Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.A Concept That Waited 60 YearsSome concepts get stuck in the sketchbook. Others just bide their time. Bizzarrini's latest is the patient type. Meet the 5300 Aperta Lusso: an open-top grand tourer dreamed up by the late Giotto Bizzarrini and Giorgetto Giugiaro over 60 years ago, and finally brought to light.Originally conceived in the early 1960s, this project was shelved as Bizzarrini chased racing glory and was ultimately shut down in 1969, leaving the idea gathering dust in the archives. Now, Bizzarrini is dusting off the old blueprints for its first all-new production car in decades. The 5300 Aperta Lusso keeps the unmistakable shape of the original 5300 GT, but hides a ton of modern engineering and tech where you can't see it. Instead of messing with the looks, they left the classic lines alone and just updated everything under the skin.Adam Lynton/AutoblogView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleModern Comfort Mixed With Classic StylingOnly a few cars are on the menu for now, each tailored to whatever wild ideas the buyer dreams up. The first one is called La Dolce Vita (sounds familiar), because its owner apparently wants to ditch modern chaos for lazy drives along the Italian coast.AdvertisementAdvertisementFrom the outside, you'd swear this thing just rolled out of a 1960s restoration shop. Step inside, though, and it's packed with the kind of creature comforts you'd expect from a modern grand tourer.You get premium leather, Zegna fabric, and a dashboard carved from a single chunk of European maple with hand-painted pinstripes. The real party trick? An Italian tortoiseshell gear knob with gold inlays spelling out the Bizzarrini logo. Not something you see every day.The tech is all hidden away on purpose. You still get air-conditioning, MagSafe wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, sneaky speakers, frameless power windows with proper sealing, and an adjustable steering column, but none of it ruins the old-school vibe.The twin carbon-fiber roof panels come off, but the car keeps Giugiaro's signature arch. Bizzarrini claims they built the sealing system from the ground up, so you get proper weather protection and less wind noise when you're blasting down the highway.Adam Lynton/AutoblogView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleClassic V8, Modern EngineeringUnderneath the classic body, everything's been overhauled. The Aperta Lusso uses a one-piece carbon-fiber shell, reinforced with aerospace-grade steel in the transmission tunnel. It's actually stiffer than the old coupe, even without a fixed roof.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe suspension sticks to Giotto Bizzarrini's Le Mans-inspired playbook: double wishbones all around, adjustable Koni dampers, magnesium Campagnolo center-lock wheels, and ventilated disc brakes. The steering is now rack-and-pinion with electrohydraulic assist that backs off as you pick up speed.Adam Lynton/AutoblogView the 4 images of this gallery on the original articlePower comes from a naturally aspirated 5.3-liter V8 up front, making over 400 horsepower. You can pick a Tremec five-speed manual or go for a six-speed if you want more gears. The hand-built Inconel exhaust should make it sound as good as it looks. Bizzarrini says it'll do over 175 mph.Only ten cars are coming at first, with more custom builds possible for 2027. The 5300 Aperta Lusso isn't about chasing big sales numbers. It's Bizzarrini's way of bringing back a forgotten Italian grand tourer for the modern world. No word on price, but if you have to ask, you probably already know the answer.BizzarriniView the 14 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Jul 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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