Autoblog

With Italian coachbuilders like Bertone and Pininfarina struggling to retain profitability, now may not be the best time to establish (or re-establish) another. But that isn't about to stop Holland-based Zeta Europe BV, which owns Borrani wheels and has acquired the rights to the defunct Carrozzeria Touring. The coachbuilder was originally established in 1926 and popularized the advanced Superleggera construction method, consisting of small-diameter tubular frames draped with thin-gauge aluminum sheetmetal and employed on numerous Alfa Romeos, Maseratis, Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Aston Martins, among others. The name Superleggera was revived for the recently-terminated lightweight Lamborghini Gallardo, though strictly speaking the supercar did not use the classic construction method.

Carrozzeria Touring is now gearing up for a revival with a new Superleggera, to debut in a week at the famous Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, the classic motor show where a trophy honoring Touring's founder is awarded each year. Aside from the teaser silhouette image shown above, little is known about the new Superleggera, but we're looking forward to finding out. The coachbuilder is also anticipated to show the Ballagio Fastback, an estate wagon based on the Maserati Quattroporte (like the one on which we previously reported), previewed by a teaser mixed in with the classic images on the company's new website.

[Source: VirtualCar and AutoWeek]