The first Maserati Folgore electric models have arrived – and the Italian manufacturer has high hopes for them in the fleet market. By John Challen.

Cast your mind back not too many years and the idea of Maserati having a range of electric cars to seriously tempt fleet drivers would have been scoffed at by many. However, that scenario is now reality, with the introduction of the Grecale and GranTurismo Folgore models to the UK market.

Reaffirming what his boss Peter Charters told Fleet World back in our March 2024 issue, Howard Dalziel, national corporate sales and approved used manager at Maserati, admits the Italian brand will never be a volume player in the sector. However, the success of the standard ICE Grecale model has given Maserati plenty of confidence for the battery powered version. What’s more, the brand’s reputation is strong and desirability remains high.

“Grecale is doing a great job as a Maserati SUV and, with the addition of the BEV version, it gives drivers a very different option for this important area of the market,” he says. “It’s seen as a great company car and we’ve already had a lot of order activity for the Folgore. Companies have come to us and are keen to work with us – and we’ve had a lot of discussions with the leasing companies.”

Dalziel says it’s likely that the acquisition of a Maserati Folgore – regardless of whether it is the Grecale or GranTurismo – won’t be the driver’s first foray into the world of EVs. Despite that fact, he has found a huge enthusiasm among the potential customers.

“People’s knowledge of the Maserati brand is very impressive,” he reveals. “They often know everything about the new cars and the only questions they have are around when they are on sale and when they might be able to get one.”

Put to the test

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Maserati is the first Italian performance brand to go electric and with the Folgore models, no expense is spared, or area of quality compromised. The materials game is strong, with generous use of carbon fibre and leather and sumptuous carpet on the floor.

The Grecale Folgore we sampled came with ADAS and ‘tech assistance’ packs as standard, which meant the likes of traffic sign recognition, active driving assist, head up display and wireless charging. The climate pack is a £1,600 option, with drivers gaining heated rear seats, ventilated front seats, leather steering wheel and more. As you might expect, the interior – like the exterior – is almost identical to the petrol version, although drivers will have a choice of leather, artificial leather or the more sustainable Econyl – formed from old fishing nets and other discarded fabrics. That might not sound very ‘Maserati’, but it still looks and feels good.

Power comes from two electric motors with a combined output of 542hp, along with a 105kWh battery, of which 97kWh is useable. Performance-wise, that translates to a zero to 62mph time of 4.1 seconds – it feels quick and puts a smile on your face. The theoretical driving range is 310 miles, which is probably enough for most drivers, but seems a bit on the stingy side these days, when compared with some of the competition offering close to 400 miles.

Out on the road, the Grecale Folgore – like almost every EV – offers plenty of power  from the off and the performance is pretty linear as you accelerate. Inside the cabin it’s pretty refined – an ‘engine’ soundtrack has been created, but it’s subtle. The car is more comfortable on motorways than in rural environments. There’s adaptive air suspension, but it’s still feels firm at times – even in the softest setting. It’s by no means harsh, but not class-leading, either.

The Grecale Folgore is not cheap – as tested, our car came in at £116,007 – but then it IS a Maserati and the legacy, status and kudos that the brand offers is a price worth paying for a lot of drivers. How many will make it onto fleets and car lists remains to be seen, but it would certainly be an attractive option for many.

GT yay!

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When it comes to the GranTurismo, everything is taken up a notch – including the price (as tested, the four-seater came in at £193,570). It might not attract as many company car drivers as the Grecale, but Dalziel still maintains there’s been an “encouraging levels of interest” from fleets. Quite frankly, it’s easy to see why. Like the Grecale, there’s a luxurious feel to the cabin, which is spacious and yet cocooning.

Contained within that price are comfort (£600) and tech assistance (£2,400) packs as well as two advanced driver assistance packs – both an extra £3,480. Speccing all of them does essentially guarantee pretty much everything you’d need – highlights being LED matrix headlights, adaptive cruise control and a 360° camera.

One of the concerns among many (including me) was the lack of an iconic Italian V8 (or V6 now in the standard ICE version of the car) – specifically, the noise it makes and how this could be replicated. Interestingly, a pianist was called in to help create a series of sounds for the car, including an interpretation of the engine note. Again, people have reservations about these (including me), but it really works. Sure, it’s subjective and it doesn’t replace the roar of a physical engine, but it’s one of the best ‘sounds’ I’ve experienced.

It’s home to a 83kWh battery and three motors with a combined potential output in the region of 1,200hp, which helps take the car to 62mph from a standstill in under three seconds. Impressive but with a sensible head on, the 310 miles available (by WLTP standards) will be gone in no time driving like that… Especially if drivers try and hit the 199mph top speed!

The GranTurismo Folgore really is a thing of beauty, style and performance – even with an electric drivetrain as opposed to an engine…