Since its unveiling, the Maserati Grecale has served as the brand’s mass-market offering. Following the success of the Levante, the Grecale sports good looks in a smaller, Porsche Macan-sized package, and as we discovered during our test of the 523-horsepower Trofeo, much-improved handling as well. However, as the Italian carmaker looks towards its all-electric future, its entry-level SUV is the latest model to receive an electron-powered variant.
The Maserati Grecale Folgore is the carmaker’s first electric SUV, but it is not its first electric vehicle; that title goes to the GranTurismo Folgore. Yet, like its GT sibling, its latest SUV draws power from two electric motors, one in each axle, mainly for performance. The pair make a total of 550 hp, split evenly, with each producing 275 hp, making the Grecale Folgore all-wheel drive. Thanks to a maximum torque output of 605 lb-ft, it sprints to 62 mph in 4.1 seconds, 124 mph in 16.1 seconds, and tops out at 136 mph.
The Folgore features a sizable 105 kWh battery pack, counting on a 400-volt electrical architecture. According to Maserati, its WLTP range, which is often higher than the US EPA ratings, is 311 miles for the most efficient configuration and 264 miles for the least. Its peak charge rate is 150 kilowatts, allowing its battery pack to regenerate from 20 to 80 percent in around 29 minutes.
Like all Grecales, the Folgore offers multiple drive modes, including GT, Sport, and Offroad, but gains a new Max Range setting. According to Maserati, it’s supposed to be used when the battery’s state of charge falls below 16 percent. It limits the power sent to the climate control and the response of the accelerator while limiting its top speed to 81 mph.
The Maserati Grecale Folgore counts draws inspiration from the aformentioned Trofeo for its styling, just with a more aero-focused design. Despite these changes, there is little that hints at the Folgore being electric at all. By carrying over the styling from its gas-powered variants, it offers an EV without the smoothed and often bulbous shape associated with them.
Upfront, it wears an inverted grille and offers 19, 20, or 21-inch aero wheels, depending on the market, while counting on contrasting gloss black trim to give the Folgore a unique aesthetic within the lineup. The Grecale Folgore is the first variant within the lineup to offer an Econyl interior built from nylon waste strands.
Although Maserati has yet to release official pricing figures for the Grecale Folgore, expect it to have a base price similar to the $106,995 Trofeo.
