Bertone may build vehicles for Chinese automakers
Legendary Italian coachbuilder Bertone hasn't been doing so well, lately. Since 2005, it has only made a limited edition run of 2,000 MINIs. The company needs to make 30,000 cars per year to break even, and so has lost more than 37 million euros during that time.
In an effort to turn things around, the carrozzeria is in talks to build Chinese SUVs and pickup trucks for the Italian market. DR Automobiles Groupe is an Italian company that imports cars from Zhejiang Gonow Automobile. If it can strike a deal, Bertone would build two vehicles: the Katay Gonow Victory, an SUV based on the previous-gen Isuzu Rodeo (pictured), and the Katay Gonow Troy, a crew-cab pickup version of the Victory. They would only be contracted to build 7,000 of them, but it could help stave off complete disaster. Still, building vehicles for the Chinese is a long way from styling Italian exotics.
[Source: Auto News, sub req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chad 4:12PM (9/28/2007)
Maybe they can use lead paint. :P
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pscs 8:10AM (9/29/2007)
hahaha! you made my day :D
btw that car on the top they're selling the truck (bakkie) version here in SA. looks like a prado.
SPG 4:13PM (9/28/2007)
Bertone building trucks for the Chinese market?
Based off of older vehicles?
That's not a happy prospect to me.
If it keeps them alive them I'm all for it though.
Remember the Bertone Volvo 780?
That was awesome, we need some more Bertone bodied cars on the market.
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marc 5:02PM (9/28/2007)
the pictured vehicle looks exactly like toyota prado: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/2002_Toyota_Land_Cruiser-Prado_01.jpg/800px-2002_Toyota_Land_Cruiser-Prado_01.jpg
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Brett- BMW Advocate 7:19PM (9/28/2007)
looks like that Toyota from the above link and a hint of Infiniti QX4. its what the Chinese do best, copy looks. remember the smart and X5 look-a-likes not long ago? whatever happened to those cases?
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willem 7:27PM (9/28/2007)
Chicoms never met a product that they didn't try to copy.
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MJL 9:15PM (9/28/2007)
Well at least they're officially getting someone else to do their styling, instead of just stealing it!
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TVs Hasselhoff 8:54AM (9/29/2007)
I remember the crash test results from that previous generation Isuzu Rodeo. I'll pass.
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