Maserati revealed its plans to fully electrify its line-up by 2025, with new models that will wear the name Folgore, the Italian word for Lightning.
The first model to wear the nameplate is the GranTurismo Folgore, a two-door, four-seater sports car with “way over 1200+” horsepower, according to Maserati.
The new Folgore is the “car that defines the brand,” said Davide Grasso, Maserati Global CEO during a press conference in Modena, Italy. “Maserati will be the first luxury brand to launch an electric sports car with GT.”
The GranTurismo Folgore will be officially unveiled later this year, and will hit the market for the 2023 model year.
A new icon for Maserati
Calling it the world’s first electric luxury sports car, Maserati unveiled the new model for the first time Thursday, saying the new fully-electric model will have a 0-62 mph time of a little more than two seconds, and a 186-mph top speed. The new car was designed in Italy using Formula E-derived components and its platform uses a “Bone” battery platform to keep the car low. Designers used lightweight technology throughout the car’s architecture, body, and engine. It uses three electric motors and Formula E inverters to supply all-wheel drive.
“The way in which the architecture and the battery has been put together gives us the lowest full electric on the market with the best combination of handling and fun-to-drive,” said Francesco Tonon, global head of product.
Each new Folgore model will be all-wheel drive. The company didn’t reveal range or charging times, except to say that it would have “top class performance.”
Maserati will also offer a V-6-powered model as well. Maserati didn’t reveal any more specifics about the V6 models, it could use the MC20’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6, which generates 621 horsepower and 538 pound-feet of torque. Still, why bother?
“The market for an ICE version, especially on a car like that, a sports car, is still there. What we are trying to do with Folgore is to give to the consumer the choice,” Tonon said. “You can get the old world with the V-6, and you can get the new world with the three motors 800 volts.”
An evolving electric model lineup
There are a slew of new models slated to arrive in Maserati showrooms. The forthcoming Grecale SUV debuts next week, while the MC20 Spyder arrives in spring, as well as a GranCabrio version of the GranTurismo Folgore, followed by the Grecale Folgore early next year.
Executives also revealed the upcoming redesigned Quattroporte sedan and Levante SUV will be offered solely as EVs when redesigned by 2025, and will be joined Folgore version of the MC20. The Ghibli sedan will soldier on, and eventually be dropped and not replaced. By 2030, all Maserati will be a fully electric automaker; gasoline engines will no longer be available.
But not all of the EVs will use Stellantis’ EV platforms. The Grecale, for example, is built using the Giorgio architecture also employed on the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, while the GT and MC20 are bolt using Maserati architecture.
The cars will have a unique sound, however, as engineers worked 18 months to develop how the Folgore models will sound.
“It is not fake, because we are about authenticity. And you will see how this idea of an electric roar has been translated to keep the growl of the of the Maserati cars,” Tonon said.
But while Maserati plans to be fully electric by 2030, that is merely a target, as regulations and consumer demand will affect the pace of change.
“The speed at which this is happening depends on many different things; rules and regulations, social situations environmental situation, but this movement is happening,” Grasso said.
“Some countries some parts of the world very much moving faster, others are moving more slowly and this transition will require some time. What we are saying is that we are ready to actually move with the transition, allowing the customer to decide.”
A revised retail experience
The company also introduced a new dealership model, one that’s adapted for an increasingly virtual car buying experience. The new dealership design that features a corner window that spotlights one car.
Upon entering, there’s no reception desk. Instead, there’s a center hub featuring with a coffee bar where you can sit and configure your vehicle order. Maserati’s different models will fill the showroom floor, and consumers will be able to schedule a test drive online. Dealers will then bring the model to your home or office for your evaluation.
Maserati plans to build 80 sites worldwide are planned for this year.
The three-year plan will start with U.S. dealers later this year.
A banner 2021 for Maserati
The bullish electrification plans come as Maserati enjoyed sales growth in 2021. Sales increased 41% worldwide to 24,269 vehicles. America remained the automaker’s largest market, accounting for 35% of its sales, followed by China at 32%. Revenues were up 47%, surpassing $2 billion as its market share grew from 2.1% to 2.9% in the U.S., and 1.9% to 2.4% worldwide.
Demand for Levante and Ghibli increased 45% in 2021 vs. 2020, while Quattroporte sales rose 41% during the same period. The automaker also said that worldwide, half of Levante sales were for its hybrid model, while tw-thirds of Ghibli demand was for the Ghibli hybrid. Neither hybrid model is sold in the U.S.
“The Ghibli and Levante are validating the strategy of electrification of Maserati,” said Bernard Loire, Maserati Global Head of Commercial.
Like other sports car manufacturers, the Levante SUV accounted for the lion’s share of sales, accounting for 59% of sales volume. It was followed by the Ghibli at 33%, the Quattroporte at 7%, and the MC20 at 1%.
What isn’t changing
Given the amount of change Maserati is experiencing in its product transformation; one thing will remain unchanged.
“Every Maserati will be made in Italy,” Grasso said. “That’s something that will be consistent with the values of the brand.”
