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.
Table of contents
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:
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Los Angeles has officially cut ties with coal. City officials say the Intermountain Power Project (IPP) in Utah – the last coal-fired power plant supplying the US’s second-largest city – went offline just before Thanksgiving.
IPP’s two massive units had a combined capacity of around 1,800 megawatts (MW) when fully operational, and as recently as 2024, they still supplied around 11% of LA’s electricity. The plant sits in Utah’s Great Basin region and powered Southern California for decades. Now, for the first time, none of LA’s power comes from coal.
There’s a political hiccup with IPP, though: the Republican-controlled Utah Legislature blocked the Intermountain Power Agency from fully retiring the coal units this year, ordering that they can’t be disconnected or decommissioned. But despite that mandate, no buyers have stepped forward to keep the outdated coal units online.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is transitioning to newly built, hydrogen-capable generating units at the same IPP location, part of a modernization effort called IPP Renewed. These new units currently run on natural gas, but they’re designed to burn a blend of natural gas and up to 30% green hydrogen, and eventually 100% green hydrogen. LADWP plans to start adding green hydrogen to the fuel mix in 2026.
“L.A.’s coal divestment is not just about discontinuing the use of coal to power our city – it’s about building a clean energy economy that benefits every Angeleno. This milestone will further accelerate our transition to 100 percent clean energy by 2035,” said Mayor Karen Bass.
To reach that goal, LA is investing heavily in solar, wind, battery storage, and local programs that expand rooftop solar and energy efficiency.
One of the city’s biggest milestones was reached in August with the completion of the Eland Solar-plus-Storage Center – a massive project that pairs 758 megawatts of solar with 300 MW/1,200 MWh of battery storage. It’s one of the largest solar-plus-storage plants in the country, capable of powering more than 260,000 Los Angeles households. Bringing Eland online helped push LADWP’s power supply past 60% clean energy in 2025.
Read more: In a first, renewables generate more power than coal globally
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
![Kia's small EV drops its camo, plus a sneak peek at the interior [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Kia-EV2-spotted-camo.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Kia’s most affordable electric SUV will be here in just over a month. Ahead of its debut, the EV2 was spotted with light camo, offering our best look yet.
Kia EV2 looks more like an SUV with less camo
Just days after Kia confirmed the EV2 will debut at the Brussels Motor Show on January 9, 2026, the small electric SUV was spotted in Europe with barely any camo.
The EV2 is a fully electric B-segment SUV set to be Kia’s new entry-level EV. It will sit below the EV3, which is already the UK’s most popular retail electric vehicle and among the top-sellers in Europe.
“With the EV2, we reaffirm our commitment to make electric mobility truly accessible to a broader audience,” Kia Europe president and CEO, Marc Hedrich, said earlier this month.
Despite its compact size, the EV2 looks and feels much bigger in person. It has a similar high-riding, blocky design as Kia’s latest electric SUVs, such as the EV5 and three-row EV9.
In the teaser images Kia posted a few days ago, the EV2 was shown under a drape with a design that looked nearly identical to the EV2 Concept from earlier this year.
Now, we can finally confirm it. The Kia EV2 was recently spotted in Europe in light camo, rocking a tall, SUV-like stance. The latest image from KindelAuto gives us a solid look at its profile, which still resembles a mini EV5 or EV9.
Kia will begin EV2 production alongside the EV4 hatch at its Zilina, Slovakia, plant shortly after its debut at the Brussels Motor Show next month, ramping up output throughout 2026.
Although Kia has yet to reveal specifics, the EV2 is expected to be about 4,000 mm (157″) long, or slightly smaller than the EV3 at 4,300 mm (169.3″). It will be closer in size to the Hyundai Inster EV.
Prices are expected to start at around €30,000 ($35,000) in Europe, given that the EV3 starts at about €36,000 ($42,000).
A new video from HealerTV offers a glimpse of the interior. Although the EV2 concept included sliding benches, detachable seats, cushions, and other innovative features to unlock more space, the interior looks more like Kia’s latest EVs, such as the EV3, EV4, and EV5.
You can see it has a standard armrest and a separate storage spot, similar to the EV5. The door handles are about the same as those in the EV3 and EV4.
Although it’s just a preview since the windows were covered, the second row looks about the same as the EV3. The reporter mentioned a “family look” similar to Kia’s other electric vehicles.
The compact electric SUV is expected to ride on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform, with similar battery pack options as the EV3. The EV3 is available with 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh battery options, delivering a WLTP range of 410 km (255 miles) and 560 km (348 miles), respectively.
The EV2 will debut at the Brussels Motor Show on January 9, 2026. Kia will hold a press conference at 10:40 am CET to introduce the new entry-level EV. Check back for updates leading up to the event.
For those in the US, sadly, the EV2 is not expected to make the trip overseas. However, Kia is offering generous discounts of over $10,000 off its current EV lineup.
Interested in a test drive? We can help you get started. You can use the links below to find Kia’s electric vehicles near you.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Nissan is looking for a partner to co-develop new EVs with as it struggles to turn things around, but only on one condition.
Nissan is still looking for EV partners
After its plans with Honda fell through earlier this year, Nissan is still hoping to find a partnership to build next-generation EVs.
As part of its recovery plan, Re:Nissan, the automaker has already announced significant job cuts, factory closures, and other extreme measures to cut costs as it looks to return to profitability.
Nissan has been actively seeking new partnerships, but it won’t settle for “just a transaction.” Speaking to Automotive News at an event earlier this month, Ponz Pandikuthira, chief product and planning officer for Nissan Americas, said that although it was open to partnering, it would have to be a two-way street.
“We would not engage with a partner just to buy a vehicle, or platform, or piece of tech,” Pandikuthira said, adding, “That’s what makes it a long-term commitment instead of just a transaction.”
Pandikuthira suggested Nissan is already in talks with several potential partners, including Honda and Mitsubishi. Sources told Automotive News in October that Nissan was in discussions with Ford and Stellantis to supply a new electrified SUV based on the Rogue.
The sources claimed the electrified Rogue would use Nissan’s new e-POWER hybrid system. According to Pandikuthira, Nissan could also use the next-gen Frontier platform, set to underpin the new Pathfinder.
So what would the partnership look like? The product and planning boss said it could involve automakers either buying the technology or Nissan building rebadged vehicles, but the partner would still need to use its tech. It would be a two-way commitment, not just a transaction.
Either way, Nissan will need to move quickly. It already cut the Ariya electric SUV from its 2026 lineup in the US, and is reportedly struggling to sell the new LEAF.
We know we need economies of scale for an EV, and we would be open to a discussion with another partner to jointly develop an EV,” Pandikuthira stressed. That could involve a family of SUVs, Nissan’s product boss suggested.
Electrek’s Take
Starting at $29,990 with over 300 miles of range, Nissan says the 2026 LEAF has “the lowest starting MSRP for any new EV currently on sale in the US.” If it’s already having a tough time selling the low-cost LEAF EV, it could be a long road ahead for Nissan.
Like Hyundai and General Motors, which announced plans to co-develop five new vehicles, combining resources with a new partnership could help Nissan reduce development costs, leverage new tech, and achieve economies of scale.
What are your thoughts on a Nissan EV partnership? Which company would be the best fit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
-
Sports2 years agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports3 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Sports3 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment3 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment1 year agoHere are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in October 2024