MASERATI GRECALE FOLGORE
Electric crossover is ready to give the new Porsche a tough fight
There’s a pleasing fluidity to how it drives, aided by standard air springs
Porsche might hog the plaudits for offering electric cars to keen drivers thanks to 2020’s Taycan breakthrough, but little old Maserati is rapidly catching up. The 110-year-old brand will have an electric version of every model by the end of next year and will switch off combustion engines entirely in 2028. It’s an extraordinary time of change.
After last year’s GranTurismo Folgore EV comes this: the Grecale Folgore, the electric version of the slightly smaller of Maserati’s two SUVs. Folgore is Italian for lightning bolt, and the copper script of the model name is the car-spotting anorak’s friend, along with copper accents on the brake callipers, the absence of exhaust pipes and a more blanked-off concave grille.
The Grecale is a neat-looking SUV with the same dimensions as the combustion cars; the large 97kWh (net) battery is cleverly packaged in the Giorgio platform without changing the external dimensions one jot. Even the boot space (a decent 535 litres) is identical to the petrol car’s.
It’s a roomy cabin with plenty of space for four adults; only a tall-ish transmission tunnel reminds you that petrol versions are also available. British cars will come with leather upholstery as standard, or there’s the zero-cost option of a new seat material called Econyl, fashioned from recycled nylon and fishing nets. Some may prefer its more vegan roots and sportswear vibe.
Prod the start button on the busy steering wheel and the Folgore comes to life, Maserati’s Android-powered infotainment waking from its slumber. As such systems go, it’s quick and responsive and the navigation is easy to use; it’s programmed to identify the fastest charging options en route. Tap the plasticky D button on the centre console and we’re off, gliding silently away.
Our test car is fitted with 21-inch alloys, the spoke design echoing the prongs of the Maserati trident badge. While the ride can fidget over expansion joints and the worst road acne, we’re surprised how well it man- ages to isolate the cabin from bumps. Still, we’d choose the mid-ranking 20s.
The Grecale Folgore has a pleasing fluidity to how it drives, aided by standard air springs that can be adjusted separately from the drivetrain by toggling through four drive modes. They can lift the body
