In case you were unaware, Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera is a legendary Italian design house and bespoke coachbuilder, best known for products like the Alfa Romeo Disco Volante, Bentley Continental Flying Star, and Touring Berlinetta Lusso, among others. Now, Touring is offering a new limited edition custom two-door dubbed the Sciadipersia, bringing superlative European grand touring style as a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the bespoke Maserati 5000 GTs that Touring created for the Shah of Iran back in the ‘50s. The Sciadipersia was “designed to cover long distance with complete ease and in total comfort,” much like the travelers that booked passage on the Orient Express so long ago.

Continue reading for the full story.

The Full Story

First up, the name. Sciadipersia is Italian for “Shah of Iran,” which frames this custom two-door as a nod to the three Maserati 5000 GTs that Touring customized for the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, back in 1958.

The new Sciadipersia features an utterly unique exterior, with a long hood line, a rear-biased greenhouse, and a plethora of horizontal details that enhance the car’s natural low and wide stance. Aluminum trim with a polished finish is found just about everywhere, as is hand-brushed satin. The exterior also features Orient Night Blue paint, as well as select carbon fiber elements.

“The surface treatments portray an arrow about to be loosed from a bow,” Touring gushes, “with a sharp front and a suggestion of the fletches at the rear.”

The interior is equally customized, with a four-seat layout employing a quartet of individual captain’s chairs. The large windows provide a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape, a feature that’s meant to mimic the “luxury travel in the days of the Orient Express and the great ocean liners.”

The upholstery consists of leather from Foglizzo, and comes with a “special aroma” specially developed for Touring applications. The blue hue found outside is matched in the cabin, and comes complemented by contrast stitching and piping detailing. The seat backs come with an embroidered Sciadipersia logo. Naturally, the vehicle also includes a customized Foglizzo luggage set that fits into the trunk.

Under the skin, you’ll find the Sciadipersia is based on a modern Maserati GranTurismo rolling chassis, with the naturally aspirated V-8 powerplant and corresponding mechanical features going unchanged from the stock vehicle.

Providing motivation is a 4.7-liter V-8 making 460 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, all of which is sent rearwards through a six-speed automatic transmission. Performance specs match the standard Maserati, with a claimed 0-to-62 mph time of 4.6 seconds and an estimated top speed of 301 km/h (187 mph). Curb weight is rated at 1,700 kg (3,748 pounds).

Pricing is available upon request, but rest assured, this is one very expensive automobile. Like “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it” expensive. Each example is hand-built in Milan, with Touring limiting production at 10 units total.

Furthermore, the hand-formed panels will offer a high-degree of precision fitment to make sure the Sciadipersia meets the standards expected of such a vehicle. Even though it’s a custom automobile, Touring says it will conduct rigorous NVH (noise/vibration/harshness), ride quality, weather-proofing, and finish tests.The whole build takes six months to complete.

References

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