Bartek Sikorski

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Updated with official images.
Recently we featured a stunning Masrati Quattroporte wagon concept by Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, an Italian coachbuilder that gained some fame in its hey day. It seems as though Carrozzeria is staging a comeback at this years ‘Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este’ with the introduction of yet another stunning concept, this time a small, sporty coupe inspired by Pininfarina’s A6 GCS Berlinetta. Dubbed the A8 GCS Berlinetta, the offering from Carozzeria represents a mixture of modern technology and classic styling cues that come together in perfect harmony.

The A8 GCS Berlinetta weighs just 1.200kg, in line with Carrozzeria’s name, which literally means Touring Superlight. With its traditional gaping Maserati grill, reminiscent of the Maser racers of the 50’s, as well as the new Gran Turismo’s aggressive and angular headlights, the A8 GCS Berlinetta shows off a modern interpretation of the classic sports car, from its nostalgic wire-wheels to its focus on light weight.
While it may have classic style to spare, under the hood is a modern V8 connected to the rear-wheels through a rear-mounted gearbox, and while power figures are hard to come by we have a feeling you’d want to drive this as slowly through town as possible.
In terms of production possibilities, Carrozzeria faces a difficult task in complying with safety requirements. Nevertheless, Carozzeria hopes to show a production version at 2009’s Geneva Motor Show, but it’s still likely to be in very limited numbers.
Maserati representatives have previously hinted that they needed a third model to remain profitable, and a compact coupe such as this could be just what the doctor ordered. In fact, Maserati has acknowledged that there is a large gap between the Alfa Romeo Brera and Maserati Gran Turismo, a gap that could possibly be filled by a production version of the A8 GCS Berlinetta - keep your fingers crossed.
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Tarek

Minus the ugly fogs i actually like it!

Bartek Sikorski

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For the ones who have not had the chance to be present at the 2008 edition of the Concorso D’Eleganza Villa D’Este, where, among others, the BMW M1 Homage has been presented, nor have read our previous article on the Maserati A8GCS Berlinetta Touring, here is your chance to see the little coupé and the other car Touring Superleggera has created in order to get back to life, the Bellagio Fastback Touring. Besides the pictures, the design studio has also released more information on both cars, including the technical specs.

The most important news about Touring Superleggera cars is that anyone who can afford them will be able to order one. The A8GCS is only 4,20 m long, what has even spreaded the rumour Maserati would be planning to create a small coupe of its own. Considering the potential of this market, and the fact that the A8GCS will cost as much as a larger coupé, due to the fact it is hand built, Maserati should really consider this possibility.

Besides its size, we can also say A8GCS uses 19-inch alloy wheels (a beautiful Borrani model), it carries two people and 315 litres of luggage and uses Brembo brakes.

Both Bellagio and A8GCS use a 400 bhp V8 engine, but Bellagio has to deal with a lot more weight (1,919 kg, against about 1.200 kg from the coupe), but the shooting brake compensates that with a lot of space for its four passengers and their luggage. There is 500 litres of boot capacity. Anyway, Quattroporte-based Bellagio still reaches a top speed of 275 km/h and goes from stand still to 100 km/h in 5.2 s. Amazing cars, that deserve some more attention from us all.
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A8GCS Berlinetta

There couldn’t be a better scenario than the 2008 Villa d’Este Concours d’Elegance for the debut of the stylish A8GCS Berlinetta Touring prototype, a berlinetta Gt marking the return of the famous Milan coachbuilders, among the leaders of the Italian automotive school.
Based on the Maserati Coupé GranSport mechanics, the A8GCS Berlinetta Touring represents the high performance sports car concept, with small dimensions, state-of-the-art constructive technology and perfect stylish synthesis between factory tradition and advanced aesthetic criteria. The new A8GCS Berlinetta Touring has been designed by the young Belgian designer Louis de Fabribeckers, in charge of the Touring styling department.

The A8GCS Berlinetta Touring lines are not affected by time or fashion: the car is characterized by a soft aggressiveness originated by the perfect balance between the front end, directly derived from competitions, and the harmonious and fluent flanks reminding of the extraordinary Alfa Romeo, Isotta Fraschini and Lancia Flying Star of the Thirties, an exceptional series created by Touring and still considered the best interpretation of Marinetti and Boccioni’s Futurism.

The Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera style is first expressed through perfecly balanced volumes (reduced front overhang, front central engine and large rear overhang). The result is a dynamic form that doesn’t need a lowered waistline. Moreover, the horizontal development of lines create a natural elegance.

The sporty look of the car is underlined by the combination between bonnet and front grille. An element dashing forward the other volumes. Hence the lateral lines of the body: the lower line ends on the rear wheelarch and the upper line dissolves in the rear end of the car. Together they create a dynamic sail shape, as on Flying Stars.

Of course, also the most successful car design is not enough to make an alive and complete object. It must be combined with excellent dynamic qualities, derived from state-of-the-art technical solutions. For the prototype A8GCS Berlinetta Touring, Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera studied and designed a body in advanced composite materials, able to give the car lightness, structural strenght and performance typical of top granturismo and obviously respecting all international safety and environmental rules. The result is clear: the style protoype A8GCS Berlinetta Touring is able to enter small series production, gaining immediately a top place among the best sports cars.

A8GCS BERLINETTA TOURING
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Berlinetta 2 doors, 2 seats
Engine layout V8, 90°
Total displacement 4.244 cc
Bore and stroke 92x79,8 mm
Compression ratio 11:1
Max power 295 kW (400 CV) at 7.000 rpm
Max torque 452 Nm (46 kgm) at 4.500 rpm
Overall lenght 4.200 mm
Overall width 1.800 mm
Height 1.210 mm
Wheelbase 2.500 mm
Front track 1.525 mm
Rear track 1.538 mm
Boot capacity 315 liters
Fuel capacity 88 liters
Brembo, 4 ventilated discs, front 330x32 mm
Brembo, 4 ventilated discs, rear 310x28 mm
Front 245/40 ZR19
Rear 285/35 ZR19
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