Maserati GranTurismo Folgore review

To be fair, the roads chosen for the UK media launch were not exactly flattering. The Folgore’s two rear-mounted motors give it the kind of torque vectoring capability that makes machines like this feel two-thirds their actual weight, enabling them to cut shapes like far lighter and smaller cars. But to feel that you need expansive roads, if not a race track, and on the crumbling back roads of the West Midlands, the torque vectoring trickery was lost on me.

I can see that for a certain sort of person in a certain sort of environment, this car would hit the mark. If you live in the city, don’t travel far and want to look deeply cool as you zip cleanly and silently about town, maybe the Folgore is for you. Maserati itself says the car is aimed at a particular kind of buyer, which is another way of saying it’s not really for the traditional GranTurismo customer who wants a great petrol engine, a stirring soundtrack and a more engaging driving experience.

As an aside, if that’s what you want, consider the MC20. There’s a rawness about that car that makes your heart race and your adrenaline spike. It’s exciting and rewarding. The stability control system is about as attentive as a sleeping security guard, so you have to be on your game to drive the thing with real commitment. Yet it also rides brilliantly well, better than the GranTurismo, meaning it smothers a poor road surface more deftly than most cars of its type. There’s also an MC20 on AutoTrader right now that was specced up to nearly £300,000 when new in 2022 and today, with just 2000 miles under its wheels, is being advertised for less than £140,000 – a healthy saving over the Folgore’s list price.

Ultimately the Folgore suffers at the hand of the available technology. Its 92.5kWh battery contributes to an extraordinary 2260kg kerbweight, yet the claimed range is just 280 miles. Call it 200 in real-world use, with some margin for error. I know not every GranTurismo owner will use their car for grand touring over great distances, but when the name is literally on the tin, the thing ought to deliver.

But perhaps the biggest problem is price, or more specifically values. The Folgore costs £179,950 before options, making it the most expensive GranTurismo by £16,000. Residuals are proving to be something of a problem for these cars – I found a V6-engined GranTurismo Trofeo (the top-spec petrol model) that had lost a third of its value in just 3000 miles. Given that premium EVs in general tend to have dreadful residuals, it’s fair to say the GranTurismo Folgore is not likely to be 2025’s hottest investment vehicle.

I think that’s enough. If you want a beautiful electric sports car and you’re buying it on the business, or you can swallow the depreciation, or you plan to keep it for a very long time, this is the car for you (not least because there’s nothing else like it on the market). But that seems like a rather small group of people for a car that was already a niche product before it was electrified. Still, if you do take the plunge, at least the chances of seeing one coming the other way will be reassuringly low.

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