For the last century or so, ever since wood fell out of style as a primary structural element in vehicle construction, the bodies of most automobiles have been manufactured from a few tried-and-true materials. Carbon fiber, fiberglass, aluminum, and steel have dominated the industry, with various metals proving to be the most popular choices for mass production. Selecting these substances has always been a delicate balancing act for manufacturers, forcing carmakers to weigh cost, safety, everyday convenience, and aesthetic appeal to determine which material makes the most sense for the broader consumer market.
Automotive engineering traditionally demands compromises. Mass-market viability dictates that production techniques must be repeatable, cost-effective, and adaptable to automated assembly lines. Safety regulations require predictable crash structures, while aerodynamics and weight constraints govern efficiency. Consequently, the exterior of the modern car has evolved within a relatively narrow spectrum of physical properties and visual expectations.
However, a completely different set of rules applies when cost is no object, practicality is treated as a mere formality, and there is no need to cater to the conflicting demands of more than one owner. That was precisely the enviable, unconstrained circumstance that designer Fabrizio Giugiaro, founder and CEO of GFG Style, found himself in when conceptualizing and executing his latest bespoke project: the Peralta D, a stunning grand tourer featuring a coachbuilt body made entirely of hand-hammered copper.
“It was a proposal I made to the client, Carlos Peralta,” Giugiaro explains, shedding light on the genesis of this rare creation.
The design duo is no stranger to collaboration. Giugiaro and Peralta had worked together previously on the design house’s very first one-off automobile, the spitshine-polished, unmistakably 1980s-esque Peralta S. For their follow-up venture, Giugiaro wanted to forge an even deeper, more personal connection between the vehicle and its owner. Knowing that Peralta is an industrialist whose professional and business interests heavily involve copper, the designer suggested the unconventional metallic element as the primary medium for the car’s exterior skin.
The Giugiaro name carries immense weight and historical significance within the global automotive world. Fabrizio’s father, the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro, is universally recognized as a master of clean-line automotive design. Giorgetto’s legendary portfolio includes penning iconic vehicles such as the wedge-shaped DeLorean DMC-12, the mid-engined BMW M1, the original Lotus Esprit, and the first-generation Volkswagen Golf. Over a career spanning decades, the senior Giugiaro’s creative genius has included visionary design work for Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, and many more of the world’s most prestigious and notable automotive marques.
The father-and-son duo founded GFG Style together over a decade ago, combining decades of heritage with contemporary design methodologies. While the firm initially engaged in various broader automotive consulting and concept projects, it is only in recent years that they have increasingly dedicated their considerable talents to crafting bespoke, coachbuilt automobiles tailored exclusively for individual collectors, a niche exemplified by the commission of the Peralta D.
While utilizing raw copper for an automobile’s exterior bodywork might sound entirely unorthodox and fraught with manufacturing hurdles, Fabrizio Giugiaro notes that the reality of working with the material proved surprisingly manageable.
“It really surprised us that copper proved to be much more malleable than the aluminum we had worked with previously; it is also considerably easier to weld and polish,” Fabrizio says, reflecting on the coachbuilding process.
Working with copper sheets requires specialized artisan techniques, echoing the coachbuilding traditions of the mid-20th century rather than modern robotic stamping presses. Master metalworkers hand-hammered the material into shape, molding the warm-hued panels over the car’s underlying architecture.
“Of course, it does come with the disadvantage of greater weight,” Giugiaro acknowledges, pointing out the inherent density of the metal compared to aluminum or carbon composites. “But since it was combined with a supporting structure made entirely of carbon fiber, the overall balance between the materials ultimately worked out well.”
Beneath all that brilliant, hand-finished copper lies the advanced, high-performance chassis of a 2025 Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo. While the donor car is undeniably a stylish and capable grand tourer in its own right, its factory appearance is far removed from the almost brutalist, angular simplicity of the Peralta D’s exterior design. The vehicle embraces sharp geometric lines, dramatic planes, and a low-slung stance that recalls the wedge-era concept cars of the late 20th century while maintaining a thoroughly modern presence.
Instead of traditional doors, the car features a dramatic and complex opening system inspired directly by the single-motion dome design seen on the earlier Peralta S. The engineering incorporates independently opening side windows alongside distinctive gullwing-style openings positioned at the rear to grant access to the back passenger compartment.
Stepping inside the cabin reveals an environment that matches the striking exterior narrative. Copper-colored leather adorns nearly all interior surfaces, creating a warm, monochromatic ambiance that is broken up only by the modern infotainment and dashboard screens. These digital displays provide some of the few remaining functional hints of the vehicle’s underlying Maserati roots.
The interior was explicitly designed to celebrate and showcase the bond between the owner and his daughters, leading the design team to incorporate a series of unique, highly personalized amenities. Among these is a dedicated passenger-side makeup station complete with an illuminated mirror and specialized cosmetic storage compartments.
While the rear seating area of the grand tourer is naturally tight given the sweeping fastback proportions of the body, occupants will find no shortage of diversion. A built-in, retractable refrigerator designed to hold a custom bottle of champagne and four matching copper glasses ensures that passengers can easily relax and enjoy the journey, reinforcing the vehicle’s status as an indulgent, ultra-luxury grand tourer.
Although the Peralta D pushes the boundaries—and certainly tests the traditional material limits—of road-going automobile design, Fabrizio Giugiaro hints that even wilder, more unconventional builds may soon follow in its tire tracks.
“I have another alternative material in mind, one that has only ever been used once before,” he reveals, keeping the specific details under tight wraps. “So it will be another surprise…”
