Marcello Gandini-designed Bertone Runabout Revived

Legendary designer Marcello Gandini, who passed away earlier this year, was responsible for designing the Bertone Runabout concept. Gandini penned the concept in 1969 and Bertone is now putting it into production. 

The original Runabout concept inspired iconic cars like the Fiat X1/9 and Lancia Stratos, both designed by Gandini himself. The 1969 Autobianchi A112 Runabout was also taken to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2022 and it won the Gran Turismo award. 

The 1969 concept was based on the Autobianchi A112 hatchback’s platform and used the same 1.1-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine with 54 bhp and a 4-speed manual transmission.  Fast forward to 2024, the Bertone Runabout uses a 493 bhp V6 engine, much larger than the one used in the original concept. 

The Bertone Runabout retains almost the same design as the 1969 concept but it is slightly different too. In the original concept, the headlamps were mounted behind the occupants but they’ve now been moved ahead and have become pop-up units. Other modern touches include a full-width LED lightbar, circular LED taillamps and high-mounted exhaust tips in the middle of the rear bumper as well as chunky alloy wheels. It is also available in two body styles. The first one is a completely open top called a Barchetta which doesn’t get either a roof or a windshield. The other one is a Targa, where the windshield is there and the roof panels are removable. 

Inside, the Runabout is as radical as it is outside. It has a White-Red or Black-Red interior with an oval-shaped steering wheel which thankfully doesn’t get any buttons. There seems to be only one screen inside and that’s the virtual instrument cluster. The seats also get a 5-point racing harness and there are very few buttons on the dashboard. 

Bertone didn’t specify how many units of the Runabout it will produce but it said that the Runabout “will be crafted in a select series, highlighting our dedication to exceptional craftsmanship”.