The 2025 Maserati Gran Cabrio Folgore first test drive review: this charming electric car is the real Maserati
Thanks to the T-shaped battery, the Maserati electric grand tourer doesn't actually drive like an electric car.
I've heard enough EV marketing pitches to predict the next, the next, and the next EV. They're all the same, especially high-end high-performance electric vehicles. But guess what? They are mostly nonsense. Giving an EV more power and stiffer suspension doesn't make it the soulful, glamorous driving machine that automakers like to advertise – which is why they often tout ridiculous "engine" sounds, distracting screen graphics, and gimmicks enough to fill up CVS receipts. When I attended the debut of the 2025 Maserati Gran Cabrio Folgore in April, I knew the Modenas automaker had an amazing electric convertible, but I also thought, "I've heard this talk before." ”
Of all the sports cars that could be switched to battery power, Italian sports cars were particularly difficult to accept. Their V12 and V8 engines – and even now the twin-turbo V6 – are legendary. What do you get out of that? It's like depriving Luciano Pavarotti of his voice, only to think that he can still sell out stadium tickets based on his appearance alone.
But all the while, the people of Maserati insist that the Gran Cabrio Folgore is, first and foremost, an authentic Maserati and, secondly, not a replacement for the ICE model, but a replacement. Six weeks later, I test-drove this so-called Folgore with great anticipation – which, by the way, Folgore means "lightning".
foundation
I'll tell you what I think of risotto, but first, here's the recipe: 751 horsepower, from three motors, powered by a 92.5 kWh battery arranged in a T-shape. The battery pack extends down the middle of the car through a "drive" channel, with "T" arms deployed under the rear seats. That's the key – more on that later. There is one motor in the front and two motors in the rear, but the front motor can be turned off if needed for pure rear-wheel drive. Maserati says the Gran Cabrio Folgore can travel about 233 miles on a single charge (EPA certification is ongoing), but if you try to test it for a 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of 2.7 seconds or a top speed of 180 mph, that number won't be reached.
Most important, however, is Folgore's infinite headroom. That's the whole reason to buy it, especially considering that its target buyers may already own other high-priced machines: internal combustion engines and electric cars. The attraction here is to buy a brand new and very exclusive convertible electric car owners club – and a Maserati.
Maserati
It also looks like a Maserati. Not to be confused with other vehicles on the road. A few years ago, design director Klaus Busse and his team were successful with the new Gran Turismo, and the Folgore is as romantic and striking as its fixed-roof, gas-guzzling sibling. The muscular front end dominates the dramatic fenders above the front wheels, while the typical Maserati grille remains largely unchanged. I say basically unchanged because there is no petrol engine under the hood, so it was tweaked, but the results are just as fascinating.
The rear is smooth, refined, and overall, not as rugged as the front. This is especially true when compared to the previous generation Gran Turismo. It's functional, adding that kind of sophistication to the Gran Cabrio that is common throughout the collection today. In today's crowded supercar market, Maserati is elevating its elegance and performance in equal measure, knowing that it needs to cater to wealthy people who not only want to go fast, but also want to be seen as edgy and savvy. No more hot-headed dandies or burly South Beach gym owners.
As Busse said when he showed me around the car, the biggest challenge was making the Folgore look great both when the roof was raised and lowered. This requires repeatedly adjusting the waistline until the body is properly proportioned. The waistline can't be too thin, not too thick, not too high or too low, and too far back when passing through the back. However, if it's too far forward, it will affect the rear passenger space. (After all, this is a real four-seater, not a 2+2.) Well, he succeeded.
Driving experience
The travel delay almost cost me the opportunity to sit in Folgore for a while, but thanks to some quick reflexes, the hiccup worked in my favor. Instead of carpooling with others (which isn't always considerate), I drove alone on the winding lakeside roads of northern Italy. My mission was to catch up with the press corps that had left a few hours earlier than me. Oh my God, how did I end up in such a terrible situation?
Due to the drizzle, the soft roof of Folgore was closed, and I set out from Lake Maggiore and headed into the mountains. Soon I had my first revelation: it felt like a real Maserati. Forget that it's an electric car – its steering, suspension, braking, and overall performance all make people exclaim: "We've been making Italian sports cars for over 100 years." What more do you expect, stupid? ”
It really made my job very easy because for the next 90 minutes, I would learn about the intricacies of Folgore instead of figuring out if it was in line with its traditions. It's like your first date and knowing early on that there will be a second date – so you can enjoy it to the fullest instead of spending every minute over-analyzing things.
Set to GT driving mode (there are four: Folgore, GT, Sport, and Corsa), this electric convertible can easily drive on narrow mountain roads, but what's more remarkable is that it doesn't exude the strange "on the track" feel that most electric cars have. While this phrase is often used to compliment the car's handling, it can also be a bit bad. Lo and behold, an EV with a skateboard platform has a lower center of gravity, but since everything (including the seat) is mounted on top of the platform, the seating position is usually high and the handling tends to feel unnatural. When cornering at high speeds, you often feel as if you're being pulled up from the bottom, and you're just going with the flow, not controlling.
Folgore doesn't have this "fake feeling," if you can call it that. Instead, it feels neutral and balanced, like a non-electric Maserati. The reason is all about the battery layout, which allows the front seats to be mounted as low as possible on the platform, while distributing the weight longitudinally. This means drivers will feel more engaged and engaged in the driving experience, rather than just experiencing fast, torque-heavy roller coaster rides.
Again, the various regenerative braking modes (except for the strongest one) feel more natural than the average sport EV. It's more like how it feels when you downshift rather than when you press the brake pedal. Unlike most electric cars, I found myself not using regenerative paddles, just relying on the car's natural inclination to turn with the throttle off. Six- and four-piston Brembo brakes with ventilated rotors provide powerful braking performance and a precise pedal feel. I experienced this firsthand when a tourist pulled his car in the middle of the road on the edge of a cliff while turning a bend and I had to make an emergency stop, strong enough to trigger the ABS to avoid a head-on collision. (I know they're tourists, because the locals would never do something like this.) ）
The suspension in GT and Sport mode felt perfect for the way I drove. The GT allows for more body roll and steering, while the Sport mode feels cleaner and more precise. Either way, putting your foot on the gas will make you sick to your stomach from the tsunami of torque – 996 pound-feet is no joke. However, the pedal calibration is clever enough to avoid the kind of toggle-like acceleration that most electric cars have. Every time I went over speed bumps (some quite big), I thought I would feel a harsher crash on a car with such a low chassis, but that never happened. The electronic shock absorber solved the problem very quickly and made me feel comfortable. Corsa mode just stiffens the suspension and the feel of the car is too strong to enjoy the driving pleasure, but I can imagine that on better asphalt and with the right combination of curves, this setup will be put to good use.
Of course, the Folgore's curb weight of 5,249 pounds couldn't be completely hidden, but Maserati engineers tried it anyway. They did a great job. Driving a continuous EV and a 900-pound-pound lighter V6 Trofeo found that the Folgore felt like it needed to move more weight, but it made up for it with more torque response and faster feedback. Keep in mind that neither car is a dedicated track toy. They are luxurious and powerful grand tourers.
Ultimately, that's where Folgore shines. Driving along the shores of the lake, through extremely narrow and crowded village streets, the experience of vibration-free carriages and no roar is delightful. I don't miss the boisterous sound of its twin gasoline engine at all. The Folgore looks just as charming, drives just as well, and still runs like hell when my right foot wants it – there's nothing wrong with this picture at all. Actually, there was something wrong with it, and the roof was still open. Even though there was no sunshine, I put it down and enjoyed pretending to be part of the 1%.
When the canvas canopy is lowered, another delightful feature of the Folgore becomes apparent: the sound. When the canopy is raised, there is a very faint deep hum in the carriage. When the canopy is lowered, you will hear a clearer sound, but not louder. When switching to Sport or Corsa mode, the intensity increases, but the volume remains almost the same. It's a slight audible reminder that you're driving a high-performance car, but it's weak enough not to feel fancy. It doesn't replace the sound of the engine, and it doesn't try to remind you what your right foot is doing, it's just the electric drivetrain reminding you.
Early Judgments
The 2025 Maserati Gran Cabrio Folgore is not your average electric car, nor is it any other electric car. However, I find it puzzling that the best feature of this electric car is that it doesn't look like an electric car at all. Is this a good thing? Is this a bad thing? What does this mean for brands? Do Maserati customers want a truly unique EV experience, or do they want an EV that mimics the internal combustion engine Maserati? Most likely the latter. Due to the ever-increasing tax on gas-guzzling sports cars, Europe's wealthy will line up to buy a Folgore, while plug-in hybrids can mostly avoid this tax, but electric cars can avoid it entirely. As for the rest of the world, time and sales data will answer these questions.
We've already established that the ICE Gran Turismo is a mesmerizing model, and its powerful Nettuno twin-turbo V6 engine sounds even better in the Gran Cabrio convertible. But Folgore is a completely different experience, with many smiling highlights. As it turns out, the marketers are not bragging this time, it is a real Maserati.
| 2025 款玛莎拉蒂 Gran Cabrio Folgore 规格 | |
| Base price | USD 206,995 |
| Drivetrain | Three-motor all-wheel drive | 92.5 kWh battery |
| horsepower | 751 (818 with MaxBoost) |
| Torque | 996 pound-feet |
| Number of seats | 4 |
| Freight volume | 5.3 cubic feet |
| Approved weight | 5,249 lbs |
| 0-60 mph | 2.7 sec |
| Top speed | 180 mph |
| Estimated range | 233 miles |
| Quick access | It's a 100% Maserati style, 0% garbage style convertible electric car. |
| fraction | 9/10 |