Bertone is the design company responsible for legendary cars such as the Lancia Stratos, Alfa Romeo Montreal and Lamborghini Countach. Or rather, it is before – 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 bought Bertone and are planning a winning return for the iconic company.
Apparently, that return to life includes the new Bertone supercar. We’d love to tell you all about it, but all we have are some teaser images pulled from the Bertone website. There, you’ll find a short video that offers a glimpse of what the mid-engine supercar looks like, featuring a short nose and a wide rear wing with clearly visible side scoops. Of course, recently new cars have been able to use electric powertrains, even if their design looks like a combustion engine.
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Absolutely no information is available about this new car. In fact, Bertone’s new website makes no mention of cars at all. We’re treated to a brief history of the company, with a brief biography of its new owner and a form to fill out for Bertone updates. You better believe we filled it in great haste.
Bertone also launched an Instagram account, sharing a few pictures from the company’s past coupled with this new, obscure machine.
Founded by Giovanni Bertone in 1912 and based in Turin, Bertone started as a railroad company. The focus shifted to automotive design in the 1920s, with Fiat and Lancia among its early successes. The postwar era saw Bertone thrive, working with many Italian brands such as Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and of course Lamborghini. Miura and Countach are products of design houses, but work is not limited to Italy. Volvo and Citroen are among Bertone’s other clients. Even the Pontiac Fiero GT has a relationship with the company.
Giovanni Bertone’s son, Nuccio, who took control of the company after World War II, died in 1997. The 2000s were not friendly to the automotive world in general, and the steady decline at Bertone led to the company’s bankruptcy in 2014. The brand was sold to Akka Technologies, with a newly formed company called Bertone Design sharing the naming rights to industrial design projects. In the end, all of them were bought by Mauro and Jean-Franck Ricci – the Ricci brothers – who had a lot of experience in the automotive industry. They are also automotive enthusiasts with a passion for Bertone history.
Will that passion help revive Bertone? We’ll be sure to watch with great interest in the months to come. Meanwhile, get the latest automotive news with a dose of witty banter in it Rambling About Cars podcast, available below.
