Bertone is a global top Italian automotive design company, founded in Turin in 1912 by Giovanni Bertone. As one of the world's top three automotive design firms, Bertone is known for its radical and avant-garde style. It not only created legendary supercars like the Lamborghini Miura and Countach, but also cultivated design masters such as Giorgetto Giugiaro and Marcello Gandini. In the history of automotive design, the name Bertone itself is synonymous with avant-garde and perfection. After entering the 21st century, having undergone bankruptcy reorganization and multiple ownership changes, the brand completely transformed into a self-operated supercar manufacturer in the 2020s. It successively launched two ultra-limited models, the GB110 and Runabout, from 2025 to 2026, returning from behind-the-scenes design to the spotlight.
In 1912, Giovanni Bertone founded Carrozzeria Bertone in Turin. Starting early with carriage repair and bodywork manufacturing, it quickly transformed with Italy's growing automotive industry demand. It gradually cooperated with brands such as Fiat, Lancia, etc., to build high-quality custom bodies. Starting in the 1920s, Bertone began designing bodies for brands such as Alfa Romeo, thereby establishing its position as a top Italian body manufacturer.
In the 1950s, after second-generation head Giuseppe "Nuccio" Bertone fully took over, the company entered its peak period. It was under his leadership that Bertone established its bold and avant-garde 'Sci-Fi' design style—while paying attention to styling, functional practicality was subordinate to strong visual impact.In 1953, the Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 5 concept car with radical aerodynamic styling shocked the automotive world, marking the beginning of the "Wedge Shape" era. The 1963 Testudo concept car further consolidated this route and directly inspired the design of a generation of legendary models in the following decade.
At the same time, several world-class design masters were incubated within Bertone—Giorgetto Giugiaro and Marcello Gandini both grew and influenced the world here. Gandini joined in 1965 and later created the two masterpieces Lamborghini Miura and Countach. His design language of 'wedge lines + cut-off rear' reshaped the entire direction of supercar design. In 1966, the breakthrough in mid-engine layout by the Lamborghini Miura designed by Bertone made it the ancestor of modern supercars. Representative works launched by Bertone during this golden period also include the Alfa Romeo Giulia GT (1964), Montreal (1967), Lancia Stratos (early 1970s), and Fiat X1/9 (1972), etc..
After the oil crisis in the 1970s, the personalized body custom market shrank sharply. Bertone was forced to gradually transform from pure design business to full vehicle OEM manufacturing, conducting full vehicle production and assembly for brands such as Opel, Daihatsu, etc.. Although the production scale was considerable, high fixed costs and a continuous decline in design service revenue caused the company's financial situation to gradually deteriorate.
After Nuccio Bertone's death in 1997, the company was taken over by the third-generation heir Lili Bertone. However, the global financial crisis of 2008 became the last straw that collapsed its production business, and Bertone was forced to sell its production department. Afterward, the company's operation became more difficult. Although a Chinese automaker invested in 2013, it could not reverse the trend. In 2014, it formally applied for bankruptcy liquidation, and multiple enterprises such as Fiat Group participated in the bidding but failed. In June 2016, the brand assets were acquired by AKKA Technologies for more than 2.6 million Euros, and the automotive design business continued to undertake full vehicle design services for Chinese brands such as Chery and Roewe.
Around 2021, AKKA Technologies sold the Bertone brand to Ideactive, controlled by the Ricci brothers. The new owner revitalized the brand and completely transformed its positioning from a third-party design company to a self-produced and self-sold top supercar manufacturer. Bertone, after restructuring, launched its first modern supercar—GB110—in 2022, limited to 33 units worldwide. In early 2025, the GB110 debuted at the Dubai International Boat Show in the Middle East, bringing the brand back to the top supercar track with its 1109 hp twin-turbocharged V10 engine.
In January 2026, Bertone unveiled the all-new Runabout, a replica of the 1969 legendary concept car, at the Paris Rétromobile Classic Car Show. It offers Barchetta and Targa body styles, limited to 25 units worldwide, marking the brand's comprehensive expansion from supercar competition to the "New Retro Handcrafted Car Building" field.
Bertone currently adopts a dual-line strategy of "ultra-limited handmade supercars + new retro replicas", and all products provide deep personalized customization for customers through the Centro Stile design center.
GB110
Bertone's first supercar after rebirth, launched in 2022, limited to 33 units worldwide. Built on the Volkswagen Group platform shared by the Lamborghini Huracán/Audi R8, it is mid-engine rear-wheel drive, equipped with a 5.2-liter V10 twin-turbocharged engine, outputting 1109 horsepower (peak torque about 1100 N·m). 0-100 km/h acceleration is only 2.79 seconds, with a top speed exceeding 380 km/h. The vehicle weight is only 1423 kg. Four-wheel double wishbone independent suspension and four-wheel drive structure provide track-level precise handling. It became the core symbol of the brand's market return after the 2025 Middle East debut.
Runabout
The brand’s second modern production model, launched in 2026, is strictly limited to 25 units worldwide. Priced at €390,000 / £400,000 (approximately RMB 3.8 million), the vehicle draws its design inspiration from the A112 Runabout concept car, originally designed by Marcello Gandini for Autobianchi in 1969. Employing a "Neo-Retro Modernity" design language, it faithfully recreates classic wedge-shaped aesthetics while integrating distinctive nautical elements.
Under the hood, the car is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 supercharged engine—based on Toyota technology but exclusively tuned by Bertone. This powertrain delivers a maximum output of 475 horsepower and a peak torque of 490 N·m, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. Performance figures are impressive, with a 0–100 km/h acceleration time of just 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 270 km/h.
The body features all-carbon fiber panels, contributing to a remarkably low curb weight of only 1,057 kg. The chassis utilizes a newly independently developed extruded and bonded aluminum alloy platform, which is not derived from any existing production model. The launch of the Runabout marks the brand’s strategic expansion from supercar competition into the realm of "neo-retro handcrafted automotive artistry."
Design Business
Beyond its mass-production vehicle operations, Bertone has maintained its traditional core business of providing comprehensive vehicle design services to third-party automakers. The company has delivered styling designs for Chinese brands such as Chery and Roewe, and continues to offer long-term design consulting services to numerous domestic automotive manufacturers.
After the launch of the GB110 in 2022, it quickly locked in a global limited quota of 33 units. The target customers are top collectors in the Middle East and Europe. The 2025 Dubai debut further consolidated the brand's position in the top supercar market. In 2026, the Runabout entered the high-end customized sports car market with a limit of 25 units produced and a price of 390,000 Euros per unit. The Barchetta and Targa body styles and the Centro Stile personalized customization service system enhanced its collection attributes and brand premium. Currently, Bertone does not publicly disclose financial statements. All production models are handcrafted and produced on an order-driven basis.
Ultimate Lightweight Body Engineering: The GB110 weighs only 1423 kg, and the Runabout goes even further to 1057–1180 kg. The Runabout uses all carbon fiber covers combined with an extruded and bonded aluminum alloy platform to achieve extremely low preparation weight.
High-performance Powertrain Integration: The Runabout uses the Toyota 3.5-liter V6 supercharged engine as a basis, combined with an Eaton supercharger and stainless steel high-performance exhaust manifold, tuned to 475 horsepower by Bertone exclusive tuning.
Fusion of Retro and Modern Aerodynamics: The Runabout inherits Gandini's classic wedge lines (Wedge Line) and cut-off rear (Coda Tronca), while also integrating modern S-Duct radiator duct design. Retractable headlamps, aluminum alloy forged wheels and other details are fused with modern carbon fiber diffusers, achieving effective downforce and heat dissipation efficiency while retaining retro aesthetics.
Traditional Driving Interaction Design: The Runabout cockpit integrates the low-sitting driving position with a 'Hull Tube' structure inspired by hulls. The only remaining center-mounted tachometer, mechanical gate shift lever, and metal mechanical buttons form a minimalist and driving-focused human-machine environment. Going against the pure electric wave, it becomes the spiritual totem of pure driving feel in the pure internal combustion era.
After a century of evolution, Bertone has consolidated all its R&D, design, and handcrafted manufacturing operations at its headquarters in Turin, Italy. The GB110 was showcased in high-end exhibitions in the Middle East, particularly in Dubai, targeting core buyers in the Middle Eastern and European markets. The global promotion of the 2026 Runabout centers around the Paris Rétromobile exhibition, primarily aiming at the high-end custom car markets in Europe and America, as well as global collectors. In the Chinese market, Bertone focuses on providing vehicle design services to local automakers and does not engage in the import of complete vehicles.
Bertone has undergone a complete transformation, evolving from a third-party design consultancy into an independent manufacturer of high-end customized sports cars. Looking ahead, the brand will adhere to a dual-line limited production strategy: the "GB110 Supercar" and the "Runabout Retro Replica." The GB110 embodies contemporary expressionism and extreme performance, while the Runabout represents heritage and artistic craftsmanship in car building. Together, these two models define the brand’s dual-core identity.
Bertone Centro Stile will continue to offer deep, personalized design services to every VIP owner, adopting an approach akin to "high-end bespoke fashion." Technologically, Bertone remains committed to pure internal combustion engine (ICE) powertrains, emphasizing lightweight body construction, manual transmissions, and an authentic, pure driving experience.
Following several ownership changes and restructuring efforts between 2016 and the 2020s, Bertone is poised to re-establish its irreplaceable position in the global top-tier collector car market. By leveraging a differentiated competitive strategy centered on "Ultra-Limited Production × Pure Italian Design × Pure Internal Combustion," the brand aims to secure its unique status among discerning automotive enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.
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