Curves ripple across Maserati's Folgore Granturismo EV, among the most eye-catching cars I've driven. Photo: Alan Neuhauser
Neighbors don't usually randomly pull into my driveway. A rippling blue Maserati changed that.
- "She's a sexy one," said one friend from down the street, all but leaping out of her car. She was right.
The big picture: The Folgore is Maserati's first EV, and one of the first two-door sports cars in the segment. It incorporates tech the automaker developed for the Formula E race series.
Between the lines: This isn't the family-friendly Porsche Taycan or Dodge Challenger Daytona EV.
- Performance comes first, everything else second, or later.
Zoom in: It features three motors, a feature usually seen on big electric SUVs.
- The batteries are laid out in a T-shape for weight distribution, enabling tighter cornering.
Yes, but: Quick as it is, there's something missing.
- The Porsche, the Dodge, even the performance trims of Kia's EV6 and Hyundai's Ioniq5 — they all had character. (Maybe too much in the Dodge.)
- The Folgore, with its stiff seats, no-frills infotainment system, and rudimentary interior layout, is strictly business.
- "The design language is intentionally clean and contemporary, but that should not be mistaken for a lack of craftsmanship or material sophistication," a spokesperson tells Axios Pro.
💭 Alan's thought bubble: Maybe. There's no question the Granturismo Folgore is here for a fast time. But a fun time? Harder to say.
Driving the Maserati Folgore
Maserati arranged for a fully charged Granturismo Folgore to be dropped off at my house in Rhode Island. (Tough gig, this.)
- I roared all over town and down to the oceanfront Weekapaug Inn for a Sunday brunch.
Zoom in: The Folgore demonstrated that battery-powered sports cars can perform at speed.
By the numbers:
- Base price: $197,800
- Price as tested: $251,570 🙃
- Range: 242 miles. Less than the Chevy Bolt.
- Charging time: ~20 minutes to the recommended 80%. Quick.
Liked:
- Wondrous exterior.
- Oceans of power.
- Delightful around curves.
Disliked:
- Ill-thought infotainment setup. The car demands total attention, yet the screens kept pulling it away.
- Spartan interior; woeful driving range.
- Louder wind noise than expected.
- A periodic beeping sound kept warning me about something — but what it was, I couldn't figure out, and the car wouldn't say.
The bottom line: The most memorable moment wasn't driving the Folgore, but talking about it:
- "Is your car a Tesla?" the Weekapaug Inn's front desk clerk asked, after I inquired about on-site charging. (See: driving range.)
- "No," I replied, "a Maserati."
If the most fun happens when your car is parked ... that's a problem.
Parents' corner
The Folgore has four seats, but that second row is mighty tight for anyone over 4 feet.
Yes, but: I fit my daughter's car seat without much difficulty.
The bottom line: Take this on the road for a regional soccer game or destination lunch. Beyond that, you'll need to recharge the battery — while your backseat passengers start to fidget.
What's next
Maserati meant to set a template with the Folgore.
Yes, but: It's slashed prices amid its worst sales slump in years, and joined other automakers in canceling its EV ambitions.
The latest: Maserati in January reportedly told dealers to axe $85,000 from the 2025 Folgore's sticker price — a roughly 43% discount.
By the numbers: The automaker doesn't share vehicle-specific sales figures, but U.S. registrations for any new Maserati last year dropped 41% to just 2,838.
Driving the news: The automaker has struggled to keep pace with ultra-luxe performance automakers, such as Ferrari and Lamborghini.
- A shift in the 2010s to deliver mass-market luxury vehicles in greater volumes might have also crimped the company's exclusive reputation.
Stunning stat: Global sales tumbled to 7,800 in 2025, down from 26,600 just two years earlier.
State of play: Maserati, as it's regrouped, has trimmed its electric pivot.
- It nixed plans in September to go all-electric by 2028, and it ended development of an anticipated EV supercar, the MC20 Folgore.
What they're saying: "The brand's strategy has since evolved," a spokesperson tells Axios Pro, citing "market demand and customer preference.
- "The Folgore lineup remains central to the brand's future."
What's next: We'll see how many EVs Maserati decides to keep in its lineup.
