The name of the concept was taken from the founder Giovanni Bertone’s son, who took over the company and separated it into two divisions – one division of the company was focused on building vehicles while the other was focused on designing them for clients.

Giuseppe ‘Nuccio’ Bertone died in 1997.

Stay tuned for more details from the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

- By: Omar Rana

Lancia Stratos HF Zero

Six classic concept cars created by Italian firm Bertone for Lamborghini, Lancia and Chevrolet will be auctioned off next month on orders of a bankruptcy court. Three of the concepts represent milestones of Italian design and are excepted to be sold for a significant amount.

The 1967 Lamborghini Marzal prototype is expected to fetch around 1 million euros ($1.4 million USD). The model was driven by Prince Rainier and Princess Grace at the start of 1967 Monaco Grand Prix. The concept later influenced the Lamborghini Espada.

The Lancia Stratos HF Zero is expected to bring in 1.4 million euros ($2 million USD). the mid-engined car went into series production as the Lancia Stratos, which dominated the World Rally Championships in the 1970s.

Both of those models were designed by Marcello Gandini, who worked at Bertone from 1965 to 1980.

The third classic Concept is the Chevrolet Testudo, which was created by Giorgetto Giugiaro. The model is expected to sell between 500,000 euros ($716,499 USD) and 800,000 euros ($1,146,399 USD).

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News

Jaguar B99 Concept

Bertone and Jaguar have significant history together. The company is the only Italian designed to have penned five Jaguars and is now back with not one but two concept cars that are being shown at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

First up – the Jaguar B99 (B as in Bertone and 99 for the company’s near 100 year anniversary in 2012), a study that hints at an entry-level Jaguar that will compete with the likes of the BMW 3-Series. The Jaguar B99 Concept is a four-door sedan that measures 4.5 m long, 1.35 m tall, 1.95 m wide, 2.8 m wheelbase.

Power for the Jaguar B99 comes from a modular, extended range hybrid system which uses two 210-hp electric-motors connected to the rear axle and a lightweight thermal engine producing 165-hp giving it a combined output of 570-hp. Jaguar says that the engine charges the lithium-ion batteries while driving allowing for an estimated 435 miles. The Bertone Jaguar B99 can also travel in full electric mode for 62 miles.

Jaguar B99 GT2 Race Concept

Second up is the Jaguar B99 GT2 race version. The B99 GT2 race version carries over the components from the regular B99 but gets a wider body, Pirelli PZero race tires (325/30/19), giant front spoiler, a giant rear extractor, side spoilers, rear spoiler and the interior has been completely emptied and filled with a safety roll cage, race seats, and other things.

No word on when Jaguar plans on building a production B99 but we’re guessing this is just a hint at what we can expect from the model.

Jaguar B99 Concept:

Jaguar B99 GT2 Race Concept:

Press Release:

A historic brand in automotive. A historic signature in design. Put the two together and you get an explosive new concept car called the Jaguar B99 which Bertone presented at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

The name B99 stands for B as in Bertone and 99 for the company near 100 year anniversary in 2012, one of the oldest design companies in the world. The concept projects Jaguar’s classic style into the future with refined Bertone elegance, exploring a fascinating new form language with a “dynamic imbalance” between parallel lines and leaping forms. The result is a compact, four-door sedan (4.5 m long, 1.35 m tall, 1.95 m wide, 2.8 m wheelbase) that fits perfectly into the D segment. Starting with a classic three-volume architecture, Bertone designers have shaped the taut, muscular body with bold yet refined character, entirely constructed with handmade aluminum panels in true Italian “coachbuilder” tradition. The unique personality of the luxury sports sedan is emphasized by the sophisticated minimalism outside and in, underlining the true nature of the British authenticity where understatement equals exclusiveness.

Bertone will present not only the luxury sedan in Geneva but also a full GT2 race version, maintaining the exceptional “double soul” tradition of the Jaguar brand, adding high speed aerodynamic appendages and aggressive graphics for continued success on the race track.

In terms of technological innovation, the B99 uses a pure hybrid power system designed and developed by Bertone Energy (the newest Bertone division dedicated to renewable energy research), including a thermal engine for range extension and two electric motors which provide propulsion for the rear wheels. Bertone has been studying ecologically sustainable powertrain systems for the past twenty years, with many examples including full-electric “extreme” concept cars like the 1992 Blitz or 1994 Zer record car, which was the first full-electric car to break the 300 km/h speed barrier in the world.

With the 2011 Bertone Jaguar B99 concept car, Bertone establishes a new record in its 99 year history as the only Italian designer to have created five different Jaguars. The previous models are the 1957 XK 150, produced in a limited edition of four copies, the 1966 Jaguar FT concept car, the 1967 Jaguar Pirana, and 1977 Jaguar Ascot.

“Britishness”: a Jaguar at heart

Start from the brand. This is the concept that Mike Robinson, Bertone Brand & Design Director, gives his design team for every project. As an outside design source Bertone must do a lot of catching up on what in-house designers take for granted: a deep knowledge of what their brand was, is, and will be. So Robinsons’ team began in late October 2010 with a pre-sketch research program called: “From Cats to Cars”, exploring all the possible analogies coming from this spectacular feline from Central and South America. In fact ancient Aztecs and Mayans worshipped this noble predator for its cunning tactics and sheer power, calling it “Jaguar”, meaning “he who kills with one leap”.

These big cats can reach 160kgs and are very stocky with powerful but short legs designed specifically for a silent, “stalk and ambush” approach to hunting, sneaking slowly through the bushes low to the ground until their powerful pounce concludes the hunt. This stealth or silent approach to hunting is very different from other large feline species who run down their prey with long agile legs like the Cheetah. The Jaguar has an oversized head with an exceptionally powerful jaw capable of crushing skulls.

Today the modern symbol of the Jaguar automobile manufacturer brand is the infamous “leaper”, a chrome image which poises the elegant animal in a powerful jump forward with all the weight centered on the rear hips projecting the enormous cat forward with lightning fast speed. The big head is stretched out ready to grab the un-expecting prey. This icon has conditioned Jaguar car design for decades and continues to weigh strongly on the overall balance and proportions of Jaguar automobiles past, present, and future. Unlike other high performance sports cars, Jaguars are designed for “wofting” or floating down the boulevard in silent grace.

So every Jaguar must be smooth and silent and lightning fast, yet still a most elegant and noble automobile. The visual metaphors between the animal the company name represents, the logo, and the milestone cars from the past are extremely important for our understanding of the Jaguar brand. An old Jaguar slogan was: “Grace, Space, & Pace”. Bertone research for the Jaguar B99 concept could be summed up in: “Cunning Glamour with Race-Bred Innovation.”

Dynamic Imbalance

The first thing that strikes the observer about the Bertone Jaguar B99 concept car is not a high tail – low nose wedge shape like most modern sport sedans. In fact the traditional three volume architecture has headlights and taillights that are roughly the same height from the ground. The beltline and the rocker panel are perfectly parallel. Still, the cars’ form language is all but horizontal. The muscles on the B99 are tight, like a sprinter seconds before the gun shot, or a jaguar ready to pounce. In fact the bodyside seems like it is leaping forward. This contrast between “linear and leaping” is the secret of “dynamic imbalance”, the evolutionary trend which suggests a possible Jaguar design language of the future.

The front end starts with the forward leaning Jaguar grille which now looks down on the road showing the “British confidence” Jaguars have always had. The angle of the grill is likened to a slingshot, which naturally tends to angle forward in order to counterbalance the tension of the powerful payload about to be launched. This tension visually extends the hood, and when combined with the high position of the headlights, gives the B99 front end a superior stance from any angle, hinting at classic Jaguar grilles from the past without renouncing the modernity and the glamour of its futuristic luxury, conveying a feeling of motion and agility.

Above the grille we have replaced the classic leaping jaguar . Thanks to advanced technology, motion sensors anticipate the vicinity of any object (or person) that comes close and electric motors will pull it down under the level of the hood in a fraction of a second (think airbag deployment speed) before any damage can be done to the pedestrian.

The body side of the car is characterized by an extremely long wheelbase (2.8m) with a classic short front overhang and a long rear one. The traditional three volume greenhouse has been shortened (about 75% of the wheelbase). and lowered, now seems to be sunken down into the body, like a Jaguar stalking its prey, offering an extremely modern glass-to-mass relationship. Another demonstration of “dynamic imbalance” which transmits both mystery and glamour. The Bertone Jaguar B99 concept has the visual center of gravity placed “on” the rear wheel, where the C pillar meets the body and where the powerful hip muscle launches the car forward towards the front grille. Rear view mirrors are futuristic, ultra-thin chrome wings with tiny video cameras that protrude out from the beltline trim molding.

The extra wide stance seen from the rear end is especially important in a car with so much plan view taper. The powerful hips are poised and ready to pounce, demonstrating the silent power the car exudes. The rear grille is very similar to the front grille, with the same floating gloss black insert which carries the round Jaguar logo, but without the chrome frame. The same high, horizontal taillights float out sideways from the rear grille, again accentuating the exceptional width of the vehicle. The wide center exhaust pipe is a reminder that the hybrid vehicle has a thermal engine for extended range capable of bringing the best of both worlds, low pollution with hair-raising performance. The active aerodynamics in the Bertone Jaguar B99 concept is visible in the rear spoiler which automatically rises at high speeds for extra downforce and reduced air turbulence. At lower speeds it simply disappears back into the trunklid.

Interior design: refined minimalism

The pillar less doors open in opposing directions and offer a large, luxurious welcome for all who desire to enter. The deep, dark brown interior is rich in two-tone leather, one with an extra opaque, big grain finish and the other with a pearl, semi-gloss, small grain finish. This dark, luxurious ambient is offset with bright accents in both brushed aluminum and high gloss wood which generate a hidden richness throughout the interior.

Jaguars are typically very individualistic sports cars which privilege driver needs with a dynamic living space. While other luxury sedans are rear passenger oriented Jaguars are definitely driver oriented, with a “you can come too” attitude for passengers. This hand crafted cockpit has a “built up” look using prestigious materials wherever you look, touch or smell, taking perceived quality to higher levels. The relaxing yet responsive environment transforms beautiful forms into high performance controls before your very eyes at a single touch. “Surprise and Delight” are part of the Jaguar DNA.

Once seated the first component that strikes the eye is the wide, horizontal instrument panel which has an elegant, wrap-over, concert piano feeling, with lacquered Ebony Macasar African wood completely framed in a discreet brushed aluminum frame which carries the Jaguar signature in the center. The built-up look adds layers of components to formulate an overall living space which is an extension of both the wealthy home and the business office. The lack of visual noise is a modern way of redefining luxury, putting pure, refined form and materials above all the flashy high-tech buttons that fill most luxury car interiors today. According to our “Cats-to-Cars” research, the very nature of the powerful Jaguar cat is based on its silent approach to hunting, where “less is more”, total silence avoids any form of advanced warning until the lightning fast leap attack. So true modern exclusiveness in a Jaguar comes from the lack of visual noise.

As mentioned above, another classic characteristic of modern Jaguars is the “surprise and delight” feature which hides almost everything only to reveal the functions at finger-tip touch. This aspect allows the driver the pleasure of demonstrating to both friends and business colleagues Jaguars’ “hidden riches” and purity of idea. The large central infotainment screen is hidden behind the continuous wood panel which stretches across the entire instrument panel so as to maintain the purity of form and materials when not in use. The same is true for the ultra-slim horizontal air registers which are hidden deep in the shadows between the floating “wing” and the main body of the fascia, covering the entire area from A pillar to A pillar, virtually unnoticed.

The instruments are all found in four, classic aluminum cylinders which also float between the “wing” and the fascia. Each cylinder is filled with a ceramic white trumpet shaped analog dial with hidden numbers, transforming traditional 2D dials into innovative tridimensional, backlit sculptures which magically come to life when the start button is pushed. The gear shift lever is a similar mechanism which has the same cylindrical trumpet shape in ceramic white that comes up out of the center console at a touch of the finger. Externally the mechanism serves as an automatic transmission gear shifter but internally serves a mouse command for the hidden infotainment system. When touched, the floating front arm rest on the center console moves forward and upward into an inclined plane, creating a visual bridge between the wide longitudinal tunnel and the wide horizontal fascia.

The door panels are designed with an innovative, wood insert with an elegant sculptural motif based on the “ripples on a lake”. The floating arm rests found on all four door panels are the same as those found on the center console. Each arm rest has window lift switches and the driver’s door has a multi-function Drive mechanism which disappears when not in use. Rear passengers can take advantage of the floating arm rest which continues up and over the top of the rear center console. This beautifully detailed piece of modern furniture not only acts as a multi-purpose arm rest but also slides out to hold two Champaign bottles in a refrigerated compartment.

Technology: clean power

“Performance through innovation” is one of Jaguars slogans, and today more than ever powerful sports cars must find new responsible ways to offer both high performance and ecological sustainability. The Bertone Jaguar B99 concept is powered by a modular, Extended Range Hybrid system which futuristic utilizes twin 150kW (204 Cv) electric engines connected to the inboard side of the rear axle for propulsion and a lightweight 1.400 cm3 thermal engine producing 125 kW-170 Cv for range extension, giving a combined power output of 425 kW or 570 Cv. The thermal engine charges the Lithium-ion batteries while driving allowing for a theoretical range of 700 kilometers of highway driving between fill-ups with a carbon dioxide output of around 30 g Co2/km. The Bertone Jaguar B99 concept can also travel in full electric mode offering zero emissions for 100kms.

Jaguar B99 GT: Mr. Hyde

Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Dr Jeckyll and My Hyde” novel helps us all understand how great paradoxes can coexist inside the human soul. Jaguar has thrived on such a powerful duality for decades, combining the subtleties of exclusive luxury cars perfectly suited to red carpet evenings and the predator-like brute force of the full race cars perfectly suited to 24 hour race track punishment. For this reason Bertone has decided to transform the elegant B99 luxury sedan into a GT race track monster.

The carryover components of the original sedan (front doors, greenhouse, hood and trunk) are very obvious but the 2.5 meter wide body leaves no doubt, the race version is just as wild as every Jaguar in the jungle, ready to eat the competition alive. The overall height car has been lowered 100mm compared to the street version, and has been given a mere 50mm ground clearance along with a perfectly flat belly for aerodynamic efficiency. The Pirelli PZero race tires are 325/30/19. The giant front spoiler pulls in the cooling air while the giant rear extractor returns it. The side spoilers are filled with giant exhaust side pipes. The rear spoiler is a traditional bi-level race spoiler. The interior has been completely emptied and filled with a safety roll cage, a full race drivers seat and a few minimalist instruments. The graphics are in bright fluorescent green in contrast with the silver body and the carbon fiber aerodynamics components.

In order to meet the demanding performance requirements on the track, the modular “pure” hybrid system in the B99 has been modified to include two additional Lucchi electric engines for a four-wheel drive layout producing the equivalent of 725 kW, around 980Cv. Now the Jaguar racing dynasty has a new member, the B99 GT.

Bertone designed Jaguars of the past

As the only Italian designer to penned five Jaguars, over and above the two concept cars presented this year at the Geneva Auto Show, Bertone has a long history of collaboration with the elitist British brand:

Jaguar XK 150 – 1957: produced in a mini-series of four automobiles, this coupé was based on the XK 150 and was inspired by subtle elegance. The bodyside was characterized by sculpted lines coming from the front fender, the greenhouse was shortened but was also very light and airy, almost a classic Bertone signature at the time.

Jaguar FT – 1966: designed as a direct request from Jaguar, the FT was based on the S Type platform and was presented at the 1966 Geneva Auto Show. The four passenger, two door coupé was a very popular layout at the time and was interpreted with a low beltline, wide side glass and an original Jaguar grille with four headlights.

Jaguar Pirana – 1967: based on the legendary E Type, the Jaguar Pirana was presented at the 1967 London Motor Show. The unmistakable proportions of the E Type led to what was considered a futuristic design at the time, with long hood, a short tail and muscled bodyside.

Jaguar Ascot – 1977: based on the XJ-S platform with a V12 engine, the Jaguar Ascot was presented at the 1977 Geneva Auto Show. Typical 70s wedge shaped design with hard edges gave a sneak preview to the modern day 5 door coupés which became so popular some 30 years later.

- By: Omar Rana

Alongside the Pininfarina Alfa Romeo 2uettottanta Concept, Bertone displayed its new Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept, “an aggressive yet beautiful coupé designed as a tribute to Alfa Romeos’ one hundred year anniversary.”

The Alfa Romeo Pandion is the first car designed by Mike Robinson in his new role as Design and Brand Director at Bertone – and we have to say – it’s a job well done.

The compact sports car concept (4620 mm in length, 1971 mm wide, 1230 mm high, 2850 mm wheelbase) is powered by an Alfa Romeo 4.7L V8 making 450-hp and 346 lb-ft of torque.

Alfa Romeo Pandion Concept:

Press Release:

PANDION

A DREAM ALFA ROMEO BY BERTONE

- The Pandion: a summary

After a two year absence from the international scene, Bertone returns to the Geneva Motor Show, unveiling a concept car that makes its world premiere here: the Pandion, an aggressive yet beautiful coupé designed as a tribute to Alfa Romeos’ one hundred year anniversary.

The Pandion: an extreme and controversial sports car in typical Bertone fashion. The size of the concept car (4620 mm in length, 1971 mm wide, 1230 mm high, 2850 mm wheelbase) offers a compact sports car external dimensions with a large sports car interior feeling, all powered by a 4.7 litre, 450 CV 8-cylinder Alfa Romeo engine.

The Pandion is the first car produced by Mike Robinson in his new role as Design and Brand Director at Bertone. A pure “˜dream car’, the Pandion takes its rightful place as a member of Bertone’s historic Alfa Romeo family: cars that have always been style icons, influencing the history of the automobile and Italian craftsmanship in their excellent design quality, proving themselves to be undisputed benchmarks for the entire world of car design.

The name comes from the animal world, as Pandion Haliaetus is the scientific name for an Osprey: a sea hawk that nests and lives in coastal areas. The designers, led by Mike Robinson, have drawn inspiration from the wings of this predator to invent the spectacular door opening mechanisms, and from the hawks’ facial markings to project the traditional Alfa family feeling into the next era of design.

In almost a century of Bertone tradition, it is not the first time that natural wonders have inspired the names of concept cars. Just think of the Corvair Testudo (1963) and, by no coincidence, the Alfa Romeo Canguro (1964), Carabo (1968) and Delfino (1983).

- Design: the initial concept

The Pandion’s taut and muscular body is the result of an original interpretation of the Alfa Romeo badge, where the man-eating snake depicted there represents the attraction of elegance (what we call the “˜Skin’), and the aristocratic cross symbolises the rigour of rational thought, the technological aspect (what we call the “˜Frame’). According to this interpretation, the Pandion’s design is, like every Alfa Romeo, a perfect synthesis between “˜Skin and Frame’, an ideal balance resulting from a tension between opposites: technology and sensuality, rationality and instinct, architecture and sculpture, structuralism and organicism, industrial excellence and excellent craftsmanship.

The design of the Pandion is based on a concept Robinson calls: “Skin & Frame” – a new interpretation of the inherent duality in the 100 year old Alfa Romeo logo. “Skin” refers to the snake in the logo, representing the world renowned Italian excellence in beautiful, seductive forms; and “Frame” refers to the cross in the logo, representing the mechanical excellence in high performance Italian race cars. The combination of the two has now become a dynamic dial searching for an ideal balance resulting from the tension between opposites: technology and sensuality, rational and emotional, architectural layout and sculptural form, structural and organic, industrial excellence and artisan excellence.

According to this interpretation, the vibrant energy in every Alfa Romeo is represented by Pandions’ spinal structure (or “˜Frame’), which crosses the length of the car from the V-shaped grille in the nose of the car to the V-shaped bumper in the tail of the car, crossing the interior as a visually aesthetic structural element which supports the surrounding shell (or “˜Skin’).

- Design: details that count

The Pandion’s front end features a long and sculpted sloping bonnet that creates what is, to all intents and purposes, a mask, almost like the helmets worn by ancient warriors. The Alfa Romeo “˜family feeling’, immediately recognizable at first glance, does not admit even a hint of retro nostalgia and looks to the future with a revolutionary and novel elegance. There is no doubt it’s an Alfa Romeo with a look that has never been seen heretofore. The typical Alfa quad headlights are buried deep in the outer-most tips of the T-shaped grille, highlighting the wide stance of the impressive coupé. Four white bars of light strike the observers’ curiosity, two position lights above and two fog lights below, creating a virtual bi-plane of light at night. The typical five horizontal bars on every Alfa Romeo radiator grille are just visible here, offering a reference to the marque’s historic identity. The front grille is full of thousands of tiny intertwined blades which contribute to the new Algorithmic Design throughout the car.

The Pandion has the profile of a true sports car, with no room for compromise. The architectural layout is “˜cab rearward’, meaning the passenger compartment is positioned towards the rear of the car and the long bonnet pushes the car’s visual centre rearward. The body side visually connects the sensuous front end with the razor-edged rear by means of an extremely long flowing side window which stretches from front wheel arch to rear, enhancing the excellent accessibility of this low-bodied sports coupé. Since sports cars are traditionally difficult to get in and out of, this important ergonomic activity has been facilitated with an extra wide door opening to make up for the low roofline. This new graphic formula not only adds a striking new visual division between the upper and lower parts of the body, but it also offers an incredible panorama window for passengers inside. The strong diagonal dark-light division in the rear of the side view accentuates the powerful rear wheel drive layout and draws special attention to the hidden door opening mechanism.

The rear end features a striking array of crystal-like blades which are intertwined in various widths and lengths, protruding out into space. The rear of the car in fact has a disembodied or “pixilated” look, representing a tail-of-the-comet metaphor, as if the sheer speed of the vehicle is pulling the underlying, technical “Frame” rearward, away from the sensuous, flowing “Skin” above. This “dematerialization” phenomenon of the car is generated by the intrinsic motion of the form, which means the car looks like it is moving even when it is standing still.

There are also two small fixed white shields below the rear bumper which hold the quad tailpipes, creating a visual continuation of the white side panels which seem to wrap around under the car.

The taillights are fully integrated into the organic tangle of the blades and disappear when turned off. The new Alfa Romeo family feeling is again visible in the rear of the car with same V-shaped bumper found on the front of the vehicle, which the travels the entire length of the body, forming a powerful virtual, Alfa Romeo backbone.

The doors, as in many other Bertone-designed masterpieces (such as the 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo, the 1970 Lancia Stratos 0, the 1972 Lamborghini Countach, and the

2007 Fiat Barchetta), open in a visually striking manner. Virtually hinged around the axis of the rear wheel, the Pandion doors open by rotating backwards, ending up a perfect 90 degrees above the center of the rear wheel, lifting up the entire body side of the vehicle, from the front fender to the rear fender. When fully open they are more than 3.6 metres high. This spectacular solution is design mainly for glamour, bringing back the “wow” factor to today’s lackluster automotive industry. This futuristic door mechanism also has a pragmatic side as well. Since all “˜extreme’ sports cars are literally impossible to get in and out of, the Pandion is designed to utilize the horizontal space in the car since the vertical space is so limited.

In the event of an accident that results in a “˜roll-over’, the doors detach from the car body so that the passengers can exit of the car.

- The interior: minimalist glamour

The shapes that make the Pandion spring to life are the result of a design study aimed at creating an organic whole, without resorting to short-cuts to ensure continuity between the interior and exterior, a perfect balance between architectural rigour and the spectacular shapes of living organisms.

The design language used to create the passenger compartment has resulted in a fluid environment, due to the fittings that seem to have grown spontaneously, without ever having been either designed or constructed. We have named this expressive code, never seen before in the automotive sector until today, algorithmic design. The concept, taken from the world of mathematics, indicates an organic alternative to traditional design and is the “˜propagation of random forms’. It is as if the design were following a kind of complex development which is neither linear nor geometric, generating an “˜auto-organising’ shape, with the “˜spontaneous growth’ of algorithms such as “˜swarms’ or “˜vines’.

When observing the interior of the Pandion, the first things that draw our attention are the front seats. The car’s layout is typical of Alfa Romeo coupés, i.e. 2+2. While the two rear seats are the classic “˜extra spaces’, the front seats are two incredibly thin (30 mm) ergonomic chaise longue chairs. They have carbon fiber shells (that mimic the style of the car’s exoskeleton or “˜skin’) covered in Technogel® and backlit with reLIGHT® fabric, that conforms to the shape of the driver’s or passenger’s body. The principle that inspired the designers was that of “˜zero gravity’, i.e. a warm and welcoming environment that would convey a sensation of enhanced quality of life inside at first sight, but… with zero gravity.

In fact, all the furnishings inside the passenger compartment all tend to float visually, suspended in the magic of the blue light. Behind these minimalist choices however lies a careful study of ergonomics: the seats are the result of a perfect synthesis between high performance, flexibility and lightness. The clear floor is illuminated in the same “swimming pool blue” color of the seats, offering a spectacular visual continuation of the voluptuous seats, with its’ flowing contours where the driver and passenger can feel protected in a truly glamorous shell.

The steering wheel is clearly that of a sports car, while the controls are similar to those of Alfa Romeo race cars, with two analogue dials placed directly on the steering column. Three of the four LCD screens offer a rear view inside the passenger compartment (two on the sides, one on the windscreen) and they are directly connected to the external video cameras that substitute the rear view mirrors normally placed outside the car. The larger screen placed in the centre (9″), in the middle of the console – and within reach of the passenger as well as the driver – also displays information on the car’s systems (air conditioning, sound systems, Sat Nav, etc…).

- Conclusion

“˜We are walking in the footprints of giants.’ That is the Bertone company motto. The giants referred to are Giovanni and Nuccio Bertone. However, following in their footsteps does not mean copying them, on the contrary. It means applying their teachings and using them as guidelines for further advances. We ask our designers to follow a total creative method, where they observe phenomena that are apparently unrelated to each other and try to apply them to the automotive world.

However design research is not enough. At Bertone we study concepts, and therefore each design is the result or a spinoff of an innovative idea or a new phenomenon. Mike Robinson, Design & Brand Director at Bertone, comments: “˜Cars are like films: they must tell a story to win people over. The best car designers are necessarily excellent narrators and their products, whether they are concept cars or mass-produced products, reflect their creators’ ability to gather fascinating ideas from every field, from all over the world, to bring them together and transform them into new and great stories. This is what we have attempted to do with the Alfa Pandion.’

- By: Kap Shah

As noted earlier this year, Alfa Romeo will show three concept vehicles at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show that will hint at a future model for the brand. Following Pininfarina’s Spider Concept seen last week, Stile Bertone this week released its teaser of their concept.

The third concept will come Italdesign Giugiaro.

We’ll have more details when the concepts make their official debut in Geneva.

- By: Kap Shah

Last month, Fiat won approval to purchase Carrozzeria Bertone. The automaker will now use the Bertone plant in Italy to build Chryslers, according to Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne.

Marchionne said that Chrysler’s new 5-year post bankruptcy business plan will be released in November, reports Automotive News. He declined to reveal which Chrysler vehicles will be built at the plant in Grugliasco.

Sources say that the factory will resume production in late 2011 and will produce the replacement for the European version of the Chrysler 300C. The sedan is scheduled to launch in the U.S. in early 2011.

- By: Stephen Calogera

Fiat SpA’s bid for Carrozzeria Bertone was approved Thursday by the Italian government. Fiat won against other bidders including entrepreneurs Gianmario Rossignolo and Domenico Reviglio, Chinese automaker FAW Group Corp. and an unnamed Spanish group.

The Italian automaker will now invest $215.9 million (150 million euros) over three years in the coach-builder that has produced models ranging from the Lamborghini Miura to the Volkswagen Polo.

Fiat and Chrysler Group’s CEO Sergio Marchionne said that he is interested in Bertone’s plant in Turin, Italy. He said that the plant will be retooled to produce niche vehicles. No details about the niche models were given besides that Fiat will sell them in Europe and North America.

Previous reports from Italy have stated that Fiat will use the Bertone plant to make convertibles and large sedans in 2011.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoWeek

It was reported last week that Fiat has made a non-binding offer to buy struggling Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Bertone. According to AutoCar, Fiat has no interest in saving the Bertone name or history.

“We are not interested in the Bertone brand or company, only in the Grugliasco production facility and workforce,” a Fiat spokesman said.

Fiat and Bertone have previously worked together on numerous projects. The latest concept by the two was the Fiat Barchetta Bertone (pictured above) – an open-topped, two-seater sports car that evokes design of Italian racing cars of the 1950s.

Other bidders for Bertone include entrepreneurs Gianmario Rossignolo and Domenico Reviglio, Chinese automaker FAW Group Corp. and an unnamed Spanish group.

Italian bankruptcy court administrators plan to name the winning bidder by the end of the month.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoCar

Fiat SpA has confirmed that it is making a non-binding offer to buy struggling Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Bertone, which is currently headed by Lilli Bertone, widow of Nuccio Bertone, the co-founder. Other bidders include entrepreneurs Gianmario Rossignolo and Domenico Reviglio, Chinese automaker FAW Group Corp. and an unnamed Spanish group.

Italian bankruptcy court administrators plan to name the winning bidder by the end of the month – with a deadline to make bids set for July 16, reports Automotive News.

Fiat did not say what it plans to do with Bertone’s Turin factory, which has an annual capacity of 70,000 units with two shifts. Bertone has the capacity to build 100,000 units with three shifts.

- By: Stephen Calogera

Remember the Bertone Mantide? Yes – that insane looking car based on the Corvette ZR1. Well, it seems like owner Dan Watkins wants to take his Mantide to the Nurburgring and pin it up against the 7:26.4 Nurburgring lap time of the Corvette ZR1 itself.

According to Jason Castriota, Bertone’s chief designer, Watkins is really excited to take his new supercar to the Nurburgring.

“It has been a dream of mine from the outset of this project,” Jason told PistonHeads. ”The logistics are not easy, as we’ll need to hire a professional driver – somebody who’s truly a Nurburgring expert like Stefan Roser – and then get the circuit closed for a few days.”

The Bertone Mantide is powered by an LS9 engine making a total of 638-hp, which allows for a 0 to 62 mph time of just 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 217 mph.

Bertone Mantide:

- By: Stephen Calogera

Source: PistonHeads

It will obviously set you aside from the crowd and will definitely turn heads when you drive it down the street. However, the Bertone Mantide will cost you a whopping $2 million according to creator Jason Castriota. Who’s going to by a $2 million car that has the underpinnings of the Corvette ZR1 when they can just go for the $104,920 Corvette ZR1 itself?

“The project has an anonymous benefactor, but it is in fact for sale either as a singular example, or with the possibility of building an extremely limited series,” Castriota said in an e-mail message to the Wheels blog of New York Times.

He said that Bertone may build only three or five units of the Mantide, though it “would not rule out producing as many as 10.”

The Bertone Mantide is powered by an LS9 engine making a total of 638-hp, which allows for a 0 to 62 mph time of just 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 217 mph.

Make the jump for the high-res image gallery.

Bertone Mantide:

- By: Kap Shah

Source: Wheels

Stile Bertone has finally revealed his Project M car as the one-off Betrone Mantide.

The Bertone Mantide features the underpinnings of the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 wrapped in radical Stile Bertone aerospace inspired design.

The LS9 engine gives the Mantide a total 638-hp. However, with a significant drop in weight with carbon fiber body panels, interior trim, seats and even the wheels, the Mantide promises better performance than the ZR1 itself. 0 to 62 mph is said to come in just 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 217 mph.

You can check out the video, high-res images and the press release after the jump.

Bertone Mantide:

Bertone Mantide Video:

Press Release:

Stile Bertone is proud to present the ULTRA HIGH PERFORMANCE one-off MANTIDE.

Few, if any, automobiles have been as awe-inspiring as the show-stopping prototypes and “fuori serie” cars designed by Stile Bertone – the Alfa Romeo Carabo, the Lancia Stratos Zero and the Lamborghini LP500 prototype to name just a few

TRADITION

Stile Bertone has a long history of creating one-off prototypes based on the mechanicals of Chevrolet’s sporting automobiles spanning over 50 years. Today, Stile Bertone is proud to utilize the mechanicals of the formidable 2009 Corvette ZR1. Employing know-how from the Le Mans winning Corvette C5R, the ZR1 is the greatest all-round performance car in the world, the undisputed “King of the Ring”, posting the fastest ever lap time for a true production car at 7:26:4 seconds on the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany, long considered the benchmark for a car’s true performance. Mantide has been designed and fully engineered in collaboration with the renowned Danisi Engineering and aims to be the world’s greatest street legal performance car, wrapped in an iconic and radical Stile Bertone design.

Mantide’s futuristic design draws equal inspiration from modern aerospace and the world of Formula One. The iconic theme is clear to see: a teardrop-like fuselage which tightly encases the mechanicals and the passenger cell which is embraced by two prominent wrapping aerodynamic appendages. While shockingly bold and technical, Mantide’s unique design maintains a sensuality unique to Italian sports cars thanks to a futuristic interpretation of the classic Kamm Back two volume silhouette.

The aerospace inspired design aesthetic is further characterised by innovative yet beautiful forms which are fully driven by performance: the low-slung nose, jet fighter style teardrop canopy and butterfly opening doors, as well as the numerous air inlets and exhausts for maximum air efficiency.

Mantide also boasts cutting edge aerodynamic performance fine-tuned in an advanced full scale wind tunnel. Features include a Le Mans prototype-derived flat floor and diffuser as well as “flying buttresses” which help to increase aero efficiency, guarantee a lower drag coefficient and greater levels of down force. The final aerodynamic results are class leading, with drag reduced by 25% (Cd 0.298) and a 30% improvement in down force. The Mantide not only delivers greater speed and stability, but also more efficiency and therefore lower fuel consumption.

The Mantide promises even greater performance than the ZR1, due to significant weight savings and its highly advanced aerodynamics. Using carbon fibre for all body panels, interior trim, seats and even the wheels, the overall vehicle weight has been reduced by 100 kilos. The result is a staggering 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 351 kph (217mph) Safety and chassis rigidity have been increased with the incorporation of an FIA regulation triangulated roll cage, light-weight carbon fibre racing seats and 4pt racing harness for track use.

Stile Bertone invites you to follow Mantide on its year-long journey as it travels to major auto events around the globe at www.insideprojectm.com

By: Kap Shah

Source: Bertone (via Jalopnik)