Maserati Grecale Folgore: Electric smoothness meets sporty spirit
Despite the shift to an electric powertrain, the model preserves Maserati's hallmark blend of sleek design and dynamic performance found in its combustion-engine vehicles.
On Wednesday, The Korea Herald test-drove the SUV on a 140-kilometer route between Coex in southern Seoul and the Ananti Chord resort in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, covering congested city streets, highways and winding mountain roads.
The exterior of the Grecale Folgore clearly reflects Maserati's design language. It features a curvy body and a low, elongated coupe-like silhouette, creating a sleek and dynamic presence that reflects the brand's heritage as a sports car manufacturer.
Inside, dark gray leather with light brown contrast stitching around the cockpit elements enhances the cabin's luxurious feel. A standout feature is the signature centerpiece clock — now digital, yet designed to evoke the look of a classic analog timepiece.
At the center, two displays are neatly arranged. The upper 12.3-inch screen handles infotainment and navigation powered by Korea's most-used T Map, while the lower 8.8-inch screen is dedicated to comfort functions such as air conditioning, ambient lighting and seat bolster adjustments.
The gear selection buttons are the only physical controls in this section, placed horizontally between the two displays and seamlessly integrated into the layout, creating a clean and thoughtfully designed interface.
During the drive, an engine-inspired sound filled the cabin, as Maserati replaced the high-pitched motor noise typical of EVs with its signature audio. This recreates the brand's distinctive auditory experience found in its combustion-engine models, while preserving the smooth glide of an electric vehicle.
Despite its hefty weight of 2,540 kilograms, the acceleration felt swift and unhindered. Powered by a high-output 410-kilowatt battery, the SUV delivers a peak output of 550 horsepower and 820 newton-meters of torque. According to the brand, it can sprint from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in just 4.1 seconds.
Power delivery remained consistent even on steep inclines, including hairpin sections, where sharp winding curves demanded frequent acceleration and braking.
The model's soft yet precise steering contributed to a comfortable and stable drive by minimizing body roll during both sudden lane changes in city traffic and while navigating tight curves on winding mountain roads.
Meanwhile, the model's rated driving range on a single charge is relatively low at 333 kilometers, even though its 105-kilowatt-hour battery from China's CATL is comparable in capacity to batteries in competing electric SUVs.
However, starting the test drive with 98 percent battery, the car still had over 70 percent remaining after completing a 140-kilometer route, suggesting it could travel beyond its rated range.
Maserati Korea has been delivering the Grecale Folgore since April, with a promotional starting price of 123.8 million won ($90,000) to celebrate the brand's 110th anniversary. The list price is 152.3 million won.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Korea Herald
Malaysia optimistic about ties with Lee Jae Myung administration: envoy
FTA at final stage, says envoy, calling on Korean firms to tap halal market and diversify across ASEAN Malaysia is committed to fulfilling the economic and strategic pledges of Korean companies made during the visit of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to South Korea last year, said Malaysian Ambassador to Korea Dato Lim Juay Jin Khalid in a recent interview with The Korea Herald. Ibrahim stressed the need for the two countries to uphold their commitment to continued cooperation following the start of the Lee Jae Myung administration in June. 'We're looking forward to working closely with the Lee Jae Myung administration," Khalid told The Korea Herald, describing the strategic partnership as more than transactional. He noted that Malaysia was one of the first countries President Lee engaged with, pledging with his counterpart to deepen ties. The nearly finalized Malaysia–Korea FTA is expected to be signed by year's end, boosting trade and regional connectivity. Lee spoke by phone with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on June 23, making Ibrahim the seventh leader to speak with the new South Korean president. Malaysia and South Korea upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership in 2024 to deepen cooperation in ESG-based investment, digital and green tech, and the halal ecosystem. Both sides aim to conclude an FTA by 2025 to benefit businesses and SMEs and boost the digital economy, bioeconomy and supply chain resilience. Bringing up the combined $7.6 billion in investment pledges by Korean companies, according to Malaysia's Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Khalid stressed that realizing the pledges depends heavily on South Korea's political stability under the Lee administration, implying that without it, major bilateral agreements risk stalling. Hyundai Motor plans to invest nearly $480 million from 2025 to upgrade its Malaysia plant with partner Inokom, boosting production of MPVs, minivans and SUVs. Starting at 20,000 units annually, the Korean auto giant aims to serve Malaysia and Southeast Asia to support the growth of the local electric vehicle ecosystem. 'After the visit, I have been working very hard to ensure that these pledges are realized by the companies,' he said, referring to expectations that political stability under the new Lee administration will lead to the fulfillment of pledges and bilateral agreements. With over 400 Korean companies operating in Malaysia across various sectors, Khalid said, 'We definitely encourage Korean companies to diversify investment destinations.' He considers Malaysia a halal hub for South Korean exports globally, not just to countries with large Muslim populations. 'Many Korean companies are still unaware of this potential,' he pointed out, highlighting Malaysia's strength in the financial sector and the potential for joint ventures. Khalid said he hopes for the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan of Action for the ASEAN–South Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreed at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, calling it 'another key milestone.' 'We believe development should be both inclusive and sustainable,' he said, citing Malaysia's 2025 ASEAN chairmanship and its theme of 'Inclusivity and Sustainability." 'We want ASEAN to be an environmentally safe zone, and we're keen to work with South Korea on this,' he said, referencing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and encouraging Korean companies to play active roles in maritime security, climate resilience, digital connectivity and green technology. The envoy also cited cultural exchange and ASEAN links as a growing priority. 'I want Malaysians' culture, food and values to be more familiar to Korean society,' Khalid said, noting tourism potential in regions such as Sabah, Sarawak, Malacca, Kuala Lumpur and his home state of Terengganu. sanjaykumar@
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Korea Herald
Korean expertise vital for Egypt's sustainable aviation: minister
Egypt is eyeing closer cooperation with South Korea for the country's transition to a sustainable and smart aviation system, said Sameh El-Hefny, Egypt's minister of civil aviation, in an interview with The Korea Herald. El-Hefny visited Incheon to attend the International Conference on Aviation Cooperation (CIAT 2025), Korea's leading triennial aviation conference for global cooperation and the future of air transport. 'South Korea possesses advanced expertise in smart technologies and transport systems," said El-Hefny, expressing his willingness to work with Korean companies to modernize Egypt's aviation system. Referring to Egypt's progress toward green infrastructure, he cited Borg El Arab International Airport, located 40 kilometers southwest of Alexandria, Egypt, as a 'pioneering model' for environmentally friendly development in the region. Borg El Arab serves as the main international gateway for Alexandria, Egypt's northern coast and the Nile Delta, with capacity to handle 3.5-4 million passengers and 10,000 tons of cargo annually. El-Hefny highlighted the airport's focus on reducing carbon emissions and generating solar energy, calling it a key step toward sustainable infrastructure, featuring advanced technology and reinforcing Egypt's role as a global aviation hub. According to El-Hefny, partnering with South Korea will enhance tourism, boost regional connectivity and advance Egypt's Vision 2030 for sustainable development. El-Hefny was in South Korea to attend CIAT 2025 last week, hosted by South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. On the sidelines of the event, he held bilateral talks with his Korean counterpart, Transport Minister Park Sang-woo. He described the visit as 'a manifestation of civil aviation diplomacy,' highlighting Egypt's push for digital transformation and sustainability while strengthening aviation ties with South Korea.
![[Weekender] Why more Koreans are becoming side hustlers](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimg.heraldcorp.com%2Fnews%2Fcms%2F2025%2F07%2F24%2Fnews-p.v1.20250717.128ea27de6324beab3050f9da0294586_T1.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Korea Herald
26-07-2025
- Korea Herald
[Weekender] Why more Koreans are becoming side hustlers
Money matters the most, but hope of career change also drives the trend Kim Sol-nim, 33, writes blogs for hospitals and law firms after returning home from her main job at around 6 p.m. She spends one to four hours daily on side work, earning between 600,000 won and 800,000 won ($430-$575) per month as extra income. She used to run an Airbnb and gave weekend lectures related to her current job in insurance in the past. Now, she is preparing a pet furniture design business with friends. This does not mean that she plans to quit her main job anytime soon. Her main job provides health insurance, retirement benefits and job stability, which are benefits she is unsure her freelancing income can offer long-term. Kim considers herself an 'N-jobber" — someone who has or is seeking to have multiple jobs. 'The biggest reason for having side jobs is money," she told The Korea Herald. "My salary from my main job is not insufficient for my living expenses, but it's nowhere near enough to buy a house in Seoul." She is one of many South Koreans who are taking on, or considering taking on, side hustles. For those interviewed by The Korea Herald, money was the top motivator, but workers also cited a desire to try new things and discover what they truly enjoy. Experts say the trend is likely to accelerate amid soaring prices and growing job instability — a shift partly driven by rapid technological changes, including the rise of artificial intelligence. Money matters the most Multiple surveys have shown that a growing number of salaried Koreans are engaging in side hustles. According to a survey by the local classifieds outlet Flea Market in August, 82.1 percent of 1,327 salaried workers said they were either doing or considering side jobs. The top reason was low salaries (55.1 percent), and the most popular type of work was social media content creation, such as blogging or YouTube (20.2 percent), with average earnings of about 620,000 won per month. A separate report by KB Financial Group in November found that 54.8 percent of 2,000 salaried workers were engaged in side jobs — up 12.8 percentage points from the same survey in 2022. The most common reasons included saving for emergencies (38.7 percent), using spare time (18.7 percent) and covering living expenses (13.2 percent). Like Kim, many salaried workers find it hard to survive in Seoul, where consumer prices are high and housing costs are skyrocketing. The average price of an apartment unit in July was 1.46 billion won, according to Real Estate 114. The average Seoul worker's annual salary is around 48 million won. In a simple calculation, even saving an entire salary for 30 years would barely be enough to buy a home. Lily, who asked to be identified only by her English name, also juggles multiple side hustles. In her 30s, she has tried blogging, food delivery on foot and leading online group activities like book clubs through platforms such as Trevari. 'When I saw people earn a lot of money through stocks and coins, I always regretted not doing the same,' she said. 'But I don't have the courage to take that kind of risk. So I began having side jobs.' 'My main job is stable, but wage increases are minimal. Instead of switching jobs, I started side hustles,' she said. Career transition Some also take on side jobs to safely transition from an unsatisfying main occupation to another job they truly enjoy. A 37-year-old engineer at one of Korea's top conglomerates — who writes under the pseudonym Amtun on the blogging platform Brunch — has tried several side hustles over the years. 'I worked really hard, but one day I had a reality check,' she said. 'I was running fast in the corporate race, but I was hit by a sense of emptiness. It made me question whether spending my time like this was really worth it. So I began to let go of the company a little and started looking for a better work-life balance.' She bought an 80 million-won fixer-upper in Gangwon Province and converted it into an Airbnb. 'I love traveling, and I always enjoyed staying in Airbnbs overseas,' she said. 'I only take one team every two days, and I let them check out late in the afternoon.' Living in Seoul, she hired someone to clean the property and handled only the reservations herself. She earned about 7 to 8 million won a year from it until recently, when she gave birth to her first child. 'This was something I truly enjoyed and found meaningful, so I didn't feel as tired. I used to run a blog and act as a proxy for overseas shopping orders, but those felt like having a second full-time job.' She said she would consider quitting her day job if her side hustle income grew. 'Running an Airbnb offers more than just income. It gives people a space to rest and connect. That means something to me.' Lee Byung-hoon, honorary professor of sociology at Chung-Ang University, said the phenomenon stems from both financial and cultural factors. 'First, people take on side jobs because they are dissatisfied with the income or meaning they get from their main job and want to prepare for something new,' he said. 'Second, people no longer see their main jobs as lifelong careers. They're mentally prepared to leave when the time feels right.' Lee also pointed to deeper societal roots. 'Korea's education system doesn't help people figure out what they enjoy. So many only start asking those questions after they've entered the workforce,' he said. From an employer's standpoint, this trend may not reflect ideal work ethics, Lee noted. 'Companies want their employees to rest after hours." However, the trend is expected to accelerate. Unlike in the 20th century, jobs today are less secure and are disrupted by advances like AI. More people will likely move around based on job opportunities instead of staying with one company for life, he said. According to The Korea Herald's analysis of microdata from Statistics Korea's Economically Active Population Survey, 677,300 people said they had worked a side job in the past week as of June — a 35 percent jump from 498,440 in June 2015. shinjh@
