Disco Volante

The 2012 Geneva Motor Show marked the release of Touring Superleggera’s unveiling of the Disco Volante, a concept car that paid tribute to a series of experimental race cars built in cooperation with Alfa Romeo in the early 1950s. Dubbed the Disco Volante, the car was based off the Alfa Romeo 8C and featured a 4.7-liter V-8 engine co-developed by Ferrari and Maserati that produced 444hp and 354lb ft of torque. Mated to a six-speed sequential automatic, the Disco Volante could reach 60mph in 4.5 seconds and onto a top speed of 181mph. 

The C52 to which the Alfa Romeo Disco Volante pays tribute to was conceived during an unstable period for Alfa Romeo. The company had just taken the 1951 Formula 1 World Championship, however post-War cash shortages within the firm led to its withdrawal from the competition. All efforts were focused on the 1900 Berlina road car. The company's motorsport department was spared, based on the promise that it could create an image-boosting race car for the 1952 Le Mans and Mille Miglia that could be sold to potential amateur participants. 

To save money, the team used the 1900 as a basis for the C52 while the motorsport department took over redesigning the car’s 1.9-litre four-cylinder iron-block engine into an aluminum block and increased its displacement to 1997cc. Mated to the 1900's tubular steel chassis, the C52 weighed in at just 735kg. Its low weight and increased power output of 158bhp meant the car could reach a top speed of 140mph, making it a competitive package. However, it was the C52’s bodywork, which made it so legendary.

Coachbuilt by Carrozzeria Touring, the car’s luscious curves inspired its nickname, Disco Volante. Further, its wind-tunnel tested surfacing gave the C52 a drag coefficient equivalent to that of a 2012 Tesla Model S. The shape of the C52 was so revolutionary it would go on to inspire the designs of some of the most celebrated automotive designs from the period. Take a look at its side-profile, and you'll see a striking resemblance to the E-Type. Therefore, its no surprise the Alfa Romeo Disco Volante took the automotive community by storm in its updated form in 2012. Its classic yet modern design has cemented its self as one of the greatest cars of the 21st century.