In recent years, Touring Superleggera has gifted the world a number of coachbuilt automotive artworks based on modern grand tourers, such as the Disco Volante, Berlinetta Lusso, and Arese RH95, but now the Milanese firm is heading in an exciting new direction with the unveiling of their latest masterpiece at The Quail: the Veloce12. 

Using the iconic Ferrari 550 Maranello as its foundation, the Veloce12 promises to combine a pinnacle analogue driving experience with the design excellence, uncompromising craftsmanship, and effortless Italian style that Touring has built its reputation on over its near-100-year history. It’s the first car to emerge from Touring’s new leadership in the form of Markus Tellenbach, who owns a manual 550 himself that he cherishes greatly, so it’s no surprise that this legendary grand tourer became the basis for the Veloce12. 

“The Veloce12 is a bold step forward for our brand,” says Markus. “While it draws inspiration from our iconic models, it is unmistakably timeless. We intentionally honoured our rich heritage, but we also embraced modern innovation to create a vehicle that represents the most exclusive grand touring experience. The Veloce12 embodies the spirit of Touring Superleggera in every detail. It advances our legacy by pushing the boundaries of design and performance, while maintaining the elegance and sophistication that define our cars.”

Penned by Touring’s new head of design, Matteo Gentile, the Veloce12’s captivating carbon fibre bodywork draws inspiration not only from the firm’s vast back-catalogue of stunning grand tourers, but also nature and the white shark. Almost three decades of technological advancement in material sciences and construction techniques have allowed Touring to bestow the Veloce12 with flowing lines, sleek surfaces and sweeping, gracefully defined curves that simply weren’t possible when the 550 Maranello launched in 1996. 

However, it isn’t just the breathtaking coachwork that Touring have perfected on their new grand tourer. Every aspect of the Veloce12’s driving experience has been honed to strengthen the connection between man and machine while carefully preserving the attributes that made the 550 such a special driver’s car. The centrepiece of the Veloce12 is, of course, the naturally aspirated front-mounted 5.5-litre F133 V12 engine, which has been revitalised thanks to a comprehensive rebuild during the conversion that includes the replacement of all critical components followed by a rigorous testing procedure. A new Supersprint exhaust and a 30% enhanced PWR cooling system combine to endow the Veloce12 with an output of 503 horsepower, a 25hp boost over the donor car that broadens this grand tourer's characteristics and depth of ability. 

While a much higher power output would certainly have been possible, Markus Tellenbach was adamant that the Veloce12 wouldn’t be a track tool focused on lap times, but rather an analogue dream that engages all of the driver’s senses with usable performance on the road. That said, the Veloce12 still boasts some impressive figures with a 4.4 second 0-62 mph time and a top speed of 199 mph. Stopping power comes courtesy of bespoke Brembo brakes with six-pot callipers on 380mm discs at the front, and four-pot callipers on 380mm callipers at the rear, resulting in reduced unsprung mass and vastly improved pedal feel. 

The Veloce12 should be equally at-home on long, cross-continental drives and twisty mountain passes thanks to a bespoke suspension setup with adjustable damping developed in collaboration with TracTive. The patented dynamic damping adjustment valve, controlled by a multi-axes g-sensor and advanced algorithms developed from decades of racing and road testing, allows the driver to tailor the Veloce12’s handling and ride balance to their precise needs depending on the road conditions. Touring even went so far as to reinforce the Veloce12’s chassis in an effort to enhance the car’s rigidity and stability, placing it on par with the 599 in terms of torsional rigidity via localised stiffening in the door apertures. Impressively, all the changes are weight-neutral, preserving the playful agility of the 550. 

Touring describes the Veloce12’s interior as a luxurious ode to Pure Italianità; a driver’s sanctuary where the finest Italian craftsmanship and materials are meticulously curated to blend opulence with tactile bliss. Gone are the sticky plastics and buttons that plagued Ferraris of this era, making way for precision machined metal control surfaces and acres of handcrafted Italian leather with the all-important gated manual shifter taking pride of place in the centre. As you would expect from one of Touring’s masterworks, each Veloce12 will be tailored to each owner’s specific tastes, with limitless possibilities in terms of materials, finishes, and colour combinations. 

Touring will build just 30 examples of the Veloce12, each taking over 5000 hours to craft, with production commencing in Q1 2025. Available to order now, the Veloce12 is priced at 690,000 euros plus the donor car before taxes. It may not tout electric hypercar-rivalling performance figures, but the Veloce12 boasts a level of craftsmanship and driving engagement that has been all but lost in today’s automotive landscape, and for that reason we say it’s worth every single euro!