First images of new electric Maserati GranTurismo

The pictures show what Maserati says is the first prototype stepping out for road trials in Modena, “to acquire vital data for the preparation of the final setup.” That sounds to us like the showroom version is close – expect an unveiling this year with sales from next year. By then there will have been a two-year hiatus since the old GranTurismo was killed off.

The car is still wearing its disguise so no design details can be made out, but you do not need details to see this is a large two-door coupe with long bonnet and the bulges in all the right places that made its predecessor such a popular choice.

Almost 29,000 of those were made from its launch in 2007 until it ended production in 2019, brought to a halt when Ferrari ran out of 4.7-litre V8s. More than 11,000 GranCabrio convertible versions of this first-gen car were produced in addition, and although Maserati doesn’t confirm it, a GranCabrio variant of the car you see here is surely a certainty.

What’s also certain is its power source, with Maserati spelling out that the new “GranTurismo will be the brand's first car to adopt a 100% electric solution.” However, this does not necessarily mean you will be not be able to buy a petrol variant.

The trident brand’s electrification strategy that began with the Ghibli hybrid is expected to move to full battery-electric power – but in addition to the same cars also being available with a combustion engine. Maserati has already confirmed this will be the case for the new supercar, the well-received MC20, and likely too for the new Grecale compact SUV, also to be launched this year. The GranTurismo, which will be built not in Modena but in the brand’s new electric-car factory in Turin, will be the first car to go down this route.

There are as yet no details of its electric power and performance and no confirmation of the combustion model, though likely is a version of the new and brand-exclusive Nettuno hybridised V6 that’s already available in the MC20.

In that car the V6 delivers 630PS (463kW) with 730Nm (538lb ft) of torque; the last V8 of the previous-gen GranTurismo with its Ferrari-built V8 gave 460PS (343kW) and 520Nm (377lb ft) of torque. That was enough for not only buckletloads of charisma but also 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds and a maximum speed of 186mph, figures the new model – in either battery or petrol form – will surely be out to beat.

An entry model could even use a four-cylinder drivetrain in the form of the turbo 2.0-litre unit mated to a 48-volt starter generator and an electric booster for 330PS (246kW) , as currently offered by the Ghibli Hybrid.

It remains to be seen if the new generation GranTurismo family will retain the previous model’s roomy cabin (unusually adults could sit in the back of this 2+2) and how it will express signature GranTurismo character – it is difficult after all to imagine an electric motor supplanting the satisfyingly sporty V8 of old in the noise stakes. One thing Maserati is promising is that the new model, like the MC20, will be 100 per cent made in Italy.