Touring Superleggera brings its latest interpretation of the Veloce12 to Monterey, combining an open roof, a naturally aspirated V12 and the rituals of the perfect Italian escape.

There are cars designed around numbers, and there are cars designed around an idea. With the new Superleggera Veloce12 Aperta, Touring Superleggera is firmly interested in the latter. Following the Veloce12 Coupé and the more radical Barchetta, the Aperta completes the family with perhaps its most versatile interpretation yet. Based around the architecture of the Ferrari 550 Maranello, it retains the proportions of a traditional front-engined grand tourer while introducing two removable roof panels and a sculpted aluminium arch behind the cabin. Touring describes the car simply as “The Weekender.” It is an unusually fitting description.

From Milan to Monterey

The Veloce12 Aperta made its appearance during Monterey Car Week, taking centre stage at The Quail before being displayed on the Concept Lawn at Pebble Beach.

The reception at The Quail quickly centred on the details. Visitors gathered around the car following the morning presentation, with particular attention given to the two shades of burgundy used throughout the interior and the small Aperta emblems crafted from solid 24-carat gold.

At Pebble Beach, the setting changed. Against the green of the Concept Lawn and under an overcast California sky, the car's Alba White bodywork became perhaps even more pronounced. It is a restrained specification, but one that allows the surfaces and proportions to do most of the talking.

That restraint is important. Touring is celebrating its centenary in 2026, and the Aperta does'nt feel like an attempt to reinvent the grand tourer but more like a continuation of the ideas that have defined the Milanese coachbuilder for a century.

Analogue by design

Underneath the new carbon fibre body remains a naturally aspirated 5.5 litre V12 producing 503 hp and 760 Nm, driving the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. A Supersprint exhaust, adaptive TracTive suspension and a reinforced chassis complete the mechanical package. On paper, 0 to 100 km/h takes an estimated 4.4 seconds, with a top speed of around 290 km/h. But outright performance is almost secondary here.

Remove the roof panels and the engine, gearbox and surroundings become part of the experience. Touring Head of Design Andreas Van Speybroeck calls the aluminium structure behind the cabin the car's “crown”, a piece that visually defines the Aperta while retaining the sense of intimacy found in the Coupé. The roof panels can be stored on board, leaving the car usable as an actual grand tourer rather than merely an open-air exercise.

The art of leaving

Perhaps the most telling element of the Aperta is found behind its occupants. Touring has treated luggage not as an afterthought, but as part of the architecture of the car. The rear deck combines burgundy leather and aluminium with an integrated strap system for bespoke luggage, including pieces from Rimowa and Milanese leather house Giosa Milano. With the roof fitted, total storage capacity is 327 litres, an almost unexpectedly practical figure for something so specialised. It captures what the Veloce12 Aperta is ultimately about. Not lap times, nor the pursuit of maximum performance, but the increasingly rare pleasure of choosing a road simply because it is worth driving. A V12, a manual gearbox, two people and enough luggage for the weekend.

Sometimes that is enough.