2024 MASERATI GRANTURISMO FOLGORE
Aside from the stunning MC20, modern-day Maseratis quite often go unnoticed. In small-town Italy, however, the trident emblem and the brand's distinct engine arias possess the ability to stop bystanders in their tracks. Pedestrians approve via a raised thumb. Now the 2024 Maserati GranTurismo Folgore and its warbling electronic soundtrack at idle bring a new reaction: head-scratching.
The Folgore shares the body and styling of the internal-combustion GranTurismo, except it has bronze-colored trident badges and brake calipers and lacks tailpipes. While the synth soundtrack won't rattle the bricks of ancient structures in the Old World, it represents Maserati's foray into an electric future. Beneath the Folgore's striking sheet metal, there's a wallop of power courtesy of three electric motors, one driving the front axle and two powering the rear. Each motor can make 402 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of thrust, but output from the 83.0-kWh lithium-ion battery limits combined peak power to 818 horses.
The Folgore also shares the same basic structure of the gasoline-fed model. Maserati's battery pack differs from industry norm by occupying the center section, some of the "engine" bay, and a bit of real estate behind the rear seat. Maserati admits the battery shape elevates the center of gravity relative to a vehicle with an underfloor pack, but the beauty of this design is that it has no effect on passenger space and doesn't raise the floorpan.
This story is from the May 2023 edition of Car and Driver.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2023 edition of Car and Driver.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The Best Odds
SOMETIMES-NOT OFTEN, BUT sometimes-car manufacturers create something semi-wondrous that is also borderline irrational and three-quarters inexplicable to their own marketing types.
Mileage Booster
Kia Carnival Hybrid HIGHS: Big mpg bump, no CVT weirdness, solid ride and handling. LOWS: Shared HVAC and audio controls, second-row loungers can't be removed, changing brake-pedal feel.
Medium Spicy
Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo HIGHS: Lengthy list of features, spacious interior, generous trunk. LOWS: Uncomfortably flat seats, rivals are quicker, only modest grip.
Drivelines
HORACIO PAGANI IS A visionary designer and self-taught engineer.
Suspensions of Disbelief
It's easy to say a vehicle rides well but much more difficult to explain the nuanced implications of that highly subjective statement.
PUMPED-UP KICKS
NISSAN ISN'T SHY about experimenting with its subcompact of ferings. In the recent past, it briefly gave us the adorable Cube, seemingly designed by Hello Kitty, followed by the frog-eyed Juke that somehow spawned a six-figure R-badged super-SUV in other markets.
THE ALFA ROMEO GIULIA QUADRIFOGLIO. THE BMW M3 COMPETITION. AND THE CADILLAC CT4-VBLACKWING HEAD SOUTH ONA ROAD TRIP TO FIND OUT WHICH ONE BEST DELIVERS ON THE SPORTS-SEDAN PROMISE.
One of us, gassing up the 2025 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, says, \"No, we drove from Michigan.
SINCE WE APPRECIATE GREAT TALENT IN ALL ITS FORMS, WE ALSO HONOR THE 10BEST TRUCKS, SUVS, AND VANS. INCLUDING ONE WINNER WITH LITERAL BUZZ.
THE DISCUSSION AROUND this year's 10Best Trucks competition had some editors wishing the award were called 12Best.
OUR VERSION OF A 2024 AUTOMOTIVE AWARDS SHOW (SOMETIMES HUMOROUS, SOMETIMES NOT).
America's fastest senior citizen made the save of the year when his Funny Car's engine exploded at Virginia Motorsports Park.
"A ROMANCE THAT BUILDS WITH SPECTACULAR PASSION. THE LONGER YOU DRIVE IT, THE BETTER IT GETS."
When the history of the sports sedan is written, the late-narrative plot twist that few would have seen coming is the emergence of CadillacCadillac!-as the keeper of the flame. And yet, that's exactly what's happened.
