The new Maserati GranTurismo looks gorgeous with EV or petrol power

That this new Maserati GranTurismo comes with a fully electric powertrain isn’t the big story here. Nor the fact it comes without a core part of its DNA – a V8 – which is as emblematic of Maserati as the trident is of Neptune.

The big story here is of course the fact Maserati’s managed to retain one key element of the GranTurismo’s heritage: it looks superb. Indeed, Maserati says it made a choice early on to “maintain continuity” of the silhouette with the outgoing car, because people really rather liked it.

Welcome then, to the newest version of the car you immediately associate with Maserati. Much like the sea Neptune rules over, the Italian company’s fortunes have either been smooth, steady waters (Targo Florio wins, F1 success, world class engineering), or tidal waves (*cough* De Tomaso *cough*).

We’ve also now run out of sea analogies but suffice to say, Maser’s on a bit of a good run, and its delectable new GT kicks off an interesting new era. An electric one, which is still news tbh.

The GranTurismo Folgore adopts a tri-motor setup (two at the back, one at the front), each motor rated at 300kW, powered by a 92.5kWh battery able to deliver around 750bhp and 995lb ft of torque “continuously”. The battery itself is packaged inside a T-shaped structure that runs along the car’s central tunnel and towards the rear of the car. This, says Maserati, lowers the car’s H-point. In NormalSpeak, it means the company can retain those classic GT proportions.

Indeed there’s visually no difference between the car that offers 750bhp, and the one packing the company’s new ‘Nettuno’ 3.0-litre twin turbo V6 that does service in the MC20 supercar (another superb-looking machine). In the new GT, Maser offers that engine as either a ‘Modena’ spec with 483bhp, or as a ‘Trofeo’ version with 542bhp.

Speed? There’s a fair bit. The V6 cars will do the 0-62mph sprint between 3.5s (Trofeo) and 3.9s (Modena), while the Folgore kicks them both into the weeds with less than 2.7s. That’s hypercar fast, not GT fast. All get the same suspension layout – double wishbones up front, multi-link at the back – big ventilated Brembos all round, perfect/near-perfect weight distribution and all-wheel-drive.

All cars also feature extensive use of lightweight metals such as aluminium (which makes up 65 per cent of the new GT) and magnesium, as well as less lightweight but sturdy “high-performance steel”. We’re told this had led to “best-in-class” weight levels: 1,795kg for the V6, 2,260kg for the Folgore EV.

There’s a dynamics module that features at the heart of the new GT, controlling the various mode parameters which in the V6 cars run from Comfort, GT, Sport and Corsa, and Max Range, GT, Sport and Corsa in the Folgore. Fairly self explanatory.

Despite this very official reveal, we’ve yet to see the interior but are assured it comes equipped with “innovative systems”, a few of which will likely include ‘steering wheel’, ‘pedals’, ‘seats’ and of course, a lot of leather. Digital dashboard, too, along with an optional HUD and a Very Loud stereo.

Though, that design speaks volumes, and that’s the real story here. You like?

TEXT Vijay Pattni