Disappointed that Ferrari’s Purosangue was more hatch than SUV? Or that Ferrari left you out of the off-road party thrown by the Lamborghini Sterrato and Porsche 911 Dakar? A company from Virginia has you covered with one we never saw coming.
The GlasWerks Elevato is a V12 Italian grand tourer with twice the ride height and suspension travel of the car it’s based on.
GTC4 Becomes a Backroad Beast
GlasWerks starts with a Ferrari GTC4Lusso and then goes wild. The two-door 2+2, the successor to the Ferrari FF, isn’t exactly the first place your mind goes when you think off-roader. But take a look at the spec sheet.
It’s got four seats and a tailgate. It’s also got all-wheel drive. Sounds like an SUV already, doesn’t it? It also sounds amazing, thanks to the 6.3L V12 that lives under the long hood.
Then the company throws out more than 30% of the original car’s parts. New bits, designed to make it an off-roader, are then installed.
All-New Suspension for More Travel, Clearance
The suspension is the most important part of this vehicle, and it’s entirely new. Billet aluminum control arms replace the stock parts, new axles and CV joints are fitted, and even the sway bar links and the tie rods are stronger components.
Then a set of Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus tires is fitted. The stock sizes of 245/35 in the front and 295/35 in the rear, on 20-inch wheels, won’t do. These ones are 245/45 up front and 295/40 in the rear, on Forgeline 19 and 20-inch wheels, and offer more traction and durability, and a hair more sidewall.
The shocks come from Motion Control Suspension. They’re adjustable for both high- and low-speed compression damping as well as rebound, and have a remote reservoir to keep them cool if you’re actually using the Elevato as intended. Eibach main and helper springs are included, and GlasWerks will work with each buyer to tailor the setup.
Rough Road or Trail Options
We’ve spent time in the off-road luxury market and want to offer something different. Developing the first few Elevatos side-by-side has allowed us to build one car that’s more comfortable and capable on worn-out paved roads or gravel, while the other sees more off-road and trail use. It’s exciting to get to know these customers and help cater to the experiences they’re looking for with Elevato.
— Joshua Sroka, co-founder of GlasWerks
Body modifications include a new billet aluminum front grille, recovery points, and mudflaps. The extra cladding is replaceable if it gets damaged, and you can add rock sliders underneath in case 10.2 inches of ground clearance isn’t enough.
New LED fog lights and headlights claimed to offer 30% more light, making night trail runs more manageable.
The GlasWerks Elevato Is Not a Bargain, But Might Be Unmatched
You can get your GlasWerks Elevato fitted with an ARB compressor, including a 30-foot air line reel. The company also refreshes the interior, including a new steering wheel and new switches. Last but certainly not least, the V12 gets an Inconel exhaust that helps bump power from 680 horsepower to 758 and torque from 514 pound-feet to 581.
Pricing for a GlasWerks Elevato starts from $175,000. That’s on top of the Ferrari, which the company can help you find. But where else are you going to get a V12-powered off-roader that is built to use? The only option I can think of is the unobtanium Lamborghini LM002.
Read the full article here
