THE BERTONE RUNABOUT RETURNS - A WEDGE-SHAPED BEAUTY THAT GIVES OFF SERIOUS FIAT X 1/9 VIBES.
Unveiled at Ultimate Supercar Garage in co-location with Rétromobile 2026, the new Bertone Runabout is not so much a remake as a conversation across decades. Born from one of Bertone’s most experimental eras, the Runabout name resurfaces as a contemporary expression of an idea first sketched in 1969, when rules were optional, and imagination was doing most of the driving. Back then, inside Bertone’s Centro Stile, optimism and futurism ruled the room. Under the direction of Nuccio Bertone, designers were actively pushing away from convention, exploring freedom of form, exposed mechanical honesty and proportions that felt closer to sculpture than transport. The original Runabout was a product of that moment. The 2026 Runabout carries that spirit forward; every surface and line has been reimagined, creating a bridge between Bertone’s conceptual past and its modern design vision. The Runabout is offered in two distinct body interpretations: Barchetta and Targa. These are complementary expressions of the same architectural concept. Both share identical proportions, geometry and design discipline, ensuring a singular identity regardless of configuration. The Barchetta is the purest take - open, light, and it blurs the boundary between exterior and interior. The Targa introduces a removable carbon roof, adding structural and functional complexity while preserving the purity of the silhouette. It offers adaptability without compromising the Runabout’s architectural base, delivering a different feel of the same core idea.
Inside, the cabin is built around a boat-inspired, hull-like tub that seats occupants low to create an immersive yet exposed driving position that keeps the driver close to the structure and mechanics. Carbon fibre seat shells, aluminium-milled components, mechanical switchgear and hand-finished leather all serve functional roles, and the dashboard stretches as a single horizontal element. Instrumentation is deliberately minimal. A single digital tachometer sits directly in the driver’s line of sight, while a nautical compass at the centre of the dashboard nods to the Runabout’s maritime inspiration. A gated manual shifter and exposed controls anchor the experience firmly in the analogue world.
The exterior showcases Bertone’s mastery of design, translating the original Runabout’s nautical inspiration into a modern form. At the front, an integrated S-duct channels airflow through the bodywork, improving cooling efficiency while remaining visually restrained. Reinterpreted pop-up headlights provide a respectful nod to classic design, seamlessly integrated into clean, modern surfaces. A horizontal line runs across the width of the car, visually connecting the sculpted fenders and reinforcing the low, grounded stance. At the rear, a new take on the coda tronca leads to the truncated tail. Four rectangular apertures define the rear graphic, with exhaust outlets integrated into two of them. In profile, an exceptionally low bonnet and forged aluminium wheels inspired directly by the 1969 concept reinforce lightness and balance. We reckon this is more of a Bertone-penned Fiat X 1/9 style and vibe, but hey, what do we know? Extensive use of carbon fibre bodywork over an aluminium chassis keeps weight in check, enhancing agility, connection and responsiveness.
The Runabout is built on a newly acquired, unused chassis, re-engineered specifically for the project. Power comes from a 3.5-litre, 60-degree V6 with an aluminium block and DOHC heads, four valves per cylinder and dual variable valve timing. Mounted transversely in a mid-engine layout, the architecture is chosen to optimise weight distribution and balance. Forced induction is delivered via an Eaton/Edelbrock TVS supercharger nestled within the V of the engine, with high-efficiency charge-air cooling ensuring consistent performance. The setup prioritises progressive mid-range torque rather than headline boost numbers. Breathing is comprehensively optimised, with a KT500 carbon fibre airbox, precision intake ducting, stainless-steel performance headers and a high-flow HJS catalyst integrated into a reengineered Y-pipe. The exhaust is tuned to preserve the natural mechanical character of the V6. Output sits at approximately 350 kW and 490 Nm, delivered within conservative safety margins to maintain OEM-level reliability. Cooling, materials and calibration are designed to handle sustained high-performance use, including track driving.
Production is strictly limited to 25 examples. Each owner embarks on a curated configuration journey, working directly with Bertone’s Centro Stile to shape a deeply personal interpretation of the Runabout. It is modern Italian coachbuilding in its purest form: intentional, intimate and expressive. Pricing starts from €390,000 before taxes and duties.
Take a look at the YouTube video from the crew at Top Gear that shows off this new take on an old Italian design to create an awesome retro-styled slice of awesomeness: New Retro Supercar: Italian Design, Toyota Reliability! | 4K | Top Gear
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