The Shanghai Motor Show 2023 is in full flow, and one of the cars making its debut is the first all-electric SUV from Italian boutique maker Maserati. The Grecale isn’t new, but the Grecale Folgore – ‘Thunderbolt” in Italian – adds an electric drivetrain capable of 800Nm of torque.
Electrification is key to Maserati’s future strategy: the company has a commitment to produce electric versions of all its models by 2025 and to go full electric by 2030. The Grecale Folgore is the first step in that process. The ICE-powered Grecale, when it arrived in the Maserati line-up last year, filled the small luxury SUV gap in the company’s line-up, and was always scheduled to be its first EV.
Maserati CEO Davide Grasso said: “It’s a defining moment for the Maserati brand. Today, we’re in China at the Shanghai Auto Show; we’re in Italy for the cosmopolitan Milano Design Week event; we’re all over the world celebrating the future: it’s a new beginning for the brand. We’re celebrating Folgore, the electrification plan that has become a reality and is ready to pave the way in this revolutionary era. I’m very excited to be here in Shanghai, which is not only an international exhibition but also a global platform for innovation and the ideal place to unveil the first electric models in the history of Maserati”.
The Grecale Folgore runs from a 400V, 105kWh battery, which will likely translate into a 300-350 mile range, and with 500bhp and 800Nm of torque on tap will no doubt prove to be pretty quick. Maserati hasn’t confirmed numbers yet but that sounds like plenty of power to take on its direct rivals such as the BMX iX and the yet-to-be-released Porsche Macan EV. There will be three levels of trim – GT, Modena, and Trofeo – and eco touches such as internal fabric made from recycled fishing nets and sporting “a unique laser-cut design inspired on the elegant moves of a ballerina”, whatever that means.
Prices aren’t confirmed yet. Given that the ICE-powered models start at nearly £60,000 it’s certainly not going to be cheap, but it is likely to be competitive .
