Maserati has reported finding a way to extend the electric range of its Grecale Folgore SUV by a whopping 80 km (50 miles) without changing any motor or battery specs. All the company had to do was to reprogram the electronics to turn off the front motor when cruising. This improved version of the SUV is slated to go on sale soon, but the price is pending.
The “breakthrough” energy-saving feature is called AWD Disconnect, Maserati explains. In certain scenarios, the vehicle can decide to decouple the front half-axles from the hubs to conserve power. The action only takes 500 milliseconds and completely severs the connection between the e-motors and the wheels, so there’s no energy lost on secondary factors like rolling resistance and inertia. As a result, the SUV can cover 580 km (360 miles) on its standard 105 kilowatt-hours of charge instead of 500 km (310 miles).
As Maserati proudly points out, the on-board electronics can process thousands of real-time parameters per second when deciding when to couple the front motor and when to keep it off. These parameters include acceleration, speed, ESP telemetry, road surface inclination, air temperature and brake pad condition, among others.
In case you forgot, the Grecale Folgore comes equipped with two e-motors jointly rated at 557 PS (550 hp / 410 kW) and 820 Nm (610 lb-ft) of torque. Sprinting to 100 km/h (62 mph) from standstill takes 4.1 seconds, and the top speed lies at 220 km/h (136 mph). The updated version of the car will go on sale with the same exterior and drivetrain specs (other than the range, naturally), but more interior trims and customizable features to choose from.
