Story by Gijsbert-Paul Berk
To commemorate the fact that the Milanese coach building company was founded 90 years ago by the unforgettable ‘Judge’ Carlo Felice Bianchi Anderloni, Carrozzeria Touring unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show their ‘Blu Ceruleo’ 2016 Disco Volante Spider. The name is of course a wink to the famous super aerodynamic Alfa Romeo Disco Volante concept cars from the fifties. And in a certain way, its styling resembles these iconic sports cars.
The color of the Geneva show car is called ‘Blu Ceruleo’.
A spokesman of Carrozzeria Touring told the press that they plan to make only seven of these very special cars. More than half are already sold.
As donor cars Touring uses the Alfa Romeo 8C, of which only 500 were produced. Therefore, potential customers must first acquire a rare 8C in good condition, before the panel beaters at Touring can start.
The font resembles the 1952 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante, maybe.
The show car at Geneva was custom build for a client and took six month to complete. No wonder that its price tag is said to be around 450,000 Euros.
The body is made with hand-beaten aluminum panels, but the front (bumper), grille, skirts, hood, decklid, windscreen frame, and rear crossmember are all constructed of carbon fiber. The removable convertible roof consists of a set of panels, each weighing only 3.5 kilograms (± 7,7 lbs.).
High windshield and large head cowls protect driver and passenger from drafts when driving fast.
Touring claims the Disco Spider will sprint to 100 Km/h (62 mph) in 4.5 seconds and have top speed of around 300 Kim/u (181 mph).
The original 1952 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante; Unpretentious beauty.
As these new Discos are powered by the 450 bhp V8 of the Alfa Romeo 8C and Maserati these figures seen quite likely. However, I personally feel that this modern Disco Volante, like many retro styled cars lacks the sharp lines and the unpretentious beauty of the original. But, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
This new Disco is an interesting car. The original was one of the inspirations for the first Corvette Stingray.
Not to be critical, but since the original car was a race car then it seems to follow that the design of the exterior and the interior of the new car would also be like a race car. The new car has a forceful front end and it has overall a voluptuous character. I wish the rear quarter had more volume, like the front fender.
It is not easy to create a new version of an old car, in fact it is very difficult. Everyone who sees it has a clear understanding of the original and can make an easy judgement of the new version. I am very glad to see that there are still Italian companies that can create vehicles like this. Alfa Romeo has such a great history.
Dick Ruzzin
Please thank author for fine report
Always love Alfa cars
BUT,,those wheels have go go.!
Jim sitz
it’s starting to seem like the lovely overall shapes developed in the ’50s and ’60s are ‘all used up,’ and the current idiom has shrunk to slashing lines, big or small, and momentary cliches like ‘cheek pouch’ grills and the annoyingly ubiquitous ‘aggressive face.’
Exactly what Mr Arutunoff said ; especially tired of the angry countenance at the front of nearly every car [or truck] produced in the last 10 or 15 years. My wife opines that such may be a contributing factor to aberrant behaviour behind the wheel so commonplace any more…
The design of a car will have an artistic character that is either benign, neutral or aggressive. Usually the character matches the performance capability and past image of the car, if justified. The cars that have matching performance and aesthetic character are the ones we seem to like the most, especially the ones on this site.
Past Italian cars are outstanding in this respect. It is hard to understand the current brand character and front end designs on many Japanese cars today, especially Lexus. Unfortunately they are stuck with that theme for many years with no real reason to change it so far. If they stumble with some functional disaster that will be there own the front end design may become part of the fall.
I have worked with many excellent designers for forty years and have seen a lot of work that never made it to the street. I have a very had time understanding how, on an expensive car, such hideous front ends can be found acceptable. Apparently the strength of the brand is so great that even these cars front ends are accepted. I do not think I could go out into my garage every morning and see that front end. It would ruin my day.
Dick Ruzzin
The “blue ceruleo” puts me in a blue funk. With only two pedals on the floor it is a mere poseur.
JKB