berlinetta

Berlinetta is a term used in automotive design to designate a specific body style: a lightweight, fixed-roof, two-door coupe or two-seat sports car, typically with a streamlined profile and an emphasis on performance. The word is Italian and derives from the notion of a small, refined carriage; berlinetta literally means “little Berlin [carriage].” The designation originated in Italy in the early 20th century and became a traditional label applied by Italian manufacturers to a subset of enclosed sport coupes and grand-tourers.

In practice, berlinettas are usually two-door, fixed-roof cars, though some examples are effectively two-seaters or 2+2 configurations. The style has been adopted by brands such as Alfa Romeo, Maserati, and especially Ferrari, where the berlinetta name has signified a more performance-focused variant within a model line, as opposed to open-top spiders or larger GTs.

Notable examples include the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Berlinetta (1939–1940), which is considered a milestone of prewar sports car design; and Ferrari models such as the 250 GT Berlinetta (SWB) from the late 1950s and the 275 GTB Berlinetta from the mid-1960s. The Dino 246 GT Berlinetta is another prominent instance, reflecting the continued association of the term with stylish, two-door performance coupes.

Today, the term remains a recognizable part of classic-car nomenclature and is used to evoke a particular, era-defining style of Italian sport coupé, even as manufacturers adopt evolving labels for modern designs.