In a very short, Very Important Business Statement, Maserati’s boss met with the mayor of Modena, in order to ‘reaffirm’ Maserati’s factory mission.

Here’s the interesting part. The mission is “the manufacturing of special high performance, high technology sports cars”. Specifically, the company said “the first pre-series production cars of a totally new model, a characteristically Maserati sports car, will roll off these lines starting in the first half of next year”.

Which means, folks, that we could finally see the gorgeous Alfieri within our lifetime. Maserati of course, didn’t name the Alfieri proper, but only last June confirmed it would build it. Though, without the V8 we first saw in the concept way back in 2014, and instead as a hybrid and full EV. Because future.

Speed is not an issue. Last year Maserati reckoned the four-wheel-drive, full EV Alfieri would be able to hit 62mph in under two seconds. You don’t need context to tell you – if indeed true – that 0-62mph in under two seconds is really quite fast.

The hybrid version? Likely a V6 turbo with an electric motor. In any case, we’ll find out in due course just what form the Alfieri will take…