Aberlinetta (fromItalian:berlinetta;Italian pronunciation:[berliˈnetta]) is a sportscoupé, typically with two seats but also including2+2 cars.[1] The original meaning forberlinetta inItalian is “littlesaloon”,[2] derived from theBerlin carriage. Introduced in the 1930s, the term was made popular byFerrari in the 1950s.Maserati,Opel,Alfa Romeo,Volkswagen, and other European car manufacturers, as well asChevrolet in the United States,[3] have usedberlinetta as model label.
Berlinette is the French name for a Berlinetta, which is defined as a sporty, low-profile two-door type of automobile body style closely related to thecoupé.[4]
After World War II, the term came to refer to a small vehicle with enclosed coachwork similar to a two-doorberline, orsedan inFrance. It supplanted use of the term "coach" for a similar but older body style, which had replaced the even older term "demi-berline".[5]
The most common recent usage was in reference to theAlpine A110 sports car, which was often simply called "la Berlinette".[6]