The Maserati Grecale Folgore made its debut at the Shanghai Auto Show, underscoring the Trident brand’s goal of going all-electric by 2030.
Part of Maserati’s new, all-electric Folgore brand-within-a-brand, the midsize SUV will reach dealerships later this year, joining the GranTurismo Folgore coupe that was introduced last October.
“It’s a defining moment for the Maserati brand,” said Maserati CEO Davide Grasso. “It’s a new beginning for the brand. We’re celebrating Folgore, the electrification plan that has become a reality and is ready to pave the way in this revolutionary era.”
Six EVs coming by 2025
The decision to launch the Maserati Grecale Folgore in China wasn’t coincidental. That country has become the world’s largest market for battery-electric vehicles and the Italian automaker will be just one of dozens of brands revealing new EVs at the show this year.
During last year’s Shanghai Auto Show, Maserati announced plans to launch an all-electric version of each of its current models, six in all, by 2025. Along with the Grecale Folgore, this year is expected to see the launch of battery-powered versions of the Grancabrio GT.
In gas form, the Grecale made its debut in 2022. It’s the smaller sibling of the original Maserati Levante, its first-ever SUV. Until now, buyers had a choice of three different gasoline engine options, depending upon the market.
By the numbers
The all-electric Grecale Folgore will use motors on both the front and rear axles producing a combined 493 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. It will pull electrons from a 105-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery. Maserati previously indicated the SUV would boast a top speed of more than 200 kph, or about 125 mph.
Range numbers weren’t released but the size of the battery pack suggests it should yield something in the mid- to high-200 mile range using the U.S. EPA test cycle, and more than 300 miles with the less strict WLTP standard in Europe and China.
The electric SUV shares the underlying platform first introduced with the gas Grecale, here modified to squeeze in batteries and motors. It follows the pattern first used with the GranTurismo Folgore, with batteries positioned low to both minimize intrusion into the passenger compartment and to yield a low center of gravity. That will help maintain the sort of nimble handling Maserati products traditionally are known for.
In both gas and, now, electric form, Grecale goes up against the Porsche Macan. The German automaker is readying a battery-powered version of that compact SUV, as well.
Lightning strikes
Maserati describes the Folgore line-up as a blend of past and future. The name, in English, translates into “Lightning.”
While initial Folgore products are sharing their platforms with conventional Maserati products, the longer-term goal is to develop unique, skateboard-like EV platforms, much as the brand’s competitors are doing. Maserati plans to phase out internal combustion engines and go 100% electric by 2030.
“As we move toward electrification, you will see more dedicated architecture focused on delivering the best in range and performance,” Grasso noted during his March 2022 presentation in China.