Maserati is working arduous to get out of the droop that was the Levante, Ghibli and Quattroporte period, and with its newest editions to its vary — the GranCabrio Folgore and Trofeo — the iconic Italian automaker lastly appears to be leaving that period behind. The GranTurismo coupe, and by extension its GranCabrio droptop sibling, function a type of North Star for Maserati. Certain, it has the MC20 supercar, however the two-door four-seater is equally as, if no more necessary to the corporate. Maserati had to ensure it acquired this automobile proper if it needed to shake off the ghost of the three FCA horsemen of the apocalypse and the drained picture its predecessor exhibited to the world.
I’m right here to report that the GranCabrio, in each electrical Folgore and gas-powered Trofeo guise, does simply that… for essentially the most half. It’s a hell of rather a lot nicer than the Maseratis that dominated the earth just some years in the past, however there are only a few issues holding it again from being really spectacular.
Full Disclosure: Maserati flew me to northern Italy, put me up in a few expensive motels and fed me a lot fish I by no means wish to contact the stuff once more all so I may check out the brand new GranCabrio Trofeo and Folgore.
Regardless of the way you slice it, the Maserati GranCabrio is a particularly placing automobile. Its lengthy hood, bulbous fenders and tight tail give it these basic Maserati appears to be like we’ve come to understand, and chopping the roof off simply heightens that look in the event you ask me. It’s low-slung like all driver’s vehicles must be. That’s why, when growing the Folgore, the engineers determined in opposition to a skateboard-style battery pack. As a substitute, it runs in a T-shape down the middle of the automobile. Not solely does this support in dealing with (we’ll get to that later), but it surely additionally means Maserati may maintain the GranCabrio Folgore low to the bottom.
Designers of the automobile would be the first to confess the brand new GranCabrio doesn’t look drastically completely different than the outdated one, and why ought to it? The outdated GC was a fantastic-looking automobile for the complete 11-year run. I don’t see this as a problem, as a result of the automobile nonetheless appears to be like nice in my eyes. Why mess with a great factor, ya know? When it comes to differentations between the 2 vehicles – properly there aren’t too many, and that’s shocking given how vastly completely different their powerplants are. The one actual inform that you simply’re a Folgore and never a Trofeo is a fender badge, some closed-off vents and extra aerodynamic wheels. It definitely doesn’t scream EV to those that see it.
One factor Maserati did mess with is the GranCabrio’s inside. The outdated automobile had tech that dated again to the early days of the Obama administration and construct high quality to match that of a Canal Avenue “Gucci” bag. Now, we’re in a unique world with cutting-edge tech, a extremely fairly design and the construct high quality of a very nice pocketbook from Nordstrom. It’s an enchancment, however there’s nonetheless a option to go.
Inside tech is the place each the Trofeo and Folgore shine. The 2 vehicles are practically an identical inside apart from a number of trim items and materials decisions. All of them include a highly-customizable gauge cluster display, a essential infotainment touchscreen, a secondary angled touchscreen beneath that for core automobile features like HVAC and seat controls, and a tiny round display within the sprint that may function a clock, a g-meter, a compass or a battery stage indicator in the event you’re within the Folgore. It’s foolish, positive, however who mentioned vehicles wanted to be critical on a regular basis? Anyway, all of those programs work rather well collectively and make the GranCabrio really feel like a completely trendy automobile — one thing that might not be mentioned concerning the first-generation GC. Add some really fantastic leathers, metals and premium-feeling plastics and also you’ve acquired a extremely tasty stew going.
Oh, and you may honest-to-God get 4 adults on this factor. I’m not saying will probably be essentially the most snug expertise on the planet, however you are able to do it. You possibly can even match a few of their stuff within the trunk.
Nonetheless, it doesn’t matter what drivetrain you choose, the GranCabrio can’t utterly shake its Stellantis roots. Any Jeep fanatic will instantly be capable of acknowledge the window switches, the actually good infotainment system and the buttons mounted on the again of the steering wheel. I had a 2004 Grand Cherokee years in the past, and the buttons behind the wheel have been precisely the identical as what’s within the Maserati. That’s a troublesome tablet to swallow if you’re spending upwards of $220,000 on an Italian sports activities automobile.
One other factor concerning the inside that basically grinds my gears is how Maserati determined to implement the gear selector. As a substitute of a shifter or lever, it’s 4 buttons on the dashboard between the 2 central screens. That’s not likely the issue. I don’t love button shifters, however I can get previous it. My actual subject lies with how shitty they’re to the touch and to make use of. They’re simply 4 low cost items of piano black plastic that wiggle round if you press them and don’t exude cutting-edge luxurious the way in which the remainder of the inside does. This stinks as a result of each single time you drive your GranCabrio, you’ve acquired to work together with these buttons. Would these buttons cease me from shopping for the automobile? No, however I’d count on extra from an organization that’s making an attempt actually arduous to distance itself from its extra pedestrian automotive stablemates.
All that being mentioned, the place the GranCabrio Folgore and Trofeo stand atop their automotive stablemates is how they drive. We’ll get to propulsion strategies in a second, however I simply wish to spotlight what a revelation these vehicles are to drive in any circumstance whether or not you’re simply above idle round city or banging off the rev limiter on a backroad someplace. Regardless of the way you spec it the ability is there, however to me, the actual spotlight is how the GranCabrio handles. These vehicles like to be tossed round corners, with a seemingly limitless quantity of grip (thanks partly to the summer time tires), a very nice and progressive brake really feel, and among the finest steering suggestions I’ve ever skilled.
Maserati was actually capable of seize that direct and lightweight steering really feel Italian vehicles are identified for. One of the simplest ways to explain it’s delicate. The smallest inputs lead to a directional change, and but it doesn’t really feel darty. On high of that, the wheel actually talks to you. Should you drive over a pebble you’ll be capable of inform what kind of rock it chipped off of. It’s actually spectacular stuff that heightens the complete expertise of the GranCabrio. Even in Folgore guise, due to the T-shaped battery, turn-in and dealing with continues to be fabulous. It’s an actual feat of engineering to get this 5,249-pound automobile (Trofeo weighs 4,316 kilos) to bop the way in which it does. The suspension tuning of each vehicles can also be unbelievable. They’re pretty related, although I might say the Folgore is a bit softer. Regardless, each are arrange completely to cope with the less-than-perfect roads of northern Italy. They absorb bumps rather well however nonetheless are responsive sufficient for even essentially the most spirited drive.
So, the Folgore and Trofeo are very related autos each inside and out of doors, however they’re worlds aside beneath. The Trofeo is powered by Maserati’s new front-mid-mounted Nettuno twin-turbocharged V6 that pumps out 542 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque via a ZF eight-speed computerized. That’s sufficient energy to maneuver the grand tourer from 0 to 60 mph in simply 3.6 seconds. These are all very respectable numbers, however they pale compared to what the Folgore involves play with.
Maserati says the Folgore’s three electrical motors (two within the rear and one up entrance) produce an astronomical 818 horsepower and 996 lb-ft of torque. God rattling. That’s sufficient to get the Folgore from 0 to 60 in a nauseating 2.7 seconds. It feels each bit as fast as that, too, and it’ll maintain accelerating all the way in which to 180 mph. That’ll do for positive. A 92.5-kWh battery ( of which 83 kWh is usable) supplies the juice for these monstrous motors, and Maserati claims it’ll get about 233 miles of vary in keeping with the corporate (EPA scores are coming). If you do run out of juice, it isn’t a chore to refill, both. Due to the system’s 800-volt structure, the Folgore can DC quick cost at as much as 270 kW, sufficient to cost from 20 to 80 p.c in about 18 minutes. Not too shabby.
In quite a lot of methods, the Folgore is type of in a category of its personal. The Trofeo has different basic rivals like the lately refreshed and improved Bentley Continental GT, Mercedes-AMG SL, BMW 8 Sequence and varied Aston Martins (in the event you don’t take note of value), however the GranCabrio Folgore is on an island of 1. I suppose arguments may be made for vehicles just like the Tesla Mannequin S Plaid and Lucid Air Sapphire, however even these are a stretch.
I imply “island of 1” actually. This isn’t simply the one absolutely electrical luxurious convertible — that is the one absolutely electrical convertible you should purchase within the U.S. usually… in the event you don’t really feel the GMC Hummer EV is an actual convertible. That’s a extremely cool factor Maserati has accomplished, and it’s packaged in a means that gained’t intimidate new EV adopters. Sadly, you’ve acquired to pay up for this exclusivity, and that’s the place GranCabrio’s largest subject lies: It is just too costly. Costs begin at $206,995 (together with vacation spot) and it must be hitting vendor flooring this fall. I suppose you’re paying that value to be in a celebration of 1, and I type of get that.
The Trofeo begins at a still-wildly-high $193,995 (together with vacation spot) earlier than you even add a single possibility. It places the automobile in a bizarre no-man’s land relating to value. It prices much more than stuff just like the Lexus LC 500, BMW M8, Mercedes SL and Porsche 911. The Maserati’s solely actual competitors at its value level is the Bentley Continental GT, and that automobile comes with a greater motor and nicer supplies inside. It doesn’t drive fairly as properly and appears are subjective, so I suppose it’s all about what you want. To be trustworthy, I’d be much more snug if this automobile was about $50,000 cheaper, however I suppose model cache — even when it’s been broken over the previous decade — continues to be price one thing. Should you inform somebody who doesn’t know an excessive amount of about vehicles that you simply driving a Maserati, they’re going to be extra impressed than in the event you inform them you drive a BMW or a Mercedes. That may very well be price it to you.
Each the Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo and Folgore are actually glorious, full grand touring vehicles with a little bit of a sporty edge to them. I’m positive that whoever spends their hard-earned cash on one among them gained’t remorse it. They’ve simply acquired to be prepared to cope with some touchpoints that aren’t top-notch and wish to pay for a model that’s at the moment on the upswing. I wouldn’t blame anybody who buys one among these vehicles over the competitors, they completely drive in a means that justifies their costs — there are only a few issues that maintain them again from being true class leaders.
As for which one is my favourite and which one I’d purchase, properly, let’s simply say this: The Trofeo’s V6 doesn’t sound pretty much as good because the Folgore’s electrical motors make me really feel.
