Automotive

Bertone resurfaces with 1,100-hp hypercar fueled by plastic waste

View 9 Images
The Bertone GB110's LED lights are connected by an aerodynamic bridge
Bertone
The Bertone GB110 stands on a 2,360-mm wheelbase
Bertone
Bertone says the wide rear-end is meant to leave an impression with those watching the GB110 drive by
Bertone
The Bertone GB110's LED lights are connected by an aerodynamic bridge
Bertone
Bertone GB110 sketch
Bertone
Bertone GB110 sketch
Bertone
Bertone GB110 sketch
Bertone
The GB110 pays homage to great Bertone designs of the past, including the Lancia Stratos Zero
Bertone
Bertone goes with scissor doors, much like the Lamborghini Countach
Bertone
The Bertone GB110's top view is influenced by Franco Scaglione’s BAT-series of concept cars
Bertone
View gallery - 9 images

One of the great Italian design houses that found itself on hard times this past decade, Bertone is now set to make a comeback as a modern coach builder. It's given a first look at what the future holds with the GB110, a 1,100-hp hypercar that opens an intriguing new chapter in the brand's history. While there's nothing particularly cutting-edge about an ICE-driven supercar these days, Bertone plans to partner up and supply this one with sustainable fuel made from plastic waste.

Founded in 1912, Bertone is the oldest of the great Italian design houses. It had more than a century of design, coach-building and vehicle manufacturing experience under its belt before going into bankruptcy in 2014. After some ownership shuffling, brothers Mauro and Jean-Franck Ricci emerged with a vision of celebrating the brand's history while building it into a modern coach builder of advanced hypercars. The Riccis acquired rights to the Bertone brand in 2020, bringing 38 years of automotive industry and engineering experience to the helm.

Not surprisingly, the Riccis chose to honor Bertone's legacy by sculpting the type of wedge-like coupe that was pioneered by iconic designs like the 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero and the Lamborghini Countach. They've fully reimagined the wedge for the modern era, adding in more three-dimensional, curvaceous body panels, a sweeping curved nose, and aggressive aero components like the huge front splitter and rear diffuser. The team credits the Stratos Zero and earlier Alfa Romeo Carabo for the claw-like rear bodywork that frames out the scissor doors and passenger compartment.

The Bertone GB110 stands on a 2,360-mm wheelbase
Bertone

Bertone's stylish GB110 skin gets mounted to a chassis built with German components. It rides double wishbones in front and back and includes coil springs, anti-roll bars and four-way adjustable damping.

Power comes from a beefy internal combustion engine of undisclosed size and origin, which drives all four wheels through an AWD system. As of now, Bertone's plan is to avoid basic gasoline and diesel, instead working with Nevada company Select Fuel to power the GB110 with sustainable fuel made from plastic waste.

Select Fuel's aim is to address two environmental problems at once, collecting old petrol-based polycarbonate waste material and turning it into a fuel compatible with existing ICEs, creating a more sustainable, renewable fuel that works with the existing ICE vehicle fleet. It's not entirely clear how Bertone plans to supply it to GB110 owners, but it won't need to launch a large scale operation since only 33 GB110 cars are planned.

Bertone says the wide rear-end is meant to leave an impression with those watching the GB110 drive by
Bertone

It doesn't look like the plastic fuel will hold the GB110 back in the slightest. The car will develop 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft) of torque to match its max horsepower, sprinting from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in under 2.8 seconds and topping out somewhere north of 236 mph (380 km/h).

This week's first look announcement does not include launch timeframe or pricing information, but it definitely makes us want to learn more about the new Bertone and its plans. Stay tuned.

Source: Bertone

View gallery - 9 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
5 comments
Unsold
I began the article thinking the design was a little dated and then read it was an homage. Should be one of those models that look good in any decade; i.e., a great investment.
vince
Bertone should work with Fiat to bring back the Bertone designed Fiat X1/9 as a full AWD electric. Cutest little T top convertible ever made. And with smaller drivetrain absent mufflers and radiators they would have room to increase from two to three trunks. A frunk, trunk and mrunk. The X1/9 was a mid engine design so that soace coukd mostly be used for a 3rd large 'mrunk'.
yawood
@vince. If they did that, they'd want to make it bigger. I tried, but couldn't fit into the original X1/9 and I'm only 185cm (approx 6' 1") and 95kg (approx 210lb) so I'm not big by any means.
FB36
All light/small vehicles are already becoming fully electric & all heavy/big land/sea/air vehicles just need us to start producing biodiesel/biofuel at large scales!
(From all possible industrial/agricultural/forestry waste/biomass & trash & sewage!)
Sports/super/hyper-cars could also just switch to diesel engines running on biodiesel fuel!
Demosthenes
What does this car have to do with "fueled by plastic waste"? Any car can drive it.