
The Elevato rewrites the rules for exotic-car customization by marrying Ferrari performance with serious off-road capability.
It matters because it demonstrates a growing market appetite for luxury vehicles that can bridge weekend canyon runs and remote adventure trails.
For Ferrari purists and adventure seekers alike, GlasWerks DMV's project is a proof-of-concept: supercars can be engineered to leave the pavement without losing their character.
What GlasWerks DMV Changed — The Engineering Work
GlasWerks DMV begins each build by fully disassembling the donor Ferrari GTC4Lusso and replacing or re-engineering more than 30% of its parts. The conversion is comprehensive rather than cosmetic, following the same rigorous approach seen in other high-end custom builds.
The team chose the naturally aspirated 6.3-litre V12 variant over the V8, taking the factory 681 hp figure up to a claimed 750 hp. That power remains linear and naturally aspirated in character, retaining the V12's signature sound and throttle feel.
Suspension and Undercarriage
To turn a low-slung grand tourer into a usable off-roader, GlasWerks overhauled the suspension and driveline. Key upgrades include billet aluminium upper and lower control arms, reinforced axles and CV joints, and beefed-up tie-rods and sway-bar end links.
Those changes yield approximately 8 inches of wheel travel and roughly 9 inches of ground clearance, numbers that place the Elevato solidly in off-road territory while retaining usable on-road manners. Similar off-road modifications have proven effective on other luxury vehicles.
Durability features: replaceable lower body cladding, mud flaps, rock guards, and paint protection film are standard to protect the shell and finish when the car meets the elements.
Customization and Options
GlasWerks offers a wide range of customer-specified options. Buyers can tailor spring rates, choose roof-rack systems, select Inconel exhaust variants, and pick bespoke lighting and billet switchgear. The program aims to give owners a genuine choice between a comfort-oriented build and a trail-focused machine.
Every Elevato also receives protective upgrades designed for real-world use rather than show-only appearance — GlasWerks wants buyers to actually drive them off-road, much like the philosophy behind other adventurous Ferrari builds.
Who Built It — Proven Off-Road and Racing Experience
GlasWerks DMV's engineering director brings relevant, hands-on experience from Toyota Gazoo Racing Latin America and from GT3 endurance programs. Those credentials include campaigns in long-distance off-road rallies such as the demanding 24 Hours of Appalachia.
"We've spent time in the off-road luxury market and want to offer something different," said GlasWerks DMV co-founder Joshua Sroka. "Developing the first few Elevatos side-by-side has allowed us to build one car that's more comfortable and capable on worn-out paved roads or gravel, while the other sees more off-road and trail use."
Price and Availability
GlasWerks DMV lists the Elevato conversion starting at $175,000 — and that price does not include the Ferrari GTC4Lusso donor vehicle. The program is bespoke by design, with lead times and final pricing varying by specification.
Initial units debuted at the 2025 SEMA Show; interested buyers should expect a highly limited production run and opportunity for deep personalization, similar to other exclusive builds featured at this year's premier automotive events.
Technical Specifications (Summary)
GlasWerks DMV Elevato technical overview
| Specification |
Detail |
| Base vehicle |
Ferrari GTC4Lusso (V12) |
| Engine |
6.3-litre naturally aspirated V12 |
| Power |
750 hp (up from 681 hp) |
| Wheel travel |
≈8 inches |
| Ground clearance |
≈9 inches |
| Chassis mods |
Billet control arms, reinforced axles/CV joints, upgraded tie-rods |
| Protection |
Replaceable cladding, rock guards, paint protection film |
| Starting price |
$175,000 + donor car |
| Debut |
2025 SEMA Show |
Expert Take — What This Means for the Market
The Elevato is a bellwether for a broader trend: the collision of exotic-car prestige and off-road capability. Manufacturers and specialist shops are increasingly comfortable blending high-performance engineering with rugged usability, as evidenced by other luxury off-road conversions gaining traction.
For the aftermarket, GlasWerks DMV's project shows that engineering rigor — not mere styling — is required to make an exotic car function reliably off the pavement. That lesson will matter for shops and brands planning similar conversions moving forward, particularly those working with modern V12 grand tourers.
Conclusion — A Ferrari That Doesn't Fear the Mud
The GlasWerks DMV Elevato is audacious, technically impressive, and unapologetically niche. It proves that a V12 Ferrari can be engineered to tackle trails while preserving the sensory highs that make Ferraris compelling.
If you're after an exotic that can survive adventure as well as it seduces onlookers, the Elevato is a persuasive argument that the era of the true luxury off-roader has arrived — joining the ranks of other groundbreaking off-road projects that challenge conventional thinking about what performance vehicles can achieve.