Bertone is the design company responsible for such legendary cars as the Lancia Stratos, Alfa Romeo Montreal and Lamborghini Countach, to name a few. Or rather, he has been – Bertone declared bankruptcy in 2014 and the brand was sold, ending more than a century of automotive design. Now things are looking up for Bertone thanks to the Ricci brothers, who recently purchased Bertone and are planning a triumphant return for the iconic company.
Apparently, this comeback includes a new Bertone supercar. We’d love to tell you all about it, but all we have are some teaser images pulled from Bertone’s website. There you’ll find a short video offering glimpses of what looks like a mid-engined supercar, with a short nose and wide rear flank with clearly visible side scoops. Of course, these days it’s possible the new car could use an electric powertrain, although the design certainly seems to house a combustion engine.
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There is absolutely no information available regarding this new car. In fact, Bertone’s new website makes no mention of a car. We are treated to a brief history of the company, with a short biography of its new owners and a form to fill out for updates from Bertone. You better believe we filled it with the utmost haste.
Bertone has also launched an Instagram account, sharing some images from the company’s past mixed in with this unknown new machine.
Founded by Giovanni Bertone in 1912 and based in Turin, Bertone began as a transport company. The focus shifted to automobile design in the 1920s, with Fiat and Lancia among its early successes. The post-war period saw Bertone flourish, working with many Italian brands like Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and of course Lamborghini. Both the Miura and the Countach were products of the design house, but the work was not limited to Italy. Volvo and Citroën were among Bertone’s many other customers. Even the Pontiac Fiero GT has a corporate connection.
Giovanni Bertone’s son Nuccio, who took over the reins of the company after World War II, died in 1997. The 2000s were not kind to the automotive field in general, and a steady decline at Bertone led to the company’s bankruptcy in 2014. The brand was being sold to Akka Technologies, with a newly formed company called Bertone Design sharing naming rights for industrial design projects. Eventually it was all bought by Mauro and Jean-Franck Ricci – the Ricci brothers – who have considerable experience in the automotive industry. They are also car enthusiasts with a passion for Bertone’s history.
Will this passion help bring Bertone back to life? We will certainly follow with great interest in the months to come. In the meantime, catch the latest automotive news with a dose of witty banter in the ride on cars podcast, available below.