Posted on Monday 3 March 2008
Updated: Bertone’s financial problems have proven so severe that the longstanding Italian design house has been forced to pull out of this year’s Geneva Motor Show and drop plans for the B.A.T. 11 Concept. But that doesn’t mean we won’t get to see the new concept car. Speaking with Automotive News, Bertone Vice Chairman Marie-Jeanne Bertone told reporters that the B.A.T. 11 concept would be unveiled “in a nice location in the city of Geneva.”
Original: Italian coachbuilder and design house Stile Bertone has announced today it will be presenting a new concept car at next month’s Geneva Motor Show despite its current financial turmoil. Bertone is on the verge of bankruptcy but it promises that at Geneva it will unveil the new Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 11 concept car.
“We will be at the show,” Bertone Vice-Chair Marie-Jeanne Bertone revealed to reporters from Automotive News Europe. However, soon after the initial statement Bertone Chairman Lilli Bertone (Marie-Jeanne’s mother) said the styling division of the Bertone group would skip the show because it’s “currently undergoing a deep industrial restructuring.”
The new Bertone is said to be based on the stunning Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione supercar but is designed as a pure styling exercise and thus has no interior. The initials B.A.T. stands for Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica or aerodynamic technical Berlinetta in English. If it eventually makes an appearance, this will be the first major design work since Bertone’s previous Barchetta Concept (pictured) designed for Fiat last year.
It is such a shame that Bertone could not adapt away from the wedges (the original Countach was their most recognized work) that made their reputation. It is hard for me to imagine anything more beautiful than the existing body of the 8C (designed by their longtime ‘rival’), and I hope this is neither their final swansong, nor a damp squib ending.
I would say the B.A.T. stands for Batmobile… cause that’s what it looks like
Daniel, I agree with you. It is a 1960s Batmobile design. Nowhere near today’s design standards.
Very cool. I think the Italians are going angular (latest Lambo) but Daniel is right - it is the Batmobile - that merged with Vette’s Stingray.
Wow!!! This is the future… but, how much is that?
It’s such a shame to see that commenters usually fail to educate themselves before commenting.
This car is a (huge, amazingly beautiful) nod to the previous B.A.T. concepts from the 50’s.
So, of course, it relates to 50’s design…