In partnership with Maserati
The new Maserati Grecale Folgore comes with a particular distinction: it is the first full-electric SUV in the company’s history. Following on from the acclaimed Maserati GranTurismo and GranCabrio Folgore, the Grecale Folgore cements the Italian company’s ambition to bring its distinctive brand qualities to a pure electric vehicle. Folgore is Italian for ‘lightning’, a suitable word for the transformation of electricity into power.
The Grecale is Maserati’s mid-sized performance-focused SUV. This new variant completes a family comprising a hybrid model and a conventional combustion engine model, with a generous 105 kWh battery providing 410 kW of power and a top speed of 136mph (220 km/h). With a range 264 and 311 miles (426km and 501km), Grecale Folgore offers practicality alongside space and pace, including the ability to sprint to 62mph in just 4.1 seconds.
There a several key elements of this all-electric SUV that make it stand out. For a start, there’s the sound. Maserati’s engineers worked extensively on shaping the Grecale’s audio signature, taking the sonic output of the powerful electric motors and blending this with the resonant, throaty road of Maserati’s combustion-engined models. The result is a unique acoustic experience that gives each journey a soulful and evocative soundtrack.
The driving experience is defined by four modes, selected by a steering wheel-mounted control. From the ultra-economical MAX RANGE to the all-terrain conquering OFFROAD setting that makes the most of the Grecale Folgore’s twin motor all-wheel drive set, to the luxurious GT mode and the performance-focused SPORT mode, there is a style for every occasion. This breadth of ability is guided by the standard air suspension that provides a peerless, well-balanced ride and excellent dynamics.
Visually, the Grecale Folgore builds on Maserati’s classic form language, with the distinctive Trident grille, pronounced curves and carefully composed proportions. The car is accompanied by the introduction of a new body colour, Rame Folgore, a rich copper colour inspired by the curved and twisted metallic forms of Frank Gehry’s Bilbao Guggenheim. Created as part of Maserati’s exclusive Fuoriserie customisation programme, Rame Folgore accentuates the Grecale’s curves with iridescent lighting effects that shimmer in sunlight.
Inside, the emphasis on distinctive finishes continues with fabrics made from ECONYL® fibre, recovered and woven from nylon waste, complete with contrast stitching to set off the light and dark interior variant. A signature Folgore pattern is also embossed on the dashboard, with copper highlights that can also be seen on the badges and brake callipers.
Interior equipment includes 14-way adjustable seats, as well a sound system developed in collaboration with Italian firm Sonus faber, with the highest specification incorporating 21 speakers carefully placed around the spacious cabin. The digital dashboard has two primary displays, one for information and one for comfort systems, while Grecale Folgore also comes with Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Baidu CarLife integration, along with WeChat for the Chinese market, as well as a specially optimised version of MIA, the MIA Maserati Intelligent Assistant.
The modern DNA of Maserati consists of a commitment to luxury, style and performance, with all three elements coming together to forge a uniquely Italian character that can’t be found anywhere else. With GranTurismo and GranCabrio embodying the art of grand touring, and the MC20 supercar epitomising a purist evocation of a contemporary sports car, Grecale Folgore represents the perfect balance between elegance, sportiness and everyday practicality.
Maserati Grecale Folgore, information at Maserati.com, @Maserati