Exclusive by Design: Bertone Mantide priced at $2M, only 10 will be made
Bertone Mantide – Click above for high-res image galleryPerspective is a curious thing. Some look at the Corvette ZR1 and think it's a bargain compared to the exotic European machinery that it's capable of trouncing. Others look at the six-figure price tag and wonder how a Chevy could possibly cost that much. Then comes along Stile Bertone, the restructured coachbuilder now under the creative direction of former Pininfarina designer Jason Castriota, who has re-skinned the ZR1 as the Mantide. As if its radical styling wasn't divisive enough, news of its price tag and production run have now surfaced. One's big, the other small. Guess which one's which. Take your time, we'll wait.
Give up? The Bertone Mantide will sell for $2 million, but with that kind of sticker price it won't sell many: Castriota says they've already received between three and five (let's call it four) firm orders for the exclusive supercar, and they'll produce a maximum of ten examples. Think the Mantide and its exclusivity is worth a nearly 2,000% mark-up over the $103k "stock" ZR1? Express yourself in the comments below, and check out the updated gallery of high-resolution images below if you need help making up your mind.
Gallery: Bertone Mantide
[Source: NYTimes Wheels]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Bill E 2:03PM (5/05/2009)
Yuck
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mapoftazifosho 2:05PM (5/05/2009)
That is just silly. I wonder how many affluent richies will look at this as nothing more than a polished turd...
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Sean Crowell 4:54PM (5/05/2009)
You can't polish turd; you can only roll it in glitter.
skant 5:38PM (5/05/2009)
Depends if you look at it as a piece of art, rather than just a machine. If paintings are thought of as more than just oil water and canvas, then there's no reason why certain...let's call them "collectors" wouldn't see this as more than just Detroit's finest bolts stacked together.
The price is still silly, but damn it does look lovely
Matt 1:45AM (5/06/2009)
@Sean Crowell: yes you can polish a turd, they did it on Mythbusters http://mythbustersresults.com/episode-113-end-with-a-bang
Personally, I could never buy a car called "Mantide"... sounds more like a gay nightclub then a $2mill car
Rainy99 2:08PM (5/05/2009)
Total Recall called, and would like their Mars prop back.
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Alex 2:12PM (5/05/2009)
Not even close to being worth it. The front looks horrendous.
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Rob 2:55PM (5/05/2009)
Back = YES!!!!! Front= zzzzzzzz
dsharp23 4:20PM (5/05/2009)
ditto. not even worth the post on Autoblog. It would be tough to match the levels of ugliness , and arrogance.
Nuieve 2:13PM (5/05/2009)
It does look $2M cool, I gotta admit. Even more radical than a Reventon. I only hope their interior also looks like that of $2M car... but lack of pictures of thereof might suggest otherwise...
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zamafir 2:25PM (5/05/2009)
they're out there. it's filled with that annoying fuzzy crap and a 599's cluster. Those looking for Veyron or One 77 levels of refinement should look elsewhere. Yes, $2,000,000 is expensive. Yes, it's 'overpriced' when compared to what aston or bugatti will sell you, but this a coach builder so their mark up is going to carry the weight of the companies needs, vs VW just selling the veyron at a loss. I'm not validating it, it's just basic business.
Kill The Fanboys 2:30PM (5/05/2009)
...its just basic BAD business
JZeke 2:40PM (5/05/2009)
I'd rank this on its interior too. I mean it is a car after all, it has have something special inside...
Alex 2:14PM (5/05/2009)
I need to give Stile Bertone a call. Someone owes me money for my 5th grade doodle.
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skant 5:44PM (5/05/2009)
exactly, but that's what makes it awesome. At least it's different
GDUb 2:19PM (5/05/2009)
Please save 9 Zr1's. dont destroy them!!! just use stock c6's please.
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mcampasini 4:22PM (5/05/2009)
+1 id rather have the zr1 than this ugly thing,the good thing about this is that it is lighter and faster.
RWD 6:14PM (5/05/2009)
Yes! Buy a C6 and hack it up... You would have to assume that 1.95 million will buy you a ZR1 crate motor and a suspension package. That way those 10 brave ZR1's won't have to die for the sake of this freak show.
StinkyPete 2:19PM (5/05/2009)
I'm sure there's someone in the UAE that think it's worth the money.
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I am Rich 2:20PM (5/05/2009)
10 will be made? That's 11 too many.
Fugly.
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