Maserati CEO Davide Grasso has revealed to Autocar that he expects the electric version of the MC20 supercar to maintain the character and sense of engagement offered by the existing combustion-powered supercar.

The executive is still keeping his cards close to his chest, noting, "the program is still going full steam; it's a bit too early for me to start sharing." But while the specifics remain a mystery, for the time being, Grasso is confident that the electric supercar, expected to be called the MC20 Folgore, will be worth the wait. He also said that the differences between the ICE and electric GranTurismos will prepare us for how the electric MC20 should feel in comparison to the ICE variant.

"Once we've launched the GranTurismo in Folgore and ICE forms, I think you're going to have a sense - driving both those cars - of how that could be translated in the MC20 Folgore versus [the combustion-powered MC20]," said the CEO. Grasso clearly classifies the likes of the Rimac Nevera and Lotus Evija as hypercars and expects the MC20 Folgore to be the world's first genuine electric supercar: "The electric MC20 will be, to our knowledge, the first super-sports car that's fully electric." And because the MC20 was developed from the start to accommodate an electric drivetrain, the handling and balance of the MC20 Folgore should not be far off what the regular model offers.

"That uniquely Maserati approach of using a platform for both versions and developing a platform that allows the maximum type of performance and handling and the characteristic and unique handling that Maserati can provide has been a characteristic of the program strategically," said Grasso.

As we mentioned above, it's unclear what sort of powertrain or performance we can expect from the MC20 Folgore, but it seems likely that a tri-motor setup adapted from that of the GranTurismo Folgore could be a fit. In that car, the system sends "around 760 horsepower to the wheels," and the MC20 will certainly have more power.

An 800-hp MC20? Sounds good. Let's hope that Maserati can hide the added weight of a battery pack well, but if the MC20 Folgore mimics mid-engine weight balance as Porche's upcoming electric Cayman and future Ferrari EVs will, then it should be pretty impressive.