I went to a garden party in Los Angeles last month, to celebrate with my rich friends — many of whom have switched to electric cars or e-bikes. That didn’t keep them from drooling over the Maserati MC20 Cielo parked out front. Guests filtered out of the house and gathered around the gorgeous two-seater, wary but excited, like Kubrick’s hominids taking selfies with the obelisk.

I observed the scene with professional interest. The Cielo — the retractable-hardtop version of the company’s signature coupe, powered by the Maserati-designed Nettuno V6 engine — has impeccable credentials. Hand-built in Modena, Italy, the car’s twin-turbo 3.0-liter puts out an outrageous 630hp (210 hp/litre) and soars to a thrilling, trilling 8,000-rpm redline.