Instead of touchscreens and turbos, it’s got a N/A V12 and a gated manual
Monterey Car Week was full of action this year. We saw everything from the Acura RSX Prototype to a supercar concept from Lexus and a pair of V12 hypercars from Gordon Murray Automotive.
But the most beautiful car to come out of this year’s event wasn’t from a major automaker, but a small Italian coachbuilder called Touring Superleggera. It may have flown somewhat under the radar in Monterey, but this Veloce12 Barchetta is anything but ordinary. Based on a Ferrari 550 and following on from the previously released Veloce12 Coupe, the Veloce12 Barchetta combines everything we love about coachbuilding.
Open-Air Style At Its Finest
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It’s been over 20 years since the 550 Maranello went out of production, but its timeless design provided the perfect foundation for the Veloce12 Barchetta. The low, long hood and substantial front overhang of the Ferrari are still event, but the Veloce12 gets more modern, square-shaped headlight clusters.
The hood has more sculpting than the one on the Ferrari, and also includes a prominent scoop that hints at the powerful engine lurking below. Curvy yet powerful fenders give the Veloce12 Barchetta a muscular stance, while the rear-end features classic rounded taillights and quad tailpipes which are larger than the ones on the 550.
Of course, it’s the ability to lower the roof that makes this hand-built beauty so special. Doing so reveals beautifully detailed rollover bars behind the seats, which are wrapped in leather.
“This is a forward-looking homage to Touring Superleggera heritage, rooted in elegance and design integrity,” said Matteo Gentile, the company’s Head of Design.
A Powertrain You Can’t Get From Ferrari—And A Refreshingly Analog Interior
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Despite its ravishing appearance, it’s the Veloce12 Barchetta’s powertrain that’s perhaps its most special feature. It has a 65-degree, naturally aspirated V12 producing 478 horsepower and 419 lb-ft of torque; even Ferrari’s new “entry-level” supercar, the gorgeous Amalfi, makes a lot more power than that, but this drop-top is about so much more than the numbers.
Like the 550, the high-revving V12 is paired with a six-speed manual, a combination that Ferrari no longer offers today—and the brand seemingly has no interest in appeasing manual fans anytime soon. A 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time of 4.4 seconds for the Barchetta is on the cards, which is enough to have fun without getting yourself into trouble. The coachbuilder claims a top speed of around 180 mph, and the car has a more rigid chassis, Brembo brakes, and a Supersprint exhaust.
The interior, as expected, features immaculate materials and a gated shifter. It's a dream cabin if you prefer simpler times—there's no touchscreen, just clear analog dials, elegant buttons and knobs, and an attractive two-tone color scheme.
Although pricing wasn’t disclosed, the coupe version of the Veloce12 Barchetta is known to cost over $750,000, and that excludes the cost of the donor 550 car. Expect to hand over close to $1 million if you want one of the very few that are expected to be built.
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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