Geneva '08 Preview: Bertone may or may not display Alfa Romeo BAT 11 concept
Bertone's not about to let an uncertain future stop it from moving forward. Or is it? With its salvation plan rejected by the courts and its future left hanging in the balance, the famous Italian design house is suffering from an apparent crisis in leadership. Automotive News reports that the company's vice-chairman Marie-Jeanne Bertone, daughter of the late Giuseppe "Nuccio" Bertone, confirmed that the company will be present at the upcoming Geneva auto show. Meanwhile the mother superior, company chairwoman Lilli Bertone, says otherwise. All the while the company released a statement saying that it will be unveiling a new concept at the show, now less than three weeks away. This has all the drama of a Mario Puzo novel, and we just don't know what to expect.
The concept car that Bertone will (or won't) show in Geneva is reported to be the Alfa Romeo BAT 11 concept. For those unacquainted, BAT stands for "Berlinetta Aerodinamica Technica" – we'll let you unravel the enigmatic translation – and was used on a series of concept cars designed by Bertone for Alfa Romeo in the mid-1950s (right). The BAT 11, meanwhile, is said to be based on the Alfa 8C Competizione – a rolling work of art difficult to improve upon – but exists only as a styling exercise with no interior. Like its namesake forbearers, the design of the BAT 11 promises to focus on sleek wind-cutting aerodynamics. It'd be a pity if we didn't get to see it.
[Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John 1:53PM (2/14/2008)
I hate to say it but Bertone is looking dead in the water. It may join Ghia, Vignale, Touring... Even Pininfarina isn't doing so hot. Anyone notice they've been selling a lot of cars out of the company collection recently?
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Yago Bal 2:48PM (2/14/2008)
I find this BAT exercise most interesting!
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Eric Biran 4:51PM (2/14/2008)
I've seen all three BAT cars together, outdoors (not in a museum) and they are worth every ounce of their legendary status. They truly set high watermarks for styling in their era that would help define the next decade of automotive design and remain no less relevant today. Some of the blue-sky ideas like the oversize rear fins would have been impractical on a production car, but are pure concept car pr0n.
This BAT 11 drawing, on the other hand, quite literally (and not for the point of being vulgar or insulting) looks like it was styled to be shaped like a piece of poop. This is especially true of the side view. I really hope Bertone doesn't sully the BAT name and their own with something that looks like this.
Recent vehicles they have done, like the Birusa and the Fiat Barchetta concepts prove Bertone still has what it takes to represent their legendary history. This gives me hope that perhaps there is a future for the design house and maybe even this concept.
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DIRETTORE 8:02PM (2/14/2008)
* Bertone has production for 60,000 units annually. At present they have pretty much SFA - Sweet F All.
Its a shame Mr.Bertone didnt have someone to continue his legend.
One of the main hurdles is the Union & pension payments. Sound familiar?
God I wish I could do something to help this company. I would give the shirt off my own back & eat popcorn the rest of my life just to ensure its longevity.
Ti amo Bertone!
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Korona 10:40PM (2/14/2008)
nice, keep the matte grey wheels.
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sketcher 2:26AM (2/19/2008)
But is it a BAT? It sure as hell don't look aerodynamic... that was the whole point. This is just another design student redraw
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