2023 Maserati Granturismo EV to arrive with 280-mile range

However, Capaldi told Autocar that Maserati was not yet ready to ditch combustion completely for the Granturismo, which he called the “pillar of the brand”, hence the launch of the petrol version fitted with the same twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre Nettuno powerplant used in the MC20, albeit detuned. 

Costing around £50,000 less than its electric sibling, the Granturismo Nettuno gets 550bhp (71bhp less than the MC20), 479lb ft and a 0-62mph time of 3.5sec in top-flight Trofeo form. A Modena variant with 489bhp and 443lb ft will also be available. Its closest rivals – the Aston Martin Vantage, McLaren GT and Ferrari Roma – are currently on sale with V8s only. 

Noticeable differences between the V6 and EV models include a subtly tweaked front bumper and quad pipes at the rear. The V6 car also has a bigger boot than the EV, in which space is given up to accommodate its rear motors.

The changes inside are also "more dramatic" than the version it succeeds. Lifting the interior covers three months after the car's inital reveal, the inside of the car is very similar to the the larger Grecale SUV.

This includes a smaller steering wheel, a new 12.0in digital dashboard and a pair of infotainment screens stacked in the centre of the dashboard (top for entertainment and bottom for “comfort” features). The screens flank physical buttons that control the automatic gearbox. The staple analogue clock has been replaced by a digital display with interchangeable faces. An interactive voice assistant is also fitted. Autocar's editor-at-large Matt Prior described it as a "very nice place to be" when he tested the Granturismo Folgore.

However, the most defining difference, apart from the powertrain, is the sound. In place of the Nettuno’s charismatic V6 exhaust note, the Folgore will have external and internal speakers that will pump out a “unique” soundtrack, similar to a fusion of electric whirrs coupled with a V8 engine. “It is a new concept that can’t be likened to anything else,” said chief engineer Davide Danesin. 

But the feature Danesin is most proud to showcase is the Vehicle Domain Control Module (VDCM), which allows drivers of all abilities to get the most out of both cars. Developed in-house, it adjusts the level of electronic support according to the drive mode selected: Comfort/Max Range (depending on the powertrain), GT, Sport or the most extreme setting, Corsa.