When looking at Touring Superleggera’s Sciadipersia, you could be excused for thinking it’s a bespoke sports car. However, it’s actually based on the Maserati GranTurismo.
Presented to the world at March’s Geneva Motor Show, the Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera Sciadipersia features custom bodywork that set its apart from the aging GranTurismo. Among the most eye-catching elements are overhauled front and rear fascias, a low and long hood, a high rear decklid, and various straight and angled lines vastly different from the curves of the Maserati it’s based on.
In order to see what the Sciadipersia is all about, Jay Leno was recently handed the keys to one by Touring Superleggera’s head of design Louis de Fabribeckers and took it on the roads of Los Angeles.
Considering how much effort Touring Superleggera put into overhauling the GranTurismo’s exterior, it’s strange that the vehicle’s interior is essentially identical to the Maserati, save for some new badges, stitching, and leather.
The same can be said with the engine. As the coachbuilder requires customers of the Sciadipersia to provide a donor car, the powertrain varies, but in all cases, it remains unfettled from what Maserati offers from the factory. As a result, the 4.7-liter V8 engine can deliver up to 454 hp if supplied to Touring Superleggera in its most recent form.
However, as Leno discovers, it’s not the powertrain that defines the Sciadipersia, but rather its unique look.
Touring Superleggera only intends on building 10 units, with each conversion taking roughly six months. It remains to be seen how many allocations have been sold.