Bertone, the legendary coach builders and designers behind classics like the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT Veloce, the Lamborghini Countach, the Citroën XM, and countless others, is being brought back from the dead by two brothers and has now teased a very special supercar to celebrate that revival. Founded in 1912 by Giovanni Bertone and divided into a coachbuilder and a design house by Nuccio Bertone following World War II, in 2014 the company fell on hard times and declared bankruptcy. In 2020, though, it was purchased by Jean-Franck and Mauro Ricci, who say they have more than 38 combined years of experience working with engineers, many of whom are in the automotive sector.
That comment hints at the new product the
company has started teasing in recent weeks. Still covered in shadows, the new
car marks “the dawn of a new era for contemporary Bertone.” It will also mark
an important milestone in Bertone history, as the company’s posts on Instagram
and LinkedIn suggest that the car is being designed to celebrate the 110th
anniversary of the brand.
Bertone says that the new vehicle will be
an “instant classic” and its silhouette is reminiscent of mid-engine supercars
such as the Lamborghini Huracán. Intriguingly, the brand also posted photos of
the 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo concept car. One of the wedge-shaped cars that would
come to define design in the ’70s and ’80s, it was penned by Marcello Gandini.
In an Instagram post, the company refers
to it as a “dream car” and asks “what will be Bertone’s next dream car?” While
the modern supercar teased by Bertone is far from identical to the Carabo, its
almost pixelated taillights are somewhat reminiscent of the mid-century concept
car’s checkerboard rear fascia. So far, there has been no indication as to what
kind of powertrain the new car will feature, and an official date for the
unveiling has not been set. It seems reasonable to assume that it will be
unveiled before the year is out.
