Folgore is Maserati’s way of saying electric. And the latest to benefit from the Folgore treatment is the GranCabrio. Similar to the GranTurismo Folgore, the 3.0-litre V6 has been swapped for three electric motors to produce 751 bhp and 1350 Nm. Yours from £185,610, the GranCabrio is a true four-seater GT and a promising peek into the future of electric cabriolets. The Italians say this is the fastest convertible EV in the world. We are not entirely sure about that, but it sure is the prettiest.

The Folgore follows the Maserati design memo and looks absolutely smashing. When EV designs are becoming characterless without faces, the Folgore is a welcome change. It looks close to its ICE version unveiled earlier this year. Yes, the grille looks different, but there is a grille and that makes all the difference. The front and rear bumpers have also been tastefully redesigned with changes to incorporate the obvious, like the absence of tail pipes. Step inside and you get the same interior design as the GranCabrio/Turismo ICE versions. Again, not a bad thing.

Where it gets interesting is the architecture. The Folgore features an 800-volt system inspired by Formula E powertrains. Three motors, one up front and two at the rear, are claimed to be capable of 1200 bhp. Capable is the key word here as in reality, the GranCabrio Folgore puts out 751 bhp (818 with MaxBoost) and 1350 Nm. Respectable figures that also support it to sprint to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds with a top-speed of 180 mph. When does it run out? Around 280 miles (WLTP). But find a charger that supports 800V and you get 62 miles of range in 5 minutes.

Unlike in a conventional EV, the 92.5 kWh battery is not packaged on the floor like a skateboard. Instead, Maserati uses a T-shaped design where it takes up the transmission tunnel. Maserati claims this keeps the weight distribution in check. Seems to be legit as it reflects in the spec sheet with the appearance of the magical 50:50 number. On the topic of weight, the GranCabrio Folgore weighs 2340 kg, 445 kg more than the standard version and 80 kg more than the GranTurismo Folgore.

Available in five shades, Maserati GranCabrio Folgore’s roof can fold up in 16 seconds and down in 14 seconds within speeds of up to 31 mph. There are different driving modes: Max Range, GT, Sport and Corsa. No cookies for guessing the fiercest one with the 818 hp MaxBoost mode. The GT is the default drive mode, Sport for performance and Max Range to eke out the most juice. A 12-inch digital cluster, twin displays, advanced driver assists, neck heater for both occupants, optional wind deflector and an optional 16-speaker Onus Faber sound system are the feature highlights. These speakers also play out a synthesized version of Maserati’s iconic V8 snarl. But, this might end up counter-intuitive, with you drooling at pre-owned first-generation GranTurismos/Cabrios in AutoTrader.

But, if you wish to meet in the middle, Maserati recently introduced the standard GranCabrio with the Nettuno V6, a 3.0-liter twin-turbo with 542 bhp. Definitely no match for Folgore’s 751 bhp, but it is more affordable (£169,465) and remember, there is still no replacement for displacement.