Approaching any new Maserati requires a wholesome stage of skepticism. Understandably, whereas the carmaker has beforehand charmed fans with its fashionable machines powered by rousing engines that produce euphonious notes, these thrill gadgets haven’t at all times been essentially the most dynamically spectacular nor significantly user-friendly. The model’s earlier M.O. let impassioned design and automotive theatre pave the best way whatever the penalties.
For the reason that MC20 arrived in 2020, Maserati has deserted this technique, producing a aggressive supercar, a grand tourer, and a mass-market SUV. Whereas not all its latest efforts have been profitable, in a number of quick years, the Italian model has gutted the dated and changed it with a contemporary new lineup of compelling merchandise. Merchandise that may lastly go well with the needs and desires of a broader buyer base that desires not simply model however all the newest improvements, too.
Nonetheless, as I drive extra of Trident’s newest machines, I’m usually left questioning: when will we lastly see the Maserati that’s not simply aggressive however one of the best of one of the best, with no asterisks? I flew to Stresa, Italy, a small city perched on the coast of Lake Maggiore, to pattern the model’s newest, the all-electric, 751-horsepower, tri-motor 2025 Maserati GranCabrio Folgore and its 542-hp, V6-powered, Trofeo twin. And whereas the interior combustion drop-top proved to be a beautiful cabriolet, I’m satisfied the Folgore is the skepticism-shedding mic-drop automobile we’ve been ready for.
Engineers started dreaming up the Folgore again in 2017. Nonetheless, as an alternative of creating it as a standalone EV, the Trident constructed a dual-purpose platform able to housing the Folgore’s battery pack or the Trofeo’s 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6. That is partly why the EV’s 92.5-kilowatt-hour battery, 83 kW of which is usable, is distributed in a “T” form. It’s nestled in roughly the identical house because the gasoline automobile’s powertrain parts.
Opting in opposition to a skateboard-style battery pack has vital advantages, although. For one, it brings a lot of the EV’s weight positive factors—an additional 932 kilos I’ll get again to—nearer to its heart of mass. Maybe much more importantly for such a style-focused model, it means there’s no visible stance or proportion deviations between the Folgore and Trofeo. Solely a barely taller sidewall wanted to deal with the EV’s added heft separates them.
The Maserati GranCabrio Folgore embraces many stylistic updates to distinguish it from the Trofeo. Given its powertrain alternative, varied giant intakes perforate the gasoline automobile’s bodywork, complemented by prolonged aspect skirts and a distinguished diffuser housing 4 exhaust ideas—all issues the Folgore doesn’t want and so it doesn’t have. Throughout a design walkaround, Maserati Head of Design Klaus Busse spoke candidly of the necessity to make sure the EV’s authenticity, which means its styling isn’t distinctive only for mannequin differentiation.
As such, it deliberately embraces a softer, extra elegant vibe achieved by reducing again on aggressive aero components, smoothing out strains in its entrance and rear bumpers, and together with trim-specific staggered diamond-cut wheels. Just like the Grecale Folgore, the electrified GranCabrio reserves using Econyl, a recycled nylon materials, as the middle inserts to its leather-based seats. When you can nonetheless possibility it with a full leather-based inside, the Trofeo mannequin doesn’t supply this eco-friendly textile, at the same time as an non-compulsory further. Some usability annoyances stay for each GCs, comparable to having to swipe and maintain your finger on the central contact display screen to fold the roof. Fortunately, it stows in 14 seconds at speeds of as much as 31 mph.
I set off, cloth high folded, driving shotgun throughout a superbly picturesque panorama. Blue, clear skies illuminated the Folgore’s brilliant Rose Gold Liquid Steel paint, a $28,750 possibility. A peaceful Lake Maggiore flanked the cabrio on the best, with colourful crimson, yellow, and orange homes peppered on the left. But regardless of the idyllic scene, I might solely consider how effectively this convertible EV street over small cracks, large ruts, and the odd velocity bump.
Regardless of their positioning as grand tourers, the hard-top GT, no matter trim, is sort of a sporty machine. It’ll trip properly at freeway speeds however generally struggles to absorb minor imperfections whereas cruising slowly. This isn’t the case with the Folgore, regardless of its lack of a set roof. Its suspension calibration is a masterclass in consolation. Aided by thicker tire sidewalls and this EV’s appreciable 5,249-lb curb weight, almost as a lot as a Rolls-Royce Ghost, it isolates bumps each large and small effortlessly no matter what its speedo reads.
Sliding into the motive force’s seat forward of a very twisty little bit of street as we left the lakeside cities behind and pushed up in direction of the mountains up north, I cycled by means of the Maserati GranCabrio Folgore’s drive modes. Whereas GT, Sport, and Corsa are undoubtedly acquainted, Max Vary joins the lineup to squeeze out a number of further miles if you should limp to the closest charger. Begin in GT, and your energy output is restricted to 80 p.c whereas its air suspension settles into its plushiest configuration. The gasoline automobile’s giant column-mounted aluminum shift paddles stay, now tasked with dialing the EV’s regenerative braking settings.
At the same time as you dial up the obtainable regen to essentially the most excessive, it’s hardly something however. Raise off the best pedal, and the Folgore’s nostril received’t dive, slowing at a easy however predictable tempo. Because the mountains served up tighter bends, I swapped GT for Sport, hoping for a gradual enhance in aggressiveness. Nonetheless, that’s not what I acquired. As a substitute, the accelerator pedal goes into what seems like a hybrid setting, delivering energy easily for the primary half of its journey solely to hit you with a sudden burst of energy. As such, I shortly moved on to Corsa, which proved surprisingly versatile regardless of its positioning as essentially the most hardcore.
Dialed as much as 11, the Maserati GranCabrio Folgore unleashes all 751-hp produced by its three electrical motors, one within the entrance and two within the rear. A brief MaxBoost characteristic additional elevates its output to a Ferrari 296 GTS-matching 818 hp. Nonetheless, regardless of this convertible grand tourer now being able to sprinting to 60 mph in underneath 2.7 seconds whereas finishing the quarter-mile in simply 10.6, its air shocks don’t overlook this automobile’s core purpose. You could get all the facility, nevertheless it doesn’t are available in a package deal that all of the sudden feels on edge.
As a substitute, its throttle calibration as soon as once more turns into superbly progressive. In the meantime, its suspension nonetheless manages to trip superbly, to the purpose the place it’s simple to overlook you’re in what’s speculated to be essentially the most militant mode. But regardless of its relative softness, the Folgore confidently dives into bends whereas retaining glorious chassis steadiness. Though its swollen curb weight limits its means to vary course shortly, it’s greater than grippy sufficient to hold on far longer than you’d anticipate it to. With its two rear electrical motors in a position to torque vector, carving up a mountain street turns into a simple affair.
The Maserati GranCabrio Folgore does have its limits, nonetheless. For one, its brakes, an identical to these within the gasoline automobile, don’t have any hassle slowing the 4,317-lb Trofeo. Stopping the 5,249-lb Folgore is a problem they’re not fairly at all times up for. Dig deep within the pedal, and also you’ll discover the deceleration you’re after, however you received’t get the assured preliminary chew you’d need when hustling a slim mountain street in such a heavy machine. Though moderately fast, its steering lacks suggestions, forcing you to pay attention for tire squeals as an alternative of feeling as they work as much as their limits.
Nonetheless, whereas I level this out to supply perception, I do know we’re discussing a convertible grand tourer right here. If to reveal the Folgore’s drawbacks, it’s important to assault a again street as you’d in a 911 GT3; then, for its supposed function of cruising in model, it’s punching method above its class.
Nonetheless in Corsa mode, I joined the freeway and buried the best pedal. Because the numbers on its digital cluster climbed, the Folgore settled properly in the best lane with little wind noise interrupting this high-speed cruise. As demonstrated within the twisties, the firmest setting was as soon as once more the perfect one to be in, dialing out undesirable physique motions with out introducing pointless harshness. Switching again briefly to GT noticed the GranCabrio change into uncomfortably floaty at velocity, so again to Corsa its spinning dial went.
Given this primary drive’s brevity, assessing real-world vary is unattainable. Nonetheless, the carmaker estimates that the Maserati GranCabrio Folgore will cowl 233 miles on a cost. The GC counts on an 800-volt electrical structure, permitting it to cost at as much as 270 kilowatts. As such, it’ll bounce from 20 to 80 p.c in simply 18 minutes, including 48 miles of vary in 5. Given the low common annual mileage lined by dear GTs, its fast charging velocity issues most right here. And lest we overlook, the Folgore is the primary totally electrical convertible grand tourer on sale, beating out each different luxurious marque.
Leaping out of the Folgore and into the Trofeo felt like entering into a wholly totally different animal. Push its wheel-mounted begin button, and its 542-hp 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 sends vibrations by means of the cabin. The Trofeo seems like a distinctly sportier machine from the second it breathes life. Its steering is lighter, simply as exact because the Folgore’s, however extra communicative. Regardless of being down over 200 hp, it nonetheless sprints to 62 mph in 3.6 seconds, which remains to be bonkers quick in the true world. Tug on its aluminum paddles, and it’ll throw in further growls with every upshift as its quad exhaust ideas serve up a crescendoing, raspy, totally uncorked observe with the highest down.
Feed the Trofeo some bends, and it’ll sort out them as confidently because the Folgore with out an additional 932 lb slowing its course modifications. Like its coupe counterpart, the V6-powered GC positions itself as a grand tourer, however in some ways, it extra intently resembles a giant sports activities automobile than a luxurious cruiser. Herein lies the rub. As I alluded to earlier, the truth that the GranCabrio, no matter trim, is dynamically glorious is a bonus. Nonetheless, what issues most is the way it behaves within the areas it’ll occupy most steadily, areas wherein the Trofeo begins to wrestle.
Regardless of driving on adaptive air shocks like its electrified twin, the Trofeo’s trip high quality doesn’t examine to the Folgore’s, delivering a agency trip outdoors freeway speeds. Due partly to its slimmer tire aspect partitions, the gas-powered GC transmits most minor street imperfections by means of its chassis, whereas the Folgore makes them disappear.
Even on a good again street, because the Trofeo tackles bends with sports activities automobile tempo, the Folgore doesn’t fall far behind. It’s a heavy factor, however due to chassis calibration and grippy rubber, it hangs on with its gas-powered twin simply wonderful, making it the extra versatile possibility of the pair. Setting vary issues apart for a second, until you desperately crave the Trofeo’s V6 engine observe, I wrestle to search out causes to decide on it over the Folgore.
A giant one is undoubtedly pricing. The 2025 Maserati GranCabrio Folgore will begin at $206,995, together with a $1,995 vacation spot price, as soon as it goes on sale later this fall. Nonetheless, the Trofeo’s base worth shrinks by a whopping $13,000, together with charges, to $193,995 when it hits supplier showrooms this summer time. Whereas the Folgore hasn’t but any rivals to fend off, the Trofeo strains up with the Mercedes-AMG SL63 and the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet pricing-wise.
The electrified GranCabrio isn’t good; see the drive mode calibration, brake, and steering notes talked about above. Nonetheless, within the areas wherein you’d desire a convertible grand tourer to excel, it’s the automobile that pushes the phase ahead. Whereas the Trofeo remains to be simply as beautiful to take a look at, complemented by a characterful V6 and agile dealing with, it’s the Folgore that nails the GT position greatest.
Due to its quick-charging 800-volt structure, masterfully tuned suspension, and chic model, the Folgore exhibits simply how a lot of an enchancment an electrical grand tourer may be. It’s a automobile you’ll be able to strategy with out skepticism as a result of it’s clear that it’s been diligently engineered and dialed. Assuming you may have entry to dependable charging, the GranCabrio Folgore shouldn’t be solely the primary electrical providing in its class however the most effective merchandise to return out of the Trident’s newest period.
