Iconic 1969 Bertone concept being brought back as a supercar
- The 1969 Autobianchi A112 Runabout concept is being revived
- The iconic concept car will be reimagined as a supercar
- It will be powered by a V6 and produce 500HP
Published on Oct 31, 2024 at 4:12 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Oct 31, 2024 at 12:16 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Bertone is bringing back the iconic 1969 Autobianchi A112 Runabout as an exclusive supercar.
Designed by Bertone, the original A112 Runabout concept car was first shown at the Turin Motor Show back in October 1969.
The A112 Runabout went on to become the inspiration for the Fiat X1/9.
Now, more than 50 years on, it’s being relaunched – this time as a 500-horsepower supercar.
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The 1969 Autobianchi A112 Runabout is being revived as a supercar
There’s something particularly exciting about an iconic car being revived for a new generation.
Earlier this year, former Lamborghini chief technical officer Maurizio Reggiani revealed that he had joined San Marino-based Eccentrica and was working on a revived version of the 1990s Diablo supercar.
Meanwhile, Bertone has now unveiled a modern reimagining of the 1969 Autobianchi A112 Runabout.
The new Bertone Runabout was designed by Andrea Mocellin and is heavily inspired by its namesake.
Much like the original, the new Runabout has a distinctive wedge shape with pop-up headlights, a vented hood, and wide-set fenders.
The new supercar will be offered in two configurations: a fully roofless Barchetta or the Targa with a removable hardtop.
“The new Bertone Runabout is not just a design object but a celebration of Italy’s tradition of spectacular sports cars – crafted for driving pleasure and the joy of life,” said current Bertone design boss Andrea Mocellin.
“It captures the essence of pure design with only two defining lines.”
It will be a lot more powerful than the original
While the car may look quite similar to the original, it’s all change under the hood.
The A112 Runabout had a 1.1 liter four-cylinder engine, which produced just 54 horsepower.
By contrast, the new Runabout will be powered by a V6 that is capable of producing 500HP.
Other details, such as whether the car is super or turbocharged, are yet to be revealed by Bertone.
Production of the Runabout is set to kick off in mid-2026 and numbers will be kept very limited.
If you fancy getting your hands on one, be prepared to part with around $377,000 (€350,000).
Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Across her career she's covered a wide variety of topics, including celebrity, cryptocurrency, politics, true crime and just about everything in between.