First Look: 2025 Maserati GranCabrio Folgore

Maserati unveils the first battery-electric convertible in the luxury car segment, and it’s stunning.

If any company has a history of stunningly beautiful convertible GTs, it’s Maserati. One is more stunning than the next – and you them: the AS6GCS, the Mistral Spyder, 3500 GT Convertible and the Ghibli Spyder among them.

But as gasoline gives way to electrons for automotive propulsion, a new era for Maserati dawns as it introduces its line of Folgore electric GTs.

Having already unveiled the Gran Turismo Folgore sports coupe, it’s only natural that the GranCabrio Folgore follows, becoming the first full battery electric convertible in the luxury car segment, as well as Maserati’s first.

The company’s electrification efforts have been a long time in coming, having started 8 years ago. Even so, they knew that despite being electric vehicles, the cars they created had to be Maserati GTs first, along with one other important trait.

“We know we had to create rolling sculpture,” said Klaus Busse, head of design for Maserati.

PROVEN EV TECHNOLOGY

The GranCabrio’s unveiling in Rimini, Italy Monday night comes as Maserati has proven the excellence of its electric technology. Its Formula-E team recently earned a podium finish. The technology in these race cars is similar to that used in the Gran Turismo Folgore and GranCabrio Folgore.

Manufactured in Modena, the GranCabrio Folgore features a fabric roof that drops in as little as 14 seconds at up to 31 mph. The GranCarbio Folgore’s design is far from a radical departure from the internal combustion Gran Cabrio.

But it remains a visually sumptuous feast for the eyes, retaining its curvaceous beltline and soft shoulders. This contrasts with the lower half of the car, which seems more tautly realized, with far more sporting intentions. It can be finished in one of six standard colors, or 27 special-order hues. The finishing touch comes from aero-optimized wheels, fitted with low rolling resistance rubber.

THE HARDWARE

The vehicle rides on Maserati’s new Atlantis High electrical architecture, rather than corporate parent Stellantis’ STLA platforms and uses three motors, one up front and two decoupled motors in back, which allows for torque vectoring as well as rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. In fact, it can deliver all its power to the rear axle, and as much as 400 horsepower to a single wheel.

That said, there’s 751 horsepower on tap, thanks to the Corsa drive mode, which is offered alongside Max Range, GT, and Sport modes. Range is estimated by Maserati to be 250 miles.

Power comes from an 83-kWh T-bone-shaped battery pack that enables a low seating position – expected in the GranCabrio, as well as its sibling, the Gran Turismo coupe. The powertrain’s use of 800-volt technology allows it to be recharged from 20 to 80 percent in as little as 18 minutes. The car will use the CCS charging standard, as there no plans to switch to the North American Charging Standard (aka Tesla chargers) nor are there any plans to offer an adaptor for its use. Oddly, the charging port appears to be on the driver’s side of the rear bumper, a fairly odd placement in an area that would appear to be easily damaged.

Nevertheless, Folgore customers will get a Maserati-designed wall box charger that provides anywhere from between 3-to-22 kW depending on home’s electric system.

THE INSIDE STORY

Peak in the cabin and you’ll be greeted by an interior much like the Gran Turismo Folgore.

This includes its trim that incorporates carbon fiber with copper threads, and seats finished in leather or Econyl, a manmade material made from recycled nylon. The latter comes in a plain or laser-etched patterned finish.

The instrument panel features Maserati’s familiar infotainment system, which is placed lower on the instrument panel where it’s easier to reach from the steering wheel. Thoughtfully, its navigation system will provide routes incorporating Maserati-network charging stations and whether the stations area available, occupied or disabled.

Meanwhile, where other automakers place the infotainment screen, Maserati has placed a digital clock, one whose graphics mimic an analog timepiece. But it can be customized with a battery status indicator, G-force meter, accelerometer, and a stopwatch.

Maserati didn’t announce pricing at the GranCarbio’s unveiling, but the company said deliveries will start in the fourth quarter of 2024, with orders opening up in August.