Maserati Alfieri electric coupe revealed

Two seconds to 0-100km/h would appear to be the new benchmark for an electric supercar, after the announcement that the Maserati Alfieri would go ahead as the brand’s new coupe-and-roadster.

Named for one of the founders of Maserati and the most prominent of three brothers, Alfieri Maserati, the car will, obviously, depart somewhat from the concept version shown in 2014 at the Geneva Motor show.

4

PICTURED: 2014 Maserati Alfieri Concept

Where the concept would have been powered by a 4.7-litre atmo V8, the Alfieri and its cabrio version will be full electric, as well as being level-3 autonomous.

Maserati expects the Alfieri to be ready for market by 2020. It’ll have to arrive in 2020 if it wants to truly compete with the Tesla Roadster – assuming Tesla delivers on that goal.

Given the Tesla Roadster’s claimed 0-100km/h time is just 2.1 seconds, the approximation of 2.0 seconds for the Maserati Alfieri isn’t ridiculous. Not by comparison, at least.

But the top speed of each reveals a vast gap – either due to the Italian brand’s conservative estimates, or Elon Musk’s grand promises. The Alfieri will, according to Maserati, top out at ‘over 300km/h’ while Tesla says its Roadster is good for 400km/h.

4

PICTURED: 2014 Maserati Alfieri Concept

The Alfieri is expected to weigh only 175kg more than it would with an internal combustion engine, and its all-wheel drive system will help it maintain traction.

In addition, Maserati says the Alfieri will be granted active aero and active torque vectoring.

It’s too far away to speculate on pricing, but given Maserati is positioning the Alfieri as a ‘luxury EV coupe’, we’d exact it to be a rare sight on the streets.

4

PICTURED: 2014 Maserati Alfieri Concept