Italian coachbuilding works best when you don’t play it safe. Stay true to the idea, pay attention to the right proportions and let the design do the talking. This tradition is at the heart of the new Bertone Runabout, which will make its world debut next month at Rétromobile 2026 in Paris as the first model in the brand’s Classic Line.
If you’ve been following this project closely, we first saw the original concept in October 2024, followed by more detailed renderings in March of this year of a car that looked almost production-ready.
The original runabout concept dates back to 1969 and Nuccio Bertone. This, of course, occurred at the height of the wedge era in the 1960s and early 1970s. The Runabout was a Gandini-era concept (generally considered the father of the wedge) and was based on the humble mechanics of the Autobianchi A112.
Although this car never entered production, it influenced an entire generation of mid-engined sports cars, including the original Lamborghini Countach, the Lancia Stratos HF and several others, essentially laying the foundation for modern supercar design for decades to come.
The modern runabout continues to follow Bertone’s Zero principle and uses only two defining lines. An L-shaped profile runs from the roll bar to the nose, forming a clean wedge, while a horizontal bottom line adds a subtle nautical reference.
Pop-up headlights are now integrated into the body and are no longer located in the rear nacelles as in the 1969 concept. Other design highlights include a Coda Tronca tail, round taillights, an industrial-inspired engine cover, an aluminum gas cap and a front S-duct, all functional elements.
Power comes from a 3.5-liter supercharged mid-engine V6 engine producing 460 horsepower, paired with a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission. Production will be limited to 25 units in the Riviera-friendly open Targa and Barchetta body styles.
You can see the Bertone Runabout alongside the stunning mid-engined Bertone GB110 Arancio Zero at Rétromobile Paris in January. If you are a fan of classic and vintage cars, get ready for the first North American edition of Rétromobile as duPont REGISTRY Group will host the event in November at the Javits Center in New York.
Images: Bertone
