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Bertone Barchetta
The Bertone Barchetta, unveiled at the 2007 Geneva
Auto Show, is a stylized concept vehicle built from a Fiat Panda
100 base. The Barchetta concept, inspired by 1950's Italian racers,
marks Bertone's celebration of its 95th anniversary.
The Fiat 500 Barchetta, from which the vehicle borrows its floor
pan and chassis, was a one-of-a-kind sports car from 1947. It was
built by Niccio Bertone for his personal use.
Odd-looking and muscular, the Bertone Barchetta concept car sports
a uniquely awkward but highly athletic design. The shining aluminum
body of the Bertone Barchetta is striking to the eyes and the futuristic
treatment is a nice novelty. It seriously looks like a compact version
of the time-traveling racer they had in Back To The Future.
Features
The Bertone Barchetta is highly compact and is strictly a two-seater.
The Barchetta is designed as an open-top roadster mimicking the
sports vehicles that inspired it, with performance numbers fit for
racing several decades ago.
The Bertone Barchetta houses a front-mounted 4-cylinder 1.4-liter
engine with 100 bhp. It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 9.5 seconds.
The 151.7-inch long bodywork is most notable on the Barchetta with
a large glazed surface running the sides from the bonnet to the
rear. It joins two attractively-curved aluminum shells that tapers
toward angles that creates a visually striking effect when viewed
from the side.
The glazed area runs through the doors, allowing a see-through
glimpse of the cabin. The upper aluminum shell of the Bertone Barchetta
is entirely handcrafted and polished. The doors open rearward in
the patented Bertone-style. The beautiful body is highly-defined
with clean-cut lines and classic proportions.
The nose of the Bertone Barchetta features LED lights and a closed,
floating grille carved elegantly into the metalwork. The rear features
framed LED's and a small, leather-padded compartment.
A low-standing wraparound windscreen flanks the minimalist cabin
of the Bertone Barchetta along with a rear roll bar. The interior
is wrapped in natural leather with the anatomic seats permanently
fixed into the metalwork. Creating a fascinating effect along with
it, the white and flat dashboard is moveable.
All dials installed on the panel are clear-cut at the same size.
Technological excess has been skipped inside the cabin with only
the bare basics of what is needed installed. An iPod dock is lodged
invitingly between the driver and passenger seats. The Bertone Barchetta
stands proud on large 20-inch, single-frame alloy wheels.
Why the Barchetta?
The Bertone Barchetta is n curious concept largely because of its
looks and its history. The Barchetta is barely a sports car with
its ailing performance numbers. However, the proportions and novelty
of its build are unique and interesting.
Bertone is definitely using this as an opportunity to try to garner
more bodywork business, with their coach-building services failing
to generate substantial clients in recent years. And, the Bertone
Barchetta my just give them the lift they need.
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