The new Maserati GranTurismo is a thrilling new version of a 2+2 GT coupe car that has a proud 75-year heritage – and, for the first time in the Italian luxury brand’s history, there will be a fully-electric version lining up alongside petrol-powered Maserati GranTurismo in 2023.
The electric Maserati GranTurismo is called the Folgore, and it has no fewer than three electric motors – two driving the rear wheels and one driving the front. This means it is four-wheel drive, which is a good job, because total power output is a remarkable 760PS! That equates to 0-62mph in just 2.7 seconds, and a 199mph top speed.
No range figures for the 2023 Maserati GranTurismo Folgore have yet been revealed, but its 92.5kWh battery is a large-capacity unit: we expect it to rival the range of around 300 miles boasted by its arch-rival, the Porsche Taycan. It is based on 800-volt technology, so will be able to use the growing number of ultra-rapid chargers, adding hundreds of miles’ range in minutes.
For those not ready to go fully electric, the Maserati GranTurismo will launch in early 2023 with a “revolutionary” 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo engine called Nettuno. It will be offered with 490PS in the Maserati GranTurismo Modena, and 550PS in the Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo. Performance will be thrilling – as will, promises Maserati, the noise.
Like the electric Maserati GranTurismo Folgore, the petrol-powered models are four-wheel drive. They are expected to use a high-performance eight-speed automatic transmission.
Performance figures will be potent, aided by the “best-in-class” weight levels of the new Maserati GranTurismo. It’s a sector that includes the Porsche 911, Bentley Continental GT, BMW 8 Series and Aston Martin DB11.
Weight-savings have been achieved by extensive use of lightweight materials including aluminium, magnesium and high-strength steel. It’s all so advanced, Maserati has had to develop a new manufacturing process to handle the multi-material approach at the futuristic production facility in Miafiori, Turin.
Not that the 2023 Maserati GranTurismo shouts about its high-tech approach. Respectful of that 75-year heritage, the new Maserati GranTurismo’s design is beautifully elegant and refined. The flowing lines are pure and simple, with no unnecessary or jarring fripperies.
The profile is defined by a long wheelbase and a stretched bonnet. The four curvaceous wheelarches define the front and rear, giving the new Maserati GranTurismo a natural, classical character. Both regular and electric versions are broadly similar, with the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore largely differing at the rear from its lack of exhaust tail pipes and charge port below the left tail lamp.
The 2023 Maserati GranTurismo interior has not yet been revealed. We do know it will be a 2+2 layout, with Maserati claiming an ultra-low seating position even in the GranTurismo Folgore EV, thanks to a clever T-shaped battery. Regular cars will have a 310-litre boot, with the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore having a 270-litre boot.
Maserati says the new GranTurismo will feature a “modern cabin equipped with innovative systems, including the Maserati Intelligent Assistant (MIA) multimedia system”. Infotainment tech will be thoroughly up to date, and be focused around a central touchscreen. A head-up display for the driver will be optional – and instead of the classic Maserati analogue clock in the centre of the dash, the new GranTurismo will feature a digital clock with a choice of multiple displays.
The new Maserati GranTurismo will arrive first in V6 petrol guise in early 2023, with prices expected to start from around £150,000. The Maserati GranTurismo Folgore EV will follow later in the year, with prices from around £200,000.
There will even be a special limited edition of the 2023 Maserati GranTurismo, called the PrimaSerie 75th Anniversary Launch Edition. This will be an exclusive model for early adopters – and, given the heritage of the Maserati GranTurismo, a sure-fire collectable…
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