Geneva 2012: Disco Volante 2012

Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, and its utterly jaw-dropping Disco Volante 2012, represent a lot of what we like about the Geneva Motor Show. This has always been the place for the best and most creative of the European custom builders to show their stuff, and this full-scale model is no exception.

The Disco Volante is a model, but the company maintains that it will build a limited number of these as production vehicles, using the amazing-in-its-own-right Alfa Romeo 8C Cometizione as its base. That means that the graceful, and totally original lines of the Disco will encompass Alfa’s meaty 4.7-liter, 444-horsepower V-8 engine, giving the bespoke model furious performance to match its epic good looks.

Please scroll down to read the full Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera press release.

Disco Volante 2012

The Disco Volante 2012 is a two-seater coupé with front-central engine and transaxle drivetrain. Showcased at 2012 Geneva Motor Show as a full scale style model, it will be coach built in the Touring atelier in Milan as a very limited series for discerning customers: collectors, sporting drivers and design aficionados with appreciation for a tailor-made car based on individual passion and taste. It is inspired by the Touring designed Alfa Romeo C52 of 1952: a design icon, so innovative that it influenced a number of celebrated sports cars of the decades ahead.

The excellent Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione supplies the rolling chassis and drivetrain with the electrics and electronics systems. With its light and stiff structure, the compact 4.7 litre, 450 PS V8 engine coupled to a sequential paddle-shift transaxle gearbox, the limited slip differential and double wishbones suspension, the package provides stunning performance together with precise, dynamic and proactive drive.

The design language is that of a sports berlinetta by Touring, in this case extrovert, clearly pronounced, and tempting. The refined proportions are those of a classic Berlinetta by Touring, with extended rear overhang and a retracted greenhouse. Elements of drama are the wide front section with integrated bonnet and wings, and the pronounced muscular rear end treatment leaving no doubts about the car’s intentions.

The final result combines power and elegance in a car bound to set another Touring milestone in the automobile history.