The period of electrical automobile saturation is upon us, and Maserati has joined the occasion. It is a trio, all named Folgore—Italian for lightning, and a intelligent solution to convey Maserati’s taste to electrification—made up of the GranTurismo and GranCabrio, in addition to the Grecale SUV. I received to attempt the largest and baddest of all of them: The 818-horsepower, triple-motor GranTurismo Folgore on an icy rallycross course deep within the Italian Alps.

For its $194,000 beginning value, the GranTurismo Folgore has to ship the products, and never merely be simply charmingly Italian sufficient to justify its market place. With the lack of the previous GranTurismo’s gorgeous-sounding V-8 and the present’s snarling V-6, what sort of character might an electrical GranTurismo actually have? Because it seems, not sufficient.

Photograph by: Maserati

For starters, the Folgore is constructed on the identical foundations as the brand new GranTurismo that debuted final yr, save for the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Nettuno V-6. As an alternative, there are three electrical motors—two within the again, one within the entrance—and a 92.5 Kilowatt-Hour battery pack mounted in a T configuration. Whereas every motor can produce 400 hp, the battery pack can solely maintain 751 hp, or 818 hp in brief bursts. Crucially, two-thirds of the ability goes to the rear axle.

Packaging all of it right into a platform shared with an inside combustion automobile is technically spectacular, particularly contemplating that it is primarily based on the Alfa Romeo Giulia’s Giorgio platform, now referred to as Giorgio Sport. The T-shaped battery pack permits the GranTurismo to stay low, with out the awkward peak that comes with a skateboard-style floor-mounted battery pack. The motors are compact, utilizing silicone carbide inverters to scale back general dimension, and the rear dual-motor setup permits for true torque vectoring.

The inside is similar because the gasoline-powered GranTurismo, together with Maserati’s signature column-mounted shift paddles. Now, the paddles management regenerative braking. It additionally stays the weak level of the GranTurismo, particularly for its value. The inside is undoubtedly luxurious, nevertheless it lacks the considerate particulars of different luxurious automobiles. There are too many touchscreens, and the switches that do exist are lifted from lesser Stellantis merchandise. It nonetheless doesn’t really feel completely particular, even when it is a stable stride forward of the earlier GranTurismo. However now, for the enjoyable half.

Photograph by: Maserati

Execs: Appears Nice, Good Unfastened-Floor Dealing with, Highly effective

Maserati sicced me on a reputable ice rallycross course to check the GranTurismo Folgore’s {hardware}. Being on ice didn’t depart a lot room to judge the Folgore’s energy, nevertheless it provided loads of scope to see how the automobile managed torque, the way it used stability management and ABS, and the way the bottom physics of the GranTurismo labored. I’m pleased to report that the massive Maserati is gorgeous to drive on the slick stuff.

Initiating a drift was straightforward and instantaneous, with exact, fast-ratio steering that made it easy to catch the preliminary slide. What was extra addicting was how the Maserati doled out torque—with a heavy rear bias. From the preliminary throttle prod to deep within the pedal, it deploys nearly all of its torque to the rear, permitting correct, countersteering drifts. The lone entrance motor by no means hassled or tried to cease the occasion. Solely at full throttle would the entrance motor get up and try to tug the automobile barely straighter.

Photograph by: Maserati

Cons: Not Sufficient Bodily Buttons, Inside Doesn’t Really feel Like It’s Price $200,000, Costly

There was a component of twin persona as nicely. You could possibly be a turkey-fisted brute and do large, gymkhana-esque slides and the GranTurismo would fortunately oblige. However dial again and afford it some precision, and it will turn out to be delicate and suggestable to small inputs. Off-throttle transitions have been extremely responsive, and driving with extra restraint was simply as satisfying as making snow clouds. The steering was principally useless and didn’t talk the course of the wheels nicely, nevertheless it did simply sufficient to make precision slides workable.

The GranTurismo Folgore is aware of how one can occasion. As a driving instrument, it really works shockingly nicely. It hides its weight admirably and dances like a light-weight sports activities automobile, but it’s nonetheless splendidly insulated as any good GT ought to. However I nonetheless can’t shake the truth that it didn’t really feel like a near-$200,000 expertise.

Regardless of loads of good and little bit of lovability, the GranTurismo Folgore lacks some character. It didn’t stir in my chest or my soul whereas driving it—not even sideways on ice. Which is a disgrace, as a result of it’s a rattling stunner to take a look at.

29