Italian coachbuilding works best when you refuse to play it safe. Commit to the idea, get the proportions right, and let the design do the talking. That tradition sits 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.
Now, if you’ve been following this project closely, we first saw the original concept back in October 2024, followed by more detailed renderings in March this year of what appeared to be a car that looked nearly production-ready.
The original Runabout concept, traces back to 1969 and to Nuccio Bertone. This was of course, at the height of the wedge era of the 1960s and early ‘70s. The Runabout was a Gandini-era concept (widely considered the father of the wedge) based on modest mechanicals of the Autobianchi A112.
While that car never entered production, it influenced an entire generation of mid-engine sports cars, including the likes of the original Lamborghini Countach, the Lancia Stratos HF, and several others, essentially laying the ground-work for modern-day supercar design for decades to come.
The modern-day Runabout continues to follow Bertone’s Zero principle and uses just two defining lines. An L-shaped profile runs from the roll bar to the nose, forming a clear wedge, while a horizontal lower line adds a subtle nautical reference.
Pop-up headlights are now integrated into the body rather than perched in rear nacelles like the 1969 concept. Other design highlights include a Coda Tronca tail, round taillights, an industrial-inspired engine cover, an aluminum fuel cap, and a front S duct, all of which are functional elements.
Power comes from a mid-mounted, supercharged 3.5-liter V6 with 460 horsepower, paired to a close-ratio six-speed manual. Production will be capped at 25 units, across Riviera-friendly open-top Targa and Barchetta bodystyles.
You can see the Bertone Runabout alongside the stunning mid-engine Bertone GB110 Arancio Zero at Rétromobile Paris in January. If you’re a classic and vintage car fan, get ready for the inaugural North American edition Rétromobile, as duPont REGISTRY Group will host the event in New York at the Javits Center in November.
Images: Bertone