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[ The CAR ]
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[ The CAR ]
The side profile shows one of the Arese RH95’s distinctive features, the aluminium fillet that runs along the doors from the front wing. Opposite page, the sports car interiors, with the separate driver and passenger cells
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here once was a time, before the arrival in the second
its hand to projects for Ferrari and Aston Martin. The cars’
half of the 20th century of the most famous Italian
stunning, innovative lines and a construction concept called
high-fashion stylists and master couturiers, when
“Superleggera” brought them fame and success on the road
the job of exporting the concept of Made in Italy elegance
and the track. The most recent chapter in the story began in
around the world, promoting its heritage of refined creativity
2006 with the renaissance of the historic Milanese company
and impeccable taste, was instead entrusted to the great
after years of oblivion, with a return to its origins, the one-
coachwork studios. These artisans, designers and panel
off formula, interpreted by the new Arese RH95, a two-seat
beaters may have been unassuming individuals but they
mid-engine model celebrating the studio’s 95th anniversary.
possessed almost unlimited talent, far removed from the
It is to be produced in 18 tailor-made examples according
image of elite couturiers perfectly at ease on the glittering
to the specifications of the various clients. Its design, as
high fashion catwalks. They came into their own in the
with all the new interpretations by Carrozzeria Touring
noisy, oil-smeared world of the garage workshop. These
Superleggera, bears the unmistakeable imprint of Belgian
creative laboratories were places where small teams of
Louis de Fabribeckers, director of the Centro Stile Touring.
visionary mechanics shaped incomparable machines, giving
He chose sinuous surfaces that retain unifying elements
the most sporty, luxurious cars a new suit of clothes cut
that clearly evoke historical elements, like the elytron doors,
with consummate artistry and skill. Here they would take a
the aluminium fillet that extends from the front wing along
bare, anonymous chassis and transform into an expression of
the side profile and the long-tail “coda tronca”, all skilfully
excellence in the form of limited-run or even one-off sports
packaged in a carbon fibre skin. Unlike other sports cars with
cars destined to claim an immediate place in automobile
an equally illustrious lineage, the Arese RH95 also boasts
history. The names and emblems of these coachworks were
another distinguishing feature – it is based on a “donor”
legendary, emblazoned on cars by the most well-known
vehicle, the chassis of a Ferrari 488 GTB, and as such mounts
marques to invest them with a breath-taking desirability. One
a V8 engine putting out up to 710 horsepower and 770 Nm of
such was the Carrozzeria Touring – founded in the 1920s
torque, providing benchmark performance, with a top speed
it began to work its magic on the most exclusive models by
of up to 340 km/h and acceleration of 0-100 in 3 seconds.
Alfa Romeo, Isotta Fraschini and BMW, eventually turning
www.touringsuperleggera.eu
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[ The CAR ]
Sketches of the Arese RH95, from the hand of Louis de Fabribeckers with fascinating details. Clockwise, from top, the ribs of the rear clamshell, the grille and the upper scoop. Opposite page, the fastback shape
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