[Seoul Mobility Show] Maserati "Preparing Electric Vehicles to Move Toward the Future" (Comprehensive)

MC20·Levante GT Hybrid First Domestic Reveal
Kimura APAC CEO "Preparing Battery Electric Vehicle"
EV Lineup Named Folgore, Italian for 'Lightning'
'Grecale' Planned for Korean SUV Market Entry

Maserati unveiled the MC20 vehicle on the 25th at the '2021 Seoul Mobility Show' press day held at KINTEX in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province. Takayuki Kimura, Maserati Asia-Pacific Regional Director (left), and Kwangcheol Kim, Maserati Korea CEO, are posing next to the MC20.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Maserati, a luxury sports car brand known for its internal combustion engines, is preparing a new electric vehicle lineup to embrace the electrification era.

Takayuki Kimura, Maserati Asia-Pacific Regional Director, said at a press conference held after the 2021 Seoul Mobility Show press briefing on the 25th at KINTEX in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, "To move toward the future, we are preparing battery electric vehicles across all product lineups."

Director Kimura revealed that the name of Maserati’s upcoming electric vehicle lineup will be Folgore, which means "lightning" in Italian. He added, "Although it is an electric vehicle, we aim to realize Maserati’s unique exhaust sound and driving performance," emphasizing that it will be an electric car befitting the Maserati brand’s prestige. However, he refrained from specifying the exact electric vehicle launch schedule.

Recently, global automakers have announced carbon neutrality plans, including halting internal combustion engine production and transitioning to 100% electric vehicles, but Maserati has yet to disclose its stance. When asked about Maserati’s 100% electrification plan, Director Kimura responded, "It is still too early to talk about the production halt timeline."

As the sales proportion of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) rises in Korea, Maserati plans to release new SUV models beyond the Levante GT Hybrid unveiled at the Seoul Mobility Show. Director Kimura stated, "We will increase sales through the Grecale," and expressed hope to launch the Grecale next year. The Grecale, whose teaser image was revealed by Maserati in September last year, is a compact SUV often compared to Porsche’s Macan.

At the press briefing, Maserati introduced the super sports car MC20 and the brand’s first hybrid sports utility vehicle (SUV), the Levante GT Hybrid, for the first time in Korea. The MC20, selected as the "Most Beautiful Sports Car of 2021" at the International Automobile Festival held in France earlier this year, is equipped with a new 630-horsepower V6 3.0L Nettuno engine delivering a maximum torque of 73.4 kg·m, a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 2.9 seconds, and a top speed of 325 km/h. The Nettuno engine is Maserati’s proprietary technology, transferring F1 race technology to the road, and is entirely produced in Modena, Italy.

Considering exterior design and weight, Maserati made the entire chassis of the MC20 from carbon fiber and composite materials. It is aerodynamically designed for elegance, dynamism, and weight reduction. Notably, the hood air vents and side air intakes are designed to function naturally while being almost invisible from certain angles. The price of the MC20 (including VAT and individual consumption tax reduction) is 309 million KRW.

Maserati also exhibited the hybrid SUV Levante GT Hybrid at the event. The Levante GT Hybrid is Maserati’s first hybrid SUV model, reflecting the future of Maserati electrification. Maserati explained that the launch of the Levante GT Hybrid enhances competitiveness, innovation, and responsiveness to market demands.

The Levante GT Hybrid is lighter than comparable 6-cylinder engines for optimal performance, with the engine mounted at the front and the battery at the rear to improve weight distribution. The turbocharger and e-booster were developed through in-depth engineering work at the Maserati Innovation Lab in Modena.

The Levante GT Hybrid delivers a maximum output of 330 horsepower and 45.9 kg·m torque at 2250 rpm, driven by an all-wheel-drive system. It has a top speed of 245 km/h and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 6 seconds. Notably, it reduces CO2 emissions to 220?243 g/km based on the European WLTP standard and improves fuel efficiency by over 18% compared to the 350-horsepower V6 version.

The Levante GT Hybrid offers an optional new metallic tricoat blue exterior color called Azzurro Astro. Additionally, the Grigio Evoluzione color, previously introduced on the Ghibli Hybrid, is also available on the Levante GT Hybrid version. The side air vents, brake calipers, and C-pillar logos on the exterior are finished in blue. The Levante GT Hybrid also debuts a specially shaped new logo. The price of the Levante GT Hybrid is 118 million KRW.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.