Fiat back in the mix as Bertone manufacturing unit goes up for sale
Bertone Mantide - Click above for a high-res image gallery
You could say that Fiat's on a bit of a spending spree lately. While everyone else is struggling to trim expenditures and sell off divisions, Fiat's been buying them up. So after moving in at Chrysler's headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and making offers for GM's European and Latin American operations – including Opel and Vauxhall – it should come as no surprise that the Italian automaker is at it again, this time placing a non-binding offer to acquire Carrozzeria Bertone.
The offer is one of five currently being entertained by Italy's oldest coachbuilder and the courts administering its bankruptcy. Among other bidders reported are Domenico Reviglio (the Gruppo Prototipo chief who was slated to buy the company last year), former Lancia CEO Gianmario Rossignolo, Chinese automaker FAW and an additional unspecified Spanish concern. It is also not the first time Fiat considered rescuing Bertone after a previous attempt failed over two years ago.
Although the reports remain somewhat ambiguous, it appears that the unit in question is only the contract manufacturing division Carrozzeria Bertone SpA, a separate unit from the Stile Bertone design house under the Gruppo Bertone umbrella.
Gallery: Bertone Mantide
[Source: Automotive News Europe – Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Aloysius Vampa 6:34PM (7/14/2009)
Well, that's rather fancy looking.
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Venom 6:43PM (7/14/2009)
Side view great.
Front and rear, not so much.
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banana2011 6:55PM (7/14/2009)
front looks like a duck, very ugly front
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XGM 7:05PM (7/14/2009)
Quit promoting your site on other blogs. You don't get traffic by spamming around, you earn it by offering content in which your site fails at doing along with many other aspects...
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AutoCritical 7:13PM (7/14/2009)
I like the rear end of the car, how it looks functional and aggressive. I'm also not sure about the front, but I guess with an American engine, there are some hints of a 'Sting-Ray' about it. Overall it's got a cool direction about it, looks fast and forceful!
I wrote a small post just about the aesthetic design if you are interested, http://www.autocritical.com/blog/2009/06/2009-bertone-mantide-a-tidal-wave-of-man-power/
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mcampasini 7:18PM (7/14/2009)
one of the ugliest cars ive ever seen,just give me the vette.
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UCJR 7:28PM (7/14/2009)
The rear of the car looks like plastic wrap that's been pulled back and twisty tied.
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dwightB 8:54PM (7/14/2009)
Agreed XGM! I am sick of seeing that damn URL in every topic on here.
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spyker 9:09PM (7/14/2009)
Sweet car, but what's up with the front?! The back doesn't look that bad, but the front is terrible.
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yosh 10:15PM (7/14/2009)
the car is gorgeous front and back. wow.
Fiat should be the ones to get the brand. It can be their lamborghini.
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jimhenry1507 12:06AM (7/15/2009)
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reimburse the fees for the clunkers
Jhenry
Blogger
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jimhenry1507 12:17AM (7/15/2009)
Both trucks are car qualify for the Cash For Clunkers but not the motorcycles.
Jhenry
Blogger
www.cashforclunkersfacts.info
http://www.cashforclunkersfacts.info
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Flea 2:59AM (7/15/2009)
just don't sell it to the chinese, kay?
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smartacus 5:21AM (7/15/2009)
Ferrari bodywork is by Pininfarina.
Lamborghini bodywork is by Nuccio Bertone.
Didn't Ferrari have one Bertone bodied car around the time FIAT bought them? Dino?
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cottonwoodz 8:31AM (7/15/2009)
I'd hit that!!
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