GranCabrio Folgore first drive: Maserati has nailed it in one of the first true BEV convertibles
Buongiorno! Scooter here, back with another first-drive review with Maserati. This time, I flew north of Milan, Italy, to Lake Maggiore, where I took in tons of beautiful vistas while testing out Maserati’s first all-electric convertible, the GranCabrio Folgore. This is a beautifully done new model, but I worry about its starting price.
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Background on Maserati’s first all-electric convertible
My most recent Maserati drive event was almost two years in the making, as we first reported on the Trident brand’s all-electric GranCabrio convertible in October 2022. At the time, we only saw a camouflaged prototype. Still, Maserati relayed that the initial stages of GranCabrio Folgore development and testing had begun through the streets of Modena in Northern Italy.
Since then, Maserati has launched two initial Folgore BEV models—the GranTurismo coupe and the Grecale Folgore SUV, which I test-drove in Southern Italy this past March. In April, I was back in Italy at Maserati’s public launch of the GranCabrio Folgore convertible in Puglia.
It was then that we learned what specs this tri-motor sports car will deliver, including its 2.8-second 0-100km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration time. While we still await the GranCabrio Folgore’s official launch in the North American market, I recently got to visit Maserati’s native lands and test it out for myself. I’ve shared my thoughts below.
GranCabrio Folgore performance specs and features
What’s refreshing about Maserati and its Folgore BEVs is that they come as they are—one variant with all the available features, all of which are top-of-the-line in design and function. This sort of business model makes my job easier because when I talk about specs, features, and pricing (brace yourself for that one in a bit), I only have to talk about a single option.
With that said, here are some pertinent specs in the Rose Gold Maserati GranCabrio Folgore convertible I tested out:
- Powertrain: 3x 300kW radial motors (2 rear, 1 front)
- Max Power: 560 kW (751 hp) / 610 kW (818 hp) w/ MaxBoost
- Max Torque: 1,350 Nm (996 lb-ft)
- Top Speed: 180.2 mph
- 0-60 mph Acceleration: <2.8 seconds
- Battery Capacity: 92.5 kWh (nominal) / 83 kWh (usable)
- Charging:
- DCFC – 800V: 270 kW (up to 48 miles in 5 mins)
- DCFC – 400V: 50 kW (12 miles in 5 mins)
- DC Charge Time: 20 to 80% in 18 mins (@800V – 270 kW)
- AC Charge Time: 48 miles per 1 hour (@15 kW)
- Range: Up to 233 miles (EPA estimated)
- Homologated Weight: 5,249 lbs.
- Weight Distribution: 50/50
- Turning Radius: 40.68 ft.
The specs of the Maserati convertible are not bad compared to its competitors in the luxury segment, but the range certainly leaves something to be desired. That said, the GranCabrio Folgore was not necessarily designed for long road trips. We had plenty of range left after our day our driving (and driving FAST).
From my experience, it is perfect for cruising along the coast with the top down and opening it up on straightaways. A downside to Maserati’s unique 800V platform is the limited space for more batteries. On the flip side, however, the Italian automaker was able to deliver a 50/50 weight distribution, which is better than its combustion counterpart, even with an extra 933 pounds of weight from the batteries.
Driving Maserati’s tri-motor BEV convertible in Italy
As the convertible version of Maserati’s first BEV on its 800V platform, the GranCabrio offers a bit more freedom (and headroom) than the GranTurismo Folgore. When I drove the Grecale Folgore SUV, I found its exterior to be a tad flat and boring.
That is not the case with the GranCabrio Folgore. It carries a sleek but muscular design and drives bigger than it looks due to its weight. Notice its unique clam-shell hood that extends as one entire stamped piece across the front of the vehicle and over the wheel wells. How often do you see so few lines up front? Stunning.
Inside and out, tiny details have been executed to the utmost quality standards, and this is the most aesthetically pleasing Maserati I have personally seen and driven. The interior is comforting and spacious up front, but the rear seats are obviously quite tight, given the sporty EV’s overall length (4,966 mm).
I found the center display easy to navigate and operate, with very little need to tap through multiple menus. Most of your most used functions are quickly accessible from the steering wheel or display and are intuitively placed.
I don’t necessarily mind physical buttons for drive functions like Park and Drive, but I was not a fan of Maserati’s decision to place them in the center of the dash between the displays. My hand’s instinct was to go to the wheel or in between the front seats to shift modes.
This convertible’s all-electric drive modes, however, were very easy to scroll through using a knob on the steering wheel. I admittedly spent most of my time in “Sport” and “Corsa” modes to feel the full performance, but I did test out each mode of the Maserati along my journey and enjoyed the feel of each and every one… especially the stiffness and torque vectoring of Corsa.
The acceleration was superb. This baby can go. We often times outpaced the combustion Trofeo versions on the road thanks the the Folgore’s triple motors and massive torque. Overtaking nearly any other car on the highway or back roads should be no problem for future owners.
Despite being a convertible, I found the ride of the Maserati GranCabrio surprisingly quiet. It’s obviously quietest with the top and windows up, but even top-down and windows up was very nice, and I really can’t complain about driving top and windows town either.
Air-conditioned seats were there for me when I was in the sun, and a heated “air scarf” feature is available near your neck in the front seats if you’re getting chilly from the fresh air.
One of the downsides I noticed, which comes with most convertibles, is the lack of trunk space in this Maserati, especially when the top is down and folded up. That said, there’s additional storage in the rear seats if you have anything larger than a couple of carry-on suitcases.
GranCabrio Folgore pricing, availability, our video review
Overall, this is my favorite Maserati BEV model I’ve driven to date. I think its overall design is the sharpest in the lineup, and it offers the performance to match its luxury. Even as a convertible, I found the GranCabrio Folgore to drive smoothly and as quiet as can be for having no roof.
Maserati’s battery placement in the 800V platform truly shines in this model, as its added (and evenly distributed) weight helps keep the tires on the road, even on hairpin turns. After driving this model, my two critiques are its range and its price.
The EPA’s estimated range of 233 miles is adequate for a vehicle of this size and type, but I would have liked to see more, given how much Maserati is asking for the all-electric convertible. This brings me to my next issue: the GranCabrio Folgore starts at an MSRP of $205,000 before an additional $1,995 in destination and handling fees.
At a premium like that, I can’t help but wonder who will buy this model. Maserati die-hards may still opt for the combustion version, although I’d argue the Folgore is only $13,000 more and delivers significantly better performance. Also, EV enthusiasts, even the more affluent ones, are probably going to opt for a Lucid Air GT or Tesla Model S Plaid for half the price of the GranCabrio.
Is it really worth the extra money for a convertible? The market will answer that question when the Maserati GranCabrio Folgore makes its way to North American showrooms this fall as a 2025 model.
Until then, be sure to check out my driving footage and impressions around Northern Italy below:
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Germany’s largest offshore wind farm under construction, EnBW’s He Dreiht, just hit a big milestone: The first enormous turbine is now up in the North Sea.
He Dreiht – which means “it spins” in Low German – is using Vestas’s massive 15 megawatt (MW) turbines, the first project in the world to install them. Just one spin of one of the rotors can generate enough electricity to power four households for an entire day.
When it’s finished, He Dreiht will have 64 mega turbines cranking out 960 megawatts (MW) of clean power – enough to supply around 1.1 million homes. And it’s being built without any government subsidies.
EnBW, one of Germany’s major energy companies, has been working in offshore wind for more than 15 years, but He Dreiht is their biggest project yet. “It will play a key role in helping us to significantly grow our renewable energy output from 6.6 GW to over 10 GW by 2030,” said Michael Class, who heads up EnBW’s generation portfolio development.
The project is a win for Vestas, too. “With the installation of the first V236-15.0 MW, we have reached an important milestone for both the He Dreiht project and our offshore ramp-up, which helps Germany build a more secure, affordable, and sustainable energy system,” said Nils de Baar, president of Vestas Northern & Central Europe.
He Dreiht is located about 85 kilometers (53 miles) northwest of Borkum and 110 kilometers (68 miles) west of Helgoland. At peak times, more than 500 workers will be out at sea building the farm, using a fleet of more than 60 ships. EnBW’s offshore team in Hamburg is running the show.
The installation process is a major operation. The 64 foundations were already set in the seabed last year. Parts for the turbines are loaded onto the installation vessel Wind Orca in Esbjerg, Denmark, and shipped out in a 12-hour journey to the construction site. From there, the turbines are lifted into place. Meanwhile, crews are also working on internal wind farm cabling.
A partner consortium made up of Allianz Capital Partners, AIP, and Norges Bank Investment Management owns 49.9% of the shares in He Dreiht.
Read more: Trump admin halts $5 billion NY offshore wind project mid-build
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Tesla has released a quick update about its Tesla Semi factory in Nevada. It says that it is on track for volume production of the electric semi truck in 2026.
The Tesla Semi was first scheduled to go into production in 2019, but it has faced numerous delays.
Now, it appears that there is finally some momentum to bring it to volume production.
For the last two years, Tesla has been working to build a new factory next to Gigafactory Nevada, where it builds the battery packs and drive units for most of its electric vehicles built in North America.
Today, Tesla released a “progress update on the factory, confirming that it finished building and it’s now working on deploying the production lines:
Tesla had previously mentioned aiming for volume production by 2025, but it is now only talking about starting production toward the end of the year and ramping up next year.
The automaker reiterated its planned production capacity of 50,000 units.
We recently reported that an early Tesla Semi customer, Ryder, stated that the electric truck program is experiencing more delays and a price increase described as “dramatic.”
They now expect to take deliveries of their first trucks later in 2026 and said that the price has increased “dramatically,” leading them to scale back their pilot program from 42 to 18 Tesla Semi trucks.
When originally unveiling the Tesla Semi in 2017, the automaker mentioned prices of $150,000 for a 300-mile range truck and $180,000 for the 500-mile version. Tesla also took orders for a “Founder’s Series Semi” at $200,000.
However, Tesla didn’t update the prices when launching the “production version” of the truck in late 2022. Price increases have been speculated, but the company has never confirmed them.
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Vietnamese solar panel maker Boviet Solar just opened the doors to its first US factory — a huge new PV module plant in Greenville, North Carolina.
The company dropped $294 million into the state-of-the-art facility, which will pump out Boviet’s Gamma Series monofacial and Vega Series bifacial solar panels. They’re using advanced PERC and N-Type solar cell tech, which basically means these panels are built to deliver higher efficiency and better performance across residential, commercial, industrial, and utility-scale projects.
The Greenville factory’s first phase is now online with an annual PV module output capacity of 2 gigawatts (GW). For Phase 2, which is scheduled to come online in the second half of 2026, Boviet will invest another $100 million to add 600,000 square feet and ramp up to another 2 GW. It will make high-efficiency solar cells.
Once both phases are complete, Boviet’s campus will cover more than 1 million square feet of manufacturing and R&D space. It’s one of the biggest clean energy manufacturing projects North Carolina has ever seen.
The jobs impact is significant, too. The first phase will create 460 skilled local jobs. Phase 2 is expected to add another 908, bringing the total to over 1,300 direct jobs, plus nearly 2,000 more indirect jobs across the region. That’s good news for Pitt County’s economy, real estate market, and workforce training programs.
“This facility is not just creating jobs, but creating opportunity, innovation, and a stronger foundation for eastern North Carolina,” said Senator Kandie Smith. Governor Josh Stein added that Boviet Solar’s move shows how North Carolina is leading the way in clean energy growth.
Read more: Thomas Built Buses debuts its next-gen electric school bus
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