Milan Design Week Sees Maserati Debut Its First Electric Car

Maserati unveiled a customized version of its first fully-electric car, the GranTurismo Folgore, at Milan design week.

May 2, 2023
5:09 PM

Maserati has unveiled its first fully-electric car, the GranTurismo Folgore, during Milan design week. The car, which will be launched later this year alongside a petrol version, has the same chassis as the V8 version but is powered by three 300 kW motors, two at the rear and one at the front. The GranTurismo Folgore can reach 0 to 100 km/h in 2.7 seconds and has a top speed of 325 km/h. It can travel up to 450 km on a full charge. The car's limited-edition One Off Luce version was also presented at the event.

Italian sports car brand Maserati has revealed a customised version of its first fully-electric car, the GranTurismo Folgore, during Milan design week. The all-electric version of the GranTurismo is named Folgore, which means lightning in Italian, and marks the Italian brand’s first fully-electric car. Klaus Busse, Maserati’s head of design, stated that the GranTurismo Folgore is the first car in Maserati history to feature a 100% electric battery-based powertrain. Busse also noted that as the first Italian luxury automotive brand to offer such a product, it was essential to display “an artistic expression of the Trident’s innovative future” at Milan design week.

The GranTurismo Folgore will be launched later this year alongside a petrol version of the car as part of Maserati’s transition to becoming an all-electric brand by 2030. The limited-edition version of the car, known as the One Off Luce, was presented at Maserati’s Milan retail store as part of a celebration of the GranTurismo range. Busse described it as a “chromatic mirrored monolith, engraved with a dynamic laser-etched pattern”, and it is a statement of innovation and sustainability.

Busse also highlighted the importance of design in showcasing contemporary culture, creativity and telling a great story. The GranTurismo Folgore has the same chassis as the V8 version, but it is powered by three 300 kilowatt motors, two at the rear and one at the front. According to Maserati, the car can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in just 2.7 seconds and can reach a top speed of 325 kilometres per hour. It can travel up to 450 kilometres on a full charge.

Maserati is the latest brand to launch its first electric car, following Sony, which unveiled its first electric vehicle earlier this year. Rolls-Royce also revealed its first all-electric car in October. The return of Maserati’s most iconic creation, the GranTurismo, which is available for the first time in its full-electric Folgore version, has inspired the creation of artistic GT One-Offs. These showcase the brand’s heritage and forward-thinking attitude and innovation.

Are Automatic Gears Better For An Electric Car?

Automatic gears are not necessary for electric cars as they operate differently from traditional gasoline-powered cars. Electric motors provide maximum torque from a standstill, eliminating the need for multiple gears. While some electric cars do use a single-speed or two-speed gearbox, they are designed to optimize the efficiency and performance of the electric motor, rather than shift gears in the same way as traditional transmissions. The absence of gears in electric cars provides several benefits, including smoother operation, less maintenance, and greater efficiency.

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