GranTurismo Folgore

Make
Maserati
Segment
Coupe

Maserati has said it's unlikely that solid-state batteries will be used in future sports cars as they're not suitable for the automaker's "desired performance," reports Automotive News.

After a long love affair with the V8 engine, the Stellantis-owned brand has done a complete 180 and is focusing on an electric future. Vehicles like the new GranTurismo Folgore and Grecale Folgore reflect this and have proven that the Italian brand can build soulful battery-powered cars.

Davide Danesin, who led the development of the Italian grand tourer, said it's highly unlikely that Maserati will be the first Stellantis brand to use solid-state batteries.

"[Solid-state batteries] have a more favorable power-to-weight ratio. But their discharge time is not quick enough to supply energy to three electric motors with the desired performance," remarked Danesin.

Most manufacturers are working towards introducing solid-state technology to their electric vehicles, but the technology still requires plenty of development. Nissan has said it will be prepared by 2028, while Germany's BMW has said it will have the cutting-edge batteries ready later this year.

Solid-state batteries have myriad benefits. They have a higher energy density than their lithium-ion contemporaries, weigh less, and are less prone to catching on fire. This will lead to cheaper, more efficient, and safer electric vehicles.

So why is Maserati so hesitant to adopt this technology? It's all about power and performance.

The electric GT car produces a staggering 751 horsepower and 996 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels, making for a blisteringly quick vehicle. Maserati claims the Folgore can reach 62 mph in just 2.7 seconds, and while that's incredible, the 0-124 mph time of 8.8 seconds is mind-blowing.

Most electric vehicles tend to run out of steam at higher speeds, but the electric GranTurismo will silently hustle its way up to 199 mph. This is impressive for a vehicle that weighs 4,982 pounds.

This means the Italian is faster than the Porsche Taycan Turbo S, but it's still someway behind the mighty Tesla Model S Plaid.

Maserati must be satisfied that its newcomer bests the Taycan, as it worked hard to produce something superior. Danesin says the tri-motor setup costs considerably more than the dual-motor setup found in the battery-powered Porsche.

The Folgore has three permanent magnet electric motors, with one motor mounted on the front axle and two on the respective rear wheels. As for the battery pack, which is assembled in Mirafiori, Stellantis uses pouch cells from LG Chem.

By 2030, Maserati intends to become an all-electric brand. The battery-powered Grecale is scheduled to arrive next year along with the GranCabrio.

The existing Ghibli, Levante, and Quattroporte aren't long for this world and will soon die off to make way for new models. The midsized Ghibli will be axed for good and replaced with the Quattroporte, which will shrink in size and straddle two segments. An electric Quattroporte is expected to arrive by 2025.

Rumors also suggest the Levante will return as a fully-electric SUV with 745 horsepower. The beautiful MC20 supercar will also head in the same direction as its siblings and adopt battery power shortly.