The Petrolhead Corner: The Bertone Runabout

• Gandini’s edge
• Autobianchi A112 runabout
• Barchetta or Targa

Few design establishments have left such a long-lasting mark on automotive design than Bertone. Simply going by the studio’s palmares reveals some absolute masterpieces. The Alfa Romeo B.A.T. series, the Lamborghini Marzal, and the Lancia Stratos Zero, for example. And people are simply design research, idea vehicles that will affect manufacturing vehicles additional down the street. Bertone was the mastermind behind the Lamborghini Miura and Countach, the Alfa Romeo Montreal, the Fiat 131 Abarth, the Iso Grifo, and so forth. On the extra mundane, down-to-earth aspect of issues, the Italian agency has additionally penned the Opel/Vauxhall Astra G-series coupe and convertible. Now although, after greater than half a century, certainly one of their extra placing idea vehicles is getting into manufacturing, albeit in low numbers. That is the 2026 Bertone Runabout, a delightfully restyled blast from the previous!

The Bertone studio was based as Carrozzeria Bertone, a coach-building firm, in 1912 by Giovanni Bertone. Shortly after the top of the Second World Warfare, his son Nuccio Bertone took over management of the corporate, and break up actions into Carrozzeria for manufacturing functions, and Stile Bertone for styling workouts. The corporate had an extended and illustrious run of automotive design success, with many iconic vehicles stemming from the studio, nevertheless it wasn’t to final. In 2014 the corporate went bust and was dismantled into a number of actions. The present house owners, brothers Mauro and Jean-Franck Ricci introduced that the Bertone identify can be used for a sequence of limited-edition automobiles. The primary venture was the GB110, unveiled in 2022 and primarily a re-bodied Lamborghini Huracán with a 1,109bhp twin-turbo V10 within the rear. The Runabout is the second, kicking off the Bertone Traditional sequence, which goals to convey again a few of the design home’s best designs.

Gandini’s edge

Now, it should be stated that the design home answerable for a lot of the aforementioned vehicles is Bertone, however the man who truly penned most of them when working there may be Marcello Gandini. Sadly passing away earlier this yr, Gandini is broadly thought to be one of the crucial influential automobile designers in historical past, usually redefining type and introducing new ideas and views to the sphere.

The Lancia Stratos Zero idea automobile

The Lancia Stratos Zero idea automobile

His work is usually characterised by sharp traces and edgy contours. However the place most consideration would possibly go to the drop-dead gorgeous Miura, the mighty Countach or the radical Lancia Stratos Zero, Gandini didn’t restrict himself to exotics. He’s additionally penned the Citroën BX, the Innocenti Mini, the first-generation Volkswagen Polo, and the second-generation Renault 5 ‘Supercinq’ (though not working for Bertone when he designed it). And sure, as you’ve in all probability guessed by now, the unique Runabout can also be certainly one of his creations.

Autobianchi A112 runabout

The lineage of this ‘new’ Bertone Runabout begins with the Autobianchi A112, the compact Italian different to the Mini. It’s laborious to think about the boxy compact being the stepping stone to the Runabout, nevertheless it was fully overhauled and altered to turn into the small open-top two-seater. As an example, the engine can be positioned within the again and was mounted transversal, much like the Miura that Bertone/Gandini designed simply a few years earlier.

The Autobianchi A112 Runabout made its public debut in the course of the 1969 Turin Auto Present. The design was impressed by racing boats of the Sixties, leading to a pointy wedge-shaped design with a comparatively lengthy overhang up entrance, and a brief cut-off tail part. The entrance part of the automobile is barely taller than the entrance wheels, and the profile was break up by a tapering maroon centre line. Flaired wheel arches, low-level wind deflector a forward-angled roll hoop and pronounced nacelle headlights end off the placing design. Getting in was a matter of merely stepping over the bodywork, because it featured a door-less development.

Though it was named A112, the Runabout wouldn’t use the A112s engine however as a substitute was fitted with a Fiat 1.1 litre straight-four engine with about 55 horsepower. That doesn’t sound overly spectacular, however the Runabout didn’t put a lot on the size, because it weighed significantly lower than a metric ton. Though I couldn’t affirm the automobile’s precise weight, the A112 it was based mostly on weighed simply 670kgs, which put issues in perspective. Enjoyable truth, the A112 Runabout would function the blueprint for Fiat’s compact X1/9 sports activities coupe that was launched in 1972!

Barchetta or Targa

Quick ahead to 2024, and we’re completely satisfied to report that the quirky little Runabout is lastly getting into manufacturing, albeit in low volumes and at a substantial worth. And a large energy enhance by the best way, because it’s not powered by an inline-4! However I’m getting forward of myself. Whereas the unique Autobianchi A112 Runabout was a pure Barchetta, which means ‘little boat’ in Italian, the brand new Bertone Runabout comes within the type of a Barchetta or a Targa. Every proprietor could have the choice of preserving it near the roofless unique, or to incorporate a bigger windshield and a roof construction with detachable panels.

The general design is up to date from the 1969 idea automobile, which suggests the nacelle lights have sadly been sacrificed. I doubt EU regulators can be pleased with these, so it was to be anticipated. As a substitute, the Runabout now options an LED strip built-in into the purple accent line up entrance, and pop-up headlights on prime.

The roll hoop has been smoothed out and built-in into the physique a bit extra. And the place the unique featured zero doorways, the Bertone Runabout has grown a pair, which makes issues much more sensible in on a regular basis life. Particulars such because the air consumption in entrance of the rear wheels, the vertical slats within the rocker panel and the quick cut-off rear deck are nonetheless there although.

Beneath the engine cowl, there’s a rear-mounted V6 pumping out 500 horsepower. There’s no phrase on engine capability or the place it even comes from in the intervening time, nevertheless it’s stated to “protect the character of a nimble, light-footed driving machine”. Simply two folks can benefit from the expertise of operating about within the Runabout directly, taking a seat within the purple and gray leather-clad inside. Manufacturing is scheduled to begin in 2026, and the costs for the Bertone Runabout begin at EUR 350,000.

For extra data, please go to Bertone.it.

Editorial Be aware: The knowledge used and pictures sourced for this text are offered by and used with the permission of Bertone until acknowledged in any other case.