Touring Superleggera,->ke4628 a custom coachbuilder based out of Italy, got its start installing custom bodies on Alfa Romeos->ke1386 back in 1928. Now with over 80 years under its belt, the Italian coachbuilder is one of the best-known in the industry, and it builds some of the most amazing rigs. Its latest creation, the Berlinetta Lusso, made its debut at the 2015 Geneva Auto Show.->ke228

As soon as I laid eyes on its name, I knew the Italians came to Geneva to pay homage to one of the most exquisite grand tourers ever built. To achieve that, Touring Superlegerra brought together the styling and technology of a modern-day Ferrari with the elegant and sexy lines of the classic 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso. The end result is a stunning automobile crafted in the same vein as the Alfa Romeo 8C-based Disco Volante and a limited-edition supercar that's likely to become tomorrow's most sought-after collectible.

Updated 03/04/2915: Touring Superleggera unveiled its Ferrari F12 Berlinetta-based Berlinetta Lusso at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. The model will be built in limited edition and will be put on sale later this year.

Continue reading to find out more about the Touring Superleggera Berlinetta Lusso.

Exterior

If the Touring Superleggera Berlinetta Lusso looks familiar it's because it is based on the Ferrari F12berlineta, a powerful grand tourer Maranello has been producing since 2012. As both the name and the revised bodywork suggest, Touring Superleggera's new creation pays homage to the Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso of the 1960s. Designed by Pininfarina and bodied by Scaglietti, the 250 GT Lusso, of which only 351 were built between 1963 and 1964, is considered to be one of the most elegant Ferraris. Also the last representative of the Ferrari 250 lineage, the Berlinetta Lusso became famous for being owned by celebrities such as Steve McQueen and Eric Clapton.

While no modern Ferrari can match the greatness of the classic 250 GTO, the Touring Superleggera Berlinetta Lusso is definitely better at trying to achieve it, at least when compared to the standard F12berlinetta. Although it still bears some resemblance to the latter, the Berlinetta Lusso had most of its body panels remodeled. Up front, only the headlamps remind me of the production car, as both the nose and the hood have been reshaped to mimic the classic Lusso's. The main grille is slightly smaller and sports an oval design, while the splitter was rebuilt to look as if it is made from three separate pieces, probably in a nod to the Lusso's chrome bumper.

The rear end stands out even more as a modern interpretation of the 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso. The taillights have been reposition lower into the fascia, while the standard tailgate-like lid has been ditched in favor of a more conventional trunk cover. The spoiler piece is also gone, leaving the lid very similar in shape to the classic Lusso's. The lower rear apron has been redesigned as well, but this is where similarities with the classic Ferraris of the 1960s come to an end, as Touring Superleggera chose to keep the modern diffuser and tail-pipe configuration, albeit in a different design than the regular F12berlinetta's.

Viewed from the side, the Superleggera showcases different styling as well. Gone is the F12berlinetta's intricate, curved character line, replaced by two distinctive creased highlighting the traditional waistline and the side skirts. Of course, these details have nothing in common with the classic 250, but the new rear quarter windows do. The carbon-fiber and aluminum body panels are finished in a stunning metallic blue which goes by the name Azzuro Niourlague.

All told, this is by far the most intriguing take on the F12berlinetta as of 2015, outshining even the limited-edition F60America the Italians showcased in late 2014.

Interior

Unlike the exterior, the Berlinetta Lusso's interior is 100-percent F12berlinetta, sans the Ferrari badges, which have been replaced by Touring Superleggera logos. Still, the interior is far from being a standard factory piece, as the coachbuilder finished most of the bits in bespoke hues that aren't available in Ferrari's color palette. Most of the dashboard, the center console and the floor mats feature a matte-blue, while the seats are wrapped in a buttery tan leather. The door panels boast both colors for a striking contrast. Fine contrast stitching on the seats and center console rounds off the custom interior.

Drivetrain

The standard drivetrain of the F12berlinetta remained unchanged, but I doubt those wealthy enough to buy the Berlinetta Lusso will complain about Touring Superleggera not meddling with it. That's because the awesome 6.3-liter V-12 powerplant motivating it cranks out a whopping 729 horsepower and 508 pound-feet of torque, which is enough for a 0-to-60 mph sprint of only 3.1 seconds.

Top speed is likely in excess of 200 mph, although it's not clear whether the Lusso can reach Ferrari's "over 211 mph" estimate for the F12berlinetta. Shifting duties are handled by the same F1-style, seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission with electronic E-diff. The drivetrain is arguably the best part of the F12berlinetta and the Lusso gets every single bit of it.

Prices

Given this will be a hand-sculpted, carbon- and aluminum-bodied machine, look for a price tag nearing seven digits. Chances are that TS won’t even reveal a price initially, but rather present a final price after each buyer has finished customizing his individual car. Only four more example will be built alongside the model showcased at the Geneva Motor Show.

Conclusion

I have a real love-hate relationship with these coachbuilt cars from the likes of Touring Superleggera. I love them because they are so unique, but I hate them because they are so exclusive that they almost disappear from all of our minds just as quickly as they arrived – unless you are lucky enough to own one. Fortunately, the Berlinetta Lusso is one of those bespoke grand tourers that will haunt me for all the good reasons, including for being one of the most beautiful F12berlinetta-based supercars to date. Just like the Alfa Romeo 8C-based Disco Volante, the Berlinetta Lusso comes to prove that coachbuilding is still alive and kicking in an era in which the automotive industry is more about practicality and mass production than exclusivity.