The numbers being credited to Maserati’s latest rendition of its GranTurismo are nothing short of phantasmagorical. In its base form, the supposed beginner sports tourer, if you will, and its “Nettuno” 3.0-litre V6 sports no less than 490 horses and taps out on the license-losing side of 300 kilometres an hour. Move up to the Trofeo trim and you’ll see that Formula One-derived twin-turbo engine boosted to no less than 550 hp and no less than 320 klicks per hour. Fantastical numbers all, figures that would be the ultimate in any grand touring lineup—
Were it not for the all-electric Folgore version of the new Maserati. Before I get into all its numbers, yes, to lay your mind to rest, the gas and the electric versions of the new Maser are built on the same platform. In fact, other than the wheels and the fact that the Folgore has no exhausts exiting its rear fascia, the ICE and EV versions seem virtually identical.
In fact, the battery-powered version even sports Maserati’s traditional gaping grille, even though it is largely unnecessary in Folgore since it is designed to better cool the combustion of fossil fuels. Like Genesis’ stunning G80, a few manufacturers are putting paid to the long-held-truism that EVs demand their own unique platform.
But, back to those numbers. According to Maserati’s latest missive, the Folgore sports three electric motors. Each, says the iconic Italian automaker, makes 300 kilowatts, which, with the proliferation of internet conversion tools these days, you can easily confirm means they each produce a shade over 402 hp. Rudimentary math would seem to indicate then that, were all three motors working in total kilowatt-expending harmony, the Folgore would boast 1,206 horsepower. Actually, 1,207 hp, when you account for that “shade over.”
The important phrase in that last paragraph, however, would seem to be “were all three motors working in total kilowatt-expending harmony.” Certainly, that’s what all the auto enthusiast sites trumpeted when the Folgore was first announced. Google “1,200-hp” and “Maserati” and see how many pages your browser flashes back before it runs out of SEOs.
The only problem with those claims is that Maserati says, in its own words, that the motors’ “combined maximum power at wheels” is 560 kilowatts. That’s 751 horsepower, a daunting and impressive number to be sure, but not the 1,200 hp that’s been bandied about.
So, what’s going on?
2024 Maserati GranTurismo Folgore Photo by Maserati
2024 Maserati GranTurismo Folgore Photo by Maserati
2024 Maserati GranTurismo Folgore Photo by Maserati
Well, of course, this could all be a misunderstanding caused by the mistranslation of Italian passion into Anglo-Saxon sange froide. Maybe the GranTurismo Folgore really can put out 1,200 ponies and “combined maximum power at wheels” means something else entirely. On the other hand, the same release outlines that its 800-volt lithium-ion battery — 92.5 kilowatt-hours nominal; 83.0 kWh usable — has a maximum discharge capacity of 610 kilowatts. That’s 818 horsepower, more, most certainly, than the 751 hp that the Folgore seems to be rated for, but it’s still not those 1,200 ponies that were poised to thrill anyone stupid enough to floor the loud-pedal on Maser’s first electric vehicle.
Why the limitations?
Well, for one thing, Maserati seems absolutely determined to focus on ultimate handling as much as stupendous acceleration. Indeed, it appears at least part of the reasoning behind the limitations is to keep some portion of each motor’s power in reserve for optimum torque vectoring. Maserati takes pains to point out that the two rear motors drive each wheel completely independently. Likewise, the third, front-mounted 300-kW affair.
2024 Maserati GranTurismo Modena Photo by Maserati
2024 Maserati GranTurismo Modena Photo by Maserati
2024 Maserati GranTurismo Modena Photo by Maserati
So, what do all these number mean?
Hard to tell. Is Maserati concerned that the battery’s 83.0 kilowatt-hours could be too easily depleted by too many bursts of 1,200 horsepower mayhem? Possibly, but it’s unlikely that continuous bursts of 751 hp — which the Folgore is completely capable of — will be noticeably more frugal.
Could there be one of those 20-second “Burst” modes available with more ponies? Again, possibly, but, even that would seem to be limited by the battery, not the electric motors. Could there be a launch function the company is not yet detailing that will access even more torque — already listed as 996 pound-feet — for even more stomach-churning stoplight banditry? Could Maserati be preparing us for some future software update that would allow access to all that reserve power? Impossible to tell, but we do promise to report back to you on that anon.
2024 Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo Photo by Maserati
2024 Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo Photo by Maserati
2024 Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo Photo by Maserati
In the meantime, however, here’s a couple more numbers that to keep you enthralled, until we’ve solved this mystery of the missing horses. The electrified Folgore duplicates the 320-km/h top speed of the best of the ICE-powered versions, and then ups the ante with a Ferrari-SP3-baiting 2.7-second scoot to 100 kilometres an hour. However many horsepower the electrified GranTurismo might have, it’s plenty.
As for more pedestrian questions regarding the new GranTurismo, it appears that the 2,260-kilogram electric Folgore will weigh some 465 kilos (1,023 pounds) more than the ICE versions, but its weight will be distributed through a perfect 50-50 front-to-rear split, bettering the 52-48 of the Nettuno-powered versions.
Thanks to its 800V battery architecture, Maserati claims its peak charging ability will be about 270 kilowatts, roughly the same as the segment-leading Porsche Taycan. As for range, Maserati says we should expect a range of 250 miles (400 km), but that is most likely measured by Europe’s optimistic WLTP program. Factor in our tougher standards and the Folgore will probably have a maximum range of about 350 kilometres.
Maserati will also only release pricing closer to the GranTurismo’s launch next year, but an educated guess would have a base, gas-powered Modena sneaking in just under the CDN$200,000 mark, while a fully optioned Folgore will most likely top $300,000. That will buy one heck of a GranTurismo, even if it is not quite as monstrous as first predicted.
Keyword: First Look: 2024 Maserati GranTurismo