Bertone's not officially exhibiting at Geneva this year, as the company is going through some upheaval, but it still made a splash in Switzerland. The B.A.T. 11, paying direct homage to the original B.A.T. concepts, was unveiled in Geneva at the AutoDesignNight event. The car was commissioned by Gary Kaberle, and you'd never know that there's an Alfa Romeo 8C hiding under the sheetmetal that's strongly evocative of the 1955 B.A.T. 5. Tapered fins and faired in wheels follow the design fundamentals laid down 50-plus years ago by Nuccio Bertone and Franco Scaglione, and the unique wheels with two layers of spokes are a 21st-century interpretation of the classic Borrani wires. Surfaces with a mix of soft and crisp forms and details still look futuristic, even while paying homage to the past. Financial woes or not, Bertone is still one of the world's premiere houses of automotive haute couture, and the B.A.T. 11 will hopefully not be the company's last gasp. Click the source to view more photos of the B.A.T. 11 concept at its off-site debut in Geneva yesterday.
[Source: Car Design News, Photo by Brett Patterson]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Me Too @ Mar 5th 2008 10:51AM
A copy of a $1 HotWheels car.
JayP @ Mar 5th 2008 11:17AM
Cloak and Dagger.
I knew I'd seen it before.
Jason Bird @ Mar 5th 2008 2:08PM
It's always nice to see that someones sense of history begins the year they were born.
Google the B.A.T 5, 7 and 9 to understand the historical significance of this car to both Bertone and Alfa Romeo.
BLS @ Mar 5th 2008 2:23PM
I have seen the historic cars (in pictures) and I also think it looks terrible. It is especially attrocious because they wasted a gorgous 8C to make this contraption.
cellularcoffee @ Mar 5th 2008 11:04AM
After seeing this model, I hope the B.A.T. 11 is its final gasp.
SPG @ Mar 5th 2008 11:20AM
Cars like these are what makes car shows so much fun.
Too bad it won't actually be part of the show.
dac @ Mar 5th 2008 12:04PM
Wow, that's hideous.
Randy @ Mar 5th 2008 12:42PM
At least we know where the designers that made the 1996-1999 Taurus went to work! GOD AWEFUL. Nice wheels though!
Dan Roth @ Mar 5th 2008 1:25PM
Actually, your "AWEFUL" DN101 Taurus designer? That'd be Doug Gaffka.
Styled the current Mustang.
Korona @ Mar 5th 2008 2:22PM
what a disappointment, the sketch looked awesome.
Yago Bal @ Mar 5th 2008 3:10PM
I think it's amazingly beautiful... Really breathtaking and the most interesting design I've seen in a while.
I love it quite a lot!!!
friko @ Mar 5th 2008 10:59PM
I like it too.
Rick @ Mar 5th 2008 4:06PM
Not only is that ugly but how does it turn?
Jake @ Mar 9th 2008 6:49PM
Front fenders move with the tires.
BTW there is NOT an 8C underneath. It is a rolling model.
"Ugly, hideous, etc"
What do you think people thought of the original cars in the 1950's?
Open your brain a bit.
This is an exercise in design.
Michael @ Mar 5th 2008 5:09PM
Looks like something out of a Syd Mead painting .
andy @ Mar 5th 2008 10:14PM
Now that is one fugly automobile
KKBat @ Mar 6th 2008 8:38AM
I absolutely love it! Nice work Bertone and Alfa!
Bankruptcy smankruptcy!!
John @ Mar 6th 2008 1:18PM
It looks like the winner of a 4th grade drawing contest, at best.
Tony @ Apr 17th 2008 12:52AM
Sell it to Japan. On second thought just give it to them!