How long has it been since the House of the Trident revealed the MC20 supercar? On September 9, 2024, it will be four years. Be that as it may, the hotly-awaited BEV version is nowhere to be seen.
Turns out Maserati will treat the MC20 to electrons in 2025, after which the Modenese automaker will unveil a large sport utility vehicle in 2027. Said utility vehicle is dubbed "E-UV BEV" in the attached release, with E standing for the E segment. Otherwise put, the Levante will be kept on life support until 2027. The biggest disappointment, however, concerns the automaker's flagship sedan.
The Quattroporte Folgore is likely twinned with the Levante Folgore, meaning that we're dealing with STLA Large-based vehicles. Formed through the merger of Groupe PSA and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Stellantis intends to start STLA Large vehicle production in late 2024 with the 2025 Dodge Challenger and the 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S.
The STLA Large slots between the STLA Medium (think next-generation Jeep Compass) and STLA Frame (think 2025 Ram 1500 REV). According to Stellantis, the STLA Large tops 500 miles (800 kilometers) of driving range in the WLTP. It also promises Hellcat-shaming power. Jeep has already confirmed 600 ponies for the Wagoneer S, whereas the Banshee version of the Dodge Challenger is expected with over 800 zero-emission horsepower.
To put those numbers into perspective, Maserati advertises the GranTurismo Folgore with 751 horsepower and 450 kilometers (280 miles). Although its three-motor layout is technically capable of roughly 1,200 metric ponies, current battery technology limits maximum output to 761 ps (751 hp). Maserati didn't mention a thing about maximum driving range or maximum output in the attached release, which is a little bit disappointing.
Photo: Maserati
On the flip side, it's pretty obvious that the MC20 Folgore is extremely similar to the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale. Unleashed in August 2023, the MC20-based special edition sports an 800-volt electrical architecture with a 102-kWh battery pack, over 750 ps (740 hp) from three electric drive units, and a driving range of circa 450 kilometers (280 miles).
The MC20 sports a carbon-fiber chassis that – believe it or not – makes the V6-engined supercar heavier than the aluminum-intensive Ferrari 296. Adding insult to injury, the Fezza is a plug-in hybrid, meaning extra weight for the electric drive unit, charging system, and high-voltage battery.
Regarding the Quattroporte and Levante, six- and four-cylinder engines will have to suffice. Maserati ended V8 production at the end of 2023, and the remaining stock will certainly sell at a premium. As opposed to the Levante, which can be had as a 48-volt mild hybrid with four cylinders, the Quattroporte is devoid of hybrid assistance. It's also purely internal combustion. Both of them rely on the ZF 8HP torque-converter automatic tranny.
The sharp-looking Ghibli, which slots under the Quattroporte, will be axed in 2024. There are no plans to replace the mid-sized model with a new one based on the STLA Large platform. Similar to the Quattroporte, Levante, and newcomer Grecale, the Ghibli also uses the ZF-designed 8HP exclusively.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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