The Touring Superleggera Maserati-badged Schiadi Persia has gone on sale in the United States.

Touring Superleggera is gearing up for release in the US.

The Italian coachbuilder is in the process of signing dealers and has already announced its first model for local sales, the Maserati GranTurismo-based Sciadipersia, which debuted at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show.

The car's name means "Shah of Iran" in Italian, which hints at the source of inspiration. The car refers to the ordering of three Maserati 5000GTs custom-built in the 1950s for Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran.

Although the windshield and door handles are inherited, no body panel is shared between the Schiadi Persia and the GranTurismo on which it is based. Interestingly, more than 50% of the bodywork is made of carbon fiber - a first for the Touring Superleggera. Previously, the Touring Superleggera was made of aluminum, hammered and rolled by hand.

Sciadi Persia's main features are clean surfaces with sharp joints and a low-hanging, almost minimalist front end; the interior of the 2+2-seater is similar to that of the Maserati, but the Touring Superleggera is stitched on almost every surface. leather with metallic accents. [Mechanically, the GranTurismo is unchanged and is powered by a 4.7-liter V8 engine with 460 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, driving the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.

There are only 15 production seats for this hand-built car, which can be ordered as a coupe or convertible to suit the buyer's wishes. Prices have not yet been confirmed.

Touring Superleggera is the oldest coachbuilder still in operation today. Its roots go back to the early 20th century, but the company ceased operations in 1966. In 2008, it was revived by a new owner and presented a series of special bodies based on the most popular production cars. These included such fine models as the Disco Volante based on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione and the Berlinetta Lusso based on the Ferrari F12.