In recent years, Touring Superleggera has given the automotive world a series of exquisite works of art based on modern grand tourers: such as the Disco Volante, the Berlinetta Lusso or the Arese RH95. Now the Milan-based carrozzeria is taking a new direction with the unveiling of its latest masterpiece – the Veloce12 – at The Quail.

Based on the iconic Ferrari 550 Maranello, the Veloce12 promises to combine a genuine analogue driving experience with the excellent design, uncompromising craftsmanship and casual Italian style on which Touring has built its reputation over a nearly 100-year history. It is also the first new car under the leadership of the new Touring CEO Markus Tellenbach. The Swiss owns a manual 550 himself, which he values very much. So it is no surprise that Touring chose this legendary grand tourer as the platform for the Veloce12.

“The Veloce12 is a bold step forward for our brand,” emphasises Tellenbach. “While it draws inspiration from our iconic models, it is also absolutely timeless. We have consciously honoured our rich heritage, but also incorporated modern innovations to create a vehicle that opens up the most exclusive grand touring experiences. The Veloce12 embodies the spirit of Touring Superleggera in every detail. It continues our heritage by pushing the boundaries of design and performance, while maintaining the elegance and refinement that have always characterised our cars.”

Designed by new Touring design chief Matteo Gentile, the Veloce12’s carbon fibre bodywork not only references Touring grand tourers of the past, but also draws inspiration from nature and the great white shark. Nearly three decades of technological advances in materials science and construction techniques have also enabled Touring to give the Veloce12 flowing lines, smooth surfaces and sweeping, gracefully defined curves – all of which were simply not possible in this level of perfection when the 550 Maranello was launched in 1996.

But it’s not just the stunning bodywork that Touring has achieved on its new grand tourer. Every aspect of the driving experience has been refined to strengthen the connection between man and machine, while retaining the attributes that made the 550 such a special driver’s car. The heart of the Veloce12 is, of course, the 5.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine (F133) installed in the front. Before installation, all critical components were replaced and then a rigorous testing process was carried out. With the help of a new Supersprint exhaust and a 30 percent improved DWR cooling system, power increased to 503 hp – a 25 hp improvement over the donor model, which changes the engine characteristics and expands the available power spectrum.

A much higher performance would certainly have been possible, but Markus Tellenbach sees the Veloce12 less as a tool for the racetrack with a focus on lap times and more as an analog dream that appeals to all of the driver’s senses with a performance that is easy to use on the road. Nevertheless, the Veloce12 can boast impressive figures: 4.4 seconds from 0-100 km/h and a top speed of 320 km/h. The Veloce12 is slowed down by tailor-made Brembo brakes with six-piston calipers on 380 mm discs at the front and four-piston calipers on 380 mm calipers at the rear. They reduce the unsprung mass and also ensure a more pleasant pedal feel.

The Veloce12 is designed to feel just as comfortable on long journeys across the continent as it is on winding mountain passes. This is guaranteed by a set-up with adjustable dampers developed together with the Dutch chassis experts from TracTive. The patented valve for dynamic damping adjustment is controlled by a multi-axis G-sensor and advanced algorithms. Developed on the basis of decades of racing and road tests, the driver can adjust the handling and ride comfort of the Veloce12 to his exact needs depending on the road conditions. Touring even went so far as to reinforce the chassis of the Veloce12 and bring the torsional rigidity to the level of the Ferrari 599 by locally stiffening the door cutouts. Impressive: All changes were weight-neutral and the playful agility of the 550 was retained.

Touring describes the Veloce12’s interior as a luxurious ode to unadulterated Italianità. A small sanctuary for the driver where the finest Italian craftsmanship and materials have been carefully crafted to combine opulence with tactile wellness. Gone are the sticky plastics and control buttons that plagued Ferraris of this era. In the Veloce12 they give way to precision-engineered metallic control surfaces and hand-crafted Italian leather, with the gearstick guided in a classic open shift gate at the centre. As you would expect from a Touring masterpiece, each Veloce12 is tailored to the owner’s individual taste, with limitless possibilities in terms of materials, finishes and colour combinations.

Touring will only build 30 Veloce12s – each one requiring 5000 hours of work. Production will begin in the first quarter of 2025; orders are being accepted now at a price (before taxes) of 690,000 euros plus donor vehicle. While the Veloce12 cannot match the performance of an electric hypercar, it offers a level of craftsmanship and driving pleasure that has almost been lost in today’s automotive landscape. For this reason, we believe it is worth every single euro!