maserati Folgore trio: Grecale, GranTurismo, and GranCabrio. Three distinctive models, one common current. In case your Italian’s a little rusty, Folgore translates to ‘lightning’.

A rather fitting label for Maserati’s new line of fully electric machines, infused with the brand’s signature flair for drama, speed, and unfiltered charisma.

Grecale Folgore

We begin with the most grounded member of this electrified ensemble, the Grecale Folgore. Already known as Maserati’s first compact SUV, the Grecale now returns with a new heartbeat, powered by not one but two electric motors delivering a brawny 550bhp and 820Nm of torque to all four wheels.

A century sprint time of just 4.1 seconds, despite the SUV’s not-so-dainty kerb weight of 2.5 tonnes.

Thanks to a hefty 105kWh battery, the car has a range of 500km (WLTP). DC fast-charging at 150kW ensures that topping up from 20 to 80% takes only 29 minutes.

Visually, Maserati has been generous with the details. The Folgore-exclusive grille, gloss-black inserts, and copper accents on the badging and brake calipers tell the world that this is no ordinary Grecale.

Inside, embossed patterns grace the dash, and you’re greeted by a 12.3-inch touchscreen, an additional 8.8-inch Comfort Display, and the same premium layout familiar to petrol-powered Grecales.

Practicality hasn’t been sacrificed at the altar of performance either, with the 535-litre boot remaining intact.

GranTurismo & GranCabrio Folgore

Now, if the Grecale Folgore is a storm on wheels, then the GranTurismo Folgore and GranCabrio Folgore are pure, unadulterated lightning strikes.

Here, Maserati has gone all in; both cars are armed with a tri-motor setup (one in front, two in the rear), allowing for torque vectoring that can independently feed power to each rear wheel.

This means sharper handling, tighter cornering, and a level of dynamism not often associated with grand tourers.

Together, the trio of motors churn out 751bhp and 1,350Nm of torque, propelling the GranTurismo Folgore from zero to 100km/h in 2.7 seconds.

The GranCabrio follows closely behind at 2.8 seconds, its slight weight penalty offset by the joy of open-air motoring.

The 92.5kWh battery offers up to 455km of range in the GranTurismo and 447km in the GranCabrio. Thanks to their 800V architecture, both models can be juiced from 20 to 80% in 18 minutes using a 270kW DC charger.

And of course, they’re achingly pretty. The signature Maserati grille is finished in dark copper, matching the rest of the badging.

Inside, copper accents continue the theme, complemented by a triple-screen digital dashboard similar to that of the Grecale.

As the world’s first fully electric luxury convertible, the Grancabrio opens up its fabric roof in 14 seconds, even while moving at speeds of up to 50km/h.

A new dawn for the Trident

Each Maserati Folgore model is designed to preserve the brand’s storied DNA while writing a new future. One that’s quieter, cleaner, but no less exhilarating.

To some, the idea of an electric Maserati may sound like sacrilege. But to those who’ve seen lightning strike thrice, it feels like an interesting new direction.

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On Monday 15 April, in a show full of energy that anticipates an exciting new journey into the future, Maserati staged “Made in Thunder”, an overture to the Folgore, the new 100% electric chapter of the House of the Trident.

After two young Italian stars had enthralled all in attendance, the stage was taken over by the world premiere of the car taking a leading role in Maserati’s electric era, with the same disruptive force as thunder – GranCabrio Folgore, the 100% made-in Modena and 100% full electric convertible.

GranCabrio Folgore is the first 100% electric convertible in the luxury segment and is said to be the fastest on the market.

After the GranTurismo Folgore, the brand’s first fully electrified icon, and the Grecale Folgore, the first 100% electric SUV in the Trident’s history, the new open-top Maserati completes the Modena-based company’s current full-electric offering.

For its debut, the GranCabrio Folgore sported the exclusive Liquid Rose Gold colour, Titan Grey soft top and sophisticated Denim and Ice interiors, with contrasting stitching, a jewel of the Maserati Fuoriserie customisation programme.

Three 300kW permanent magnet motors and 800V technology endows the GranCabrio Folgore a total of over 1,200hp and 1,350 Nm of torque, seeing it dust off the 0-100km/h sprint in just 2.8 seconds, and on to a top speed of 290km/h.

Stopping duties fall to Brembo six-piston fixed calipers in front clamping down on 380mm ventilated discs, and four-piston fixed items in the rear with ventilated 350mm discs.

The 92.5kW battery pack (83kW usable) can be fast charged at up to 270kW DC and goes from 20%-80% in just 18 minutes. The range is said to be 419-447km on the WLTP cycle.

The fabric roof, available in the five colours of Nero, Blue Marine, Titan Grey, Greige and Granata, takes from 14-18 seconds to open and 16-20 seconds to close, with the windows open and closed respectively.

On the inside, the GranCabrio’s multi-function steering wheel features smooth leather and 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.

The GranCabrio Foglore is a real four-seater with sufficient comfort even for longer journeys.

The audio system is designed and made by Sonus Faber, the Italian artisans of sound.

The GranCabrio Folgore offers two different audio configurations: the standard Premium audio system featuring 13 speakers and 2D surround, with an output of 815 W for a unique natural sound experience; and the optional High Premium audio system with 16 speakers, 2D and 3D surround sound with powerful amplification, up to 1060 W, for depth of field and truly unique roundness of sound.

Excited for the electric drop-top future yet?

Photo Credits: Maserati

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