Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina was given a tour of the Ford facility many years ago, his grandson Paolo Pininfarina recalls. “At the end of his tour he had lunch with Henry Ford,” he said, “who asked him to become their chief stylist.

“But he had other ideas and the rest is automotive history.” Ah yes, history.

Paolo now heads up the famous Italian design house, which – under new venture Automobili Pininfarina – will this week unveil a fully electric hypercar capable of, we’re promised, more than 402kph and 0-100kph in less than two seconds.

Here’s another sketch to keep you warm before the big reveal. That body is made fully from carbon fibre “encased in sweeping glass”. There’s a single light strip that adorns the front, in place of regular, earthly headlights.

The shape? Design chiefs Luca Borgogno and Carlo Bonzanigo “will channel almost 90 years of Pininfarina’s unparalleled design expertise into the styling and creation of all Automobili Pininfarina’s cars.” That’s some back catalogue to work from.

Borgogno is particularly fond of Pininfarina classics like the 1947 Cisitalia 202, the 512S Modulo and indeed a relatively modern one – 2008’s hydrogen shooting brake concept dubbed Sintesi.

The interior you’ve seen glimpses of too, here. Give it a few days, and you’ll see the final thing.

Now imagine if Battista had accepted Henry Ford’s invitation…