Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
Celebrating the Art of Italian Coachbuilding
The Porsche Panamera Coupé Vistotal concept by Castagna.
The Porsche Panamera Vistotal Coupé, executed by Carrozzeria Castagna of Milan in 2019, was a one-off concept vehicle based on the Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid. The project was developed as a contemporary reinterpretation of the luxury grand touring coupé, featuring extensive coachbuilt modifications to the original four-door sedan platform. The design incorporated historical references to both Castagna’s pre-war work and experimental show cars of the 1960s, particularly the Lamborghini Marzal. The most significant modification involved the elimination of the rear doors and the construction of a two-door configuration with vertically opening doors. These single-piece doors were fabricated in carbon fiber and incorporated extended glazing as part of the “Vistotal” design language. The Vistotal concept, originally associated with Castagna’s pre-war closed bodies, emphasized uninterrupted glass surfaces and panoramic visibility. The doors opened via an electric, servo-assisted mechanism, with remote operation and touch-activated retractable handles. The original Panamera structure was retained beneath the bodywork, including the front-mounted hybrid powertrain, all-wheel drive system, and chassis configuration. The transformation did not alter the mechanical specification of the donor car. Exterior alterations included a two-tone paint treatment with a recessed lateral surface integrated into the front wing vent. The modified body preserved the vehicle’s original dimensions while introducing new visual proportions and a coupe silhouette. The interior configuration was largely unchanged in layout but employed revised materials and finishes in accordance with Castagna’s bespoke design standards. No production run followed the completion of the initial prototype. The concept was not intended for homologation or series manufacture. The project required approximately two years of planning, with several months dedicated to construction. Though executed on a standard Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, the concept was declared compatible with other Panamera variants, including the Sport Turismo. The Panamera Vistotal Coupé remains a singular example of modern Italian coachbuilding applied to a contemporary German platform, illustrating the ongoing practice of one-off automotive design by specialist firms. The vehicle reflects Castagna’s approach to combining historical design themes with current technology and manufacturing methods.
At the end of 1937, at the Milan Motor Show, Carrozzeria Castagna had exhibited a Vistotal cabriolet which featured a windshield which was erected from the dashboard without any side posts. This revolutionary system born beyond the Alps was called “Vutotal”.
