2015 Maserati Alfieri - exclusive pictures, on-sale date and engines

The Maserati Alfieri made its world debut in concept car form at the Geneva motor show in 2014, and is scheduled to come to market in 2016.

The new model, understood to be a replacement for the Granturismo sports car, is named after Alfieri Maserati, one of the brothers who founded the company. The car is inspired by the 1954 Maserati A6GCS road and race car, but the firm is adamant that the concept is "not a nostalgic and retrospective study".

The car is based on the Granturismo MC Stradale chassis, shortened by 240mm. It is 4590mm long, 1930mm wide and 1280mm high with a wheelbase of 2700mm.

It is uses the Granturismo's transaxle and 4.7-litre V8 engine, which develops 460bhp at 7000rpm and 383lb ft at 4750rpm. The Alfieri uses a bespoke exhaust system.

It's already known that for production the Alfieri will also be offered with Maserati's 325bhp and 404bhp V6 engines.

It uses Maserati's MC Shift automated manual gearbox with a limited-slip differential, and Maserati claimes "optimised" weight distribution with slight rear bias. It also uses the MC Stradale's carbon ceramic brakes and Brembo callipers.

Maserati is said to have targeted a kerb weight of less than 1400kg for the new car. 

The concept features specially designed 20in and 21in rims with spokes inspired by the classic wheels of the 1950s. The show car is finished in 'Steel Flair' paint, while accents including the brake calipers, grille, air ducts and tailpipes are painted in 'Maserati Blue'.

The 2+2 cabin is influenced by the Maserati 5000 GT and is built around a central screen. The instrument panel is a digital twin-dial affair and the floor is finished in a material that simulates the oxidised steel finish found on race cars from the 1950s. 

Maserati chief executive, Harald Wester, has called the car a present to all the workers who have had to go through the lows of Maserati's history, and who have persevered through thick and thin. This car – and the future – is presented as being an end to the turbulent years. "Sustainable growth is coming," he said. 

"This is what quiet, hard-working passionate car makers make. This is the future of our design and our homage to our history. We are evaluating now if this can go in to production and complement our line-up. Just imagine the possibilities of building and selling this car.

"Alfieri is not a GT. It is a perfect sized 2+2 sports car that could complete the line-up at Maserati. We've rejuvenated and expanded our portfolio, we've doubled our dealer network and our sales building towards targets. We want to offer new and fresh choices to our clients and break the shackles of sports car conformity."