Maserati Grecale Folgore Unveiled As the Trident’s First-Ever EV SUV

The Auto Shanghai 2023 bears witness to several new EV model launches and unveiling, ranging from luxurious ones to futuristic concept models. Adding further to the EV debut list is perhaps the most performance-oriented one of them all, the all-new Maserati Grecale Folgore.

Similar to its all-electric gran tourer sibling, this first-ever EV SUV from the Trident marque carries the same ‘Folgore’ moniker, which means ‘thunderbolt’ in Italian.

At one glance, the Grecale Folgore looks pretty much the same with its ICE-powered twin, with the most noticeable difference being the partially-enclosed inverted front grille. Apart from that, the EV SUV also sports a newly-designed rear diffuser, plus a slew of gloss black accents around the car, as well as the ‘Folgore’ badging that sits above the iconic triple side air vents.

And just like many EVs out there, the Grecale Folgore rides on a set of EV-specific wheels with minimal opening for better aerodynamics, coming in multiple size options ranging from 19-, 20-, to 21-inch.

On board, the Grecale Folgore strikes a perfect balance between posh and performance, while featuring a slew of eco-friendly materials. Wrapping the 14-way power adjustable front seats is the Econyl upholstery which is made from recycled nylon harvested from old fishing nets, fabric scraps and old carpets. On top of that, both seats also come with heated and ventilated functions.

Said upholstery is complemented with “carbon copper 3D touch” trim on the central console and door panels, plus some embossed accents on the front dash.

Drivers will get a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster plus a head-up display (HUD) mounted above it. There’s also a dual screen layout crowning above the front dash, comprising of a 12.3-inch infotainment display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support available, plus a smaller 8.8-inch dedicated display for the climate control.

Beyond its posh and performance-oriented drape, the Grecale Folgore is also laced with some novel EV-specific features such as an EV-specific navigation system with  real-time EV range display, as well as a cabin temperature maintenance function that keeps the cabin temperature at optimum level, even when the car is turned off.

On the performance front, the Grecale Folgore carries a dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) setup that produces a total system output of 550 HP and 820 NM. This, in turn, grants the Grecale Folgore a 0-100 KM/H sprint time of only 4.1 seconds, before hitting its electronically-governed V-max of 220 KM/H.

In-charge of juicing up this dual-motor setup is a sizable 105-kWh battery pack that packs enough juices to move the EV SUV to a maximum EV range of 500 KM (WLTP). Underpinning a 400-Volt EV architecture, the Grecale Folgore supports up to 150 kW of DC fast charging, which will fill-up the massive battery pack from 0-80% in only 29 minutes.

Further bolstering the Grecale Folgore’s practicality and versatility is the inclusion of up to four different driving modes, including GT, Sport, Off-Road, and Max Range. All those driving modes are pretty self-explanatory, with the Max Range mode being the most ‘radical’ one, where it limits the SUV’s V-max to only 130 KM/H, while the cabin climate control system is slightly nerfed for better energy efficiency.

The Maserati Grecale Folgore EV SUV is set to be launched in selected markets across the globe later this year, with China being one of the strongest contenders to get the first taste of the Trident’s first-ever all-electric crossover. 

This new EV SUV unveiling marks the marque’s strong commitment towards its goal to become a full-fledged EV automaker by the end of this decade, with all current models expected to feature an all-electric version each by 2025.