Key Takeaways
- Maserati may switch Quattroporte EV development to GranTurismo platform for improved performance and range.
- The “Giorgio-inspired” platform allows for enhanced driving position and agility.
- Delays in electrification plans could keep room for the Nettuno V6 combustion engine, adjusting to consumer and regulatory pace for full electrification by 2028.
Just a couple of months ago, we found out that the Quattroporte Folgore was delayed until 2028, and thanks to recent comments made by the Chief Engineer of the Quattroporte and GranTurismo, Davide Danesin, it appears that work has not yet officially begun because Maserati is still deciding what platform to go with.
According to Autocar, Maserati may have decided to switch the electric four-door sedan to the GranTurismo’s bespoke platform. Until now, the belief was that it would sit on the STLA Large platform with the likes of the upcoming Dodge Charger, but the company appears to be second-guessing this, with Danesin saying that the company has “not yet decided.”
“The Quattroporte is an important problem for Maserati. It has to be outstanding from any perspective: style, architecture, performance. There’s also a lot of improvement coming in on electrical development in the future. The new target for range also needs to be much stronger. These days, [373 miles] is good enough. Maybe for a new Quattroporte, we would like more.”
– Davide Danesin, Maserati Quattroporte & GranTurismo chief engineer.
Why The Hesitation?
“I’m not saying it’s not [STLA Large]. I think that the optimization we’re looking for is optimization of what is already available,” said Danesin. With the recent cooling of the EV market, it makes sense to be cautious about overdeveloping a new electric offering. Danesin said that the GranTurismo Folgore’s underpinnings could “potentially” work. The electric GT’s T-shaped battery layout allows for the same low-sitting driving position that Italian sports cars are known for and ensures the bulk of the vehicle’s mass is located low and in the middle, allowing for great agility.
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The electric GranTurismo was described as being inspired by the Giorgio platform that sits beneath today’s combustion-powered Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio, and Maserati’s own Grecale SUV, but where that platform was steel, this one is 60% aluminum, which is why it is internally known as “Giorgio Sport,” according to the engineer. It’s nice to know that the Quattroporte’s chief engineer notes that modern EVs are far too heavy and is trying to do something about it, hence these delays.
“There are not too many common parts – there are some new parts. But some of the basic concepts behind the design have been preserved, especially the geometry of the front suspension.”
These Delays May Keep The Door Open For Combustion
Maserati will be fully electrified by 2028, but its CEO, Davide Grasso, clarified that this does not mean combustion cars will no longer be sold by that date: “We will stand by what we announced, which is that our range will be completely electrified. As the world is moving towards electrification, it’s moving at a different pace […] because of consumers and regulation.” The CEO added that Maserati is a luxury brand, adding that he doesn’t “necessarily want to commit to a specific date right now” and that the “time horizon is 2028” but that when exactly it will happen around the world “may vary.”
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These feel like the thoughts of a CEO attempting to answer a question without answering it, but we can’t blame him for tiptoeing around the issue. 2028 is the goal, but how that goal is played out is still yet to be seen. The company choosing to delay the Quattroporte is most likely a result of being unhappy with the current state of electrification and the opportunities it affords them. Every year, the technology is being pushed forward, and in the meantime, hybridization may be the best route forward.
