Information published on various Websites indicates the electric Maserati Grecale will launch for Model Year 2023 – suggesting a reveal alongside the petrol-engined range this week, ahead of first deliveries as early as late 2022 – and will offer dual-motor all-wheel drive as standard. (Two images of the blueish petrol-powerred Grecale are included in the set of spy shots.)
The websites suggest the Grecale ‘Folgore’ (Italian for ‘lightning’) will be powered by two 250kW electric motors – one on each axle – suggesting a combined output of up to 500kW, which would make it the most powerful production (and road-going) Maserati ever produced.
Mated to the motors is tipped to be a 400-volt battery pack, joined by what’s described as an “on-board charging module” and an all-wheel-drive disconnect system, allowing one of the motors (likely the front) to be decoupled to save energy.
No details of power, driving range, battery capacity or performance figures are given, though with all-wheel drive and as much as 500kW on tap, the 0-100km/h sprint time is likely to start with a three.
The Grecale Folgore’s claimed 400-volt, dual-motor powertrain is in contrast to the more advanced 800-volt system destined for Maserati’s other new electric cars – including the GranTurismo seen in several of our Grecale pictures which will use three electric motors, and support 300kW DC fast charging.
It’s not clear why the Grecale Folgore would opt for a 400-volt system, though it’s possible its platform – a revised version of the Giorgio architecture underpinning the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Giulia, dating back to 2015 – may not be able to support three motors and a higher voltage.
The near or full 500kW output would put the Grecale Folgore at the top of the mid-size luxury electric SUV segment, pushing it beyond the Tesla Model Y Performance (393kW), Audi E-Tron S (370kW), Genesis Electrified GV70 (360kW) and Mercedes-Benz EQC400 (300kW).
While it remains to be seen how potent the upcoming Porsche Macan EV will be, Porsche’s current Taycan Turbo sedan quotes 500kW when launch control is active – with the Turbo S upping the stakes to 560kW under the same conditions.
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