Can anyone tell me what a Berlinetta is...?

Otherwise known as a coupe or hardtop. No, it's not a special edition.

 

in the "ferrari-language" a berlinetta is allways a two door, two seater closed coupe.
the word "berlinetta" is the small form of the italian word "berlina" , which means a limousine.

michi

 

If of any interest:

A "Berline" is a saloon sized car with a solid roof (US = sedan) so a berlinetta (in italian) is a smaller version. In the past Italian manufacturers (and others) have marketed many models under "Berlinetta"; French makers use the equivalent "Berlinette".
As we know, in the case of the F355 for example, Ferrari use the term Berlinetta to distinguish the closed version from the GTS and the Spider.
I have never seen any model in the 360 range been referred to as a Berlinetta.

 

Yes, means "little saloon".

Almost always used for a sporty, 2-door, 2-seater car.

In some of the write-ups I've read over the years, it also seems to be used to mean "fastback". That is, a roof line that slants toward the rear of the car, like the roofline of the Ferrari 250 SWB sports car.

Certainly the GTB cars are good examples of 2-door fastback coupes, e.g. 308 GTB, 328 GTB, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlinetta
.

 

Sorry michi, I was typing as you posted - but we are saying the same thing!

 

They've used the nomenclature for decades

GT'B' where B stands for Berlinetta
GT'S' where S stands for Spider/Spyder

 

If the above makes you head spin, consider the Corvette. The berlinetta is a Z06, the coupé is a GTS, and the spyder is a convertable.

 

Good explanation

 

Oh poor Fchat!

The OP just wants to know why someone calls it what they do in an ad and we break out the official Italian car dictionary!

It's a good thing he didn't ask what the difference was between "spider" and "spyder" or we would have 150 pages!

 

Since you brought it up what is the difference between Spider and Spyder???




j/k




PDG

 

[insert visual image here of my head exploding]

 

C'mon. You started it for the spider/spyder! Then we can move on to the explanation of "coupé"!

 

Only the spelling. There is no difference otherwise.

 

Berlinetta = The one Ferrari releases first.

Spyder = The one everyone trades their Berlinettas in for.

 

Okay, now lets deal with "coupé"! This is very informative...

 

Canadian for "is that a Coupe eh?"

 

and then the difference between Ferrari's use of Cabriolet versus Spider versus Barchetta . . .

 

Oh, you had to go there. Didn't you.....

 

The way I've always thought it went was...

Convertible Hardtop = Attached Metal or Composite Folding Roof

Auxiliary Hardtop = Detached/Bolt-On Metal or Composite Roof

Targa = Whole center section of roof removable, roof remains after B pillar

T-Top = Split Roof with two removable sections, roof remains after B pillar

Moon Roof = Section of roof opening encompassing front and rear passengers

Sun Roof - Section of roof opening encompassing front passengers

Convertible-Drophead Coupe-Spyder-Spider-Cabriolet = Attached Folding Soft Top

Roadster-Barchetta = Detached/Snap-On Folding Soft Top or No Top

 

Then why doesnt Ferrari refer to it as a 550 Roadster???



PDG

 

Because "Barchetta" and "Roadster" are interchangeable.

 

Well, I'm sure that OP s4play is laughing his socks off and bdelp has had to go see the doctor, but I find the origins of the names interesting. Loved the coupe-eh? for the Canadian version.
Anyway, nobody has ventured to suggest the origin of spyder/spider regardless of how it is spelled (or even spelt...).
I'll push the boat out and say that I think the reason is the way the word sounds.
The "i" (or the "y") is pronounced in Italy (I believe) and the France (certainly) as a long "e", so "spider" is pronounced "speeder".

 

Spyder is interesting as there is no "Y" in Italian

 

Exactly. Never said that Ferrari called their models spyder.........and my "speeder" take is only a guess.