2026 Bertone Runabout
By Lorenzo Bianchi January 27, 2026
Bertone revives the Runabout as the first model of its Classic Line, offered as Barchetta or Targa.
A supercharged 3.5-liter V6 delivers 475 hp through a six-speed manual gearbox.
Production is limited to 25 units, priced from €390,000 before taxes and duties.
A historic name reimagined for today
Bertone has pulled a familiar name from its archive and given it contemporary weight. Revealed at the Ultimate Supercar Garage alongside Rétromobile 2026, the new Runabout revisits a concept first shown in 1969, now reinterpreted as a low-volume, hand-built sports car positioned at the intersection of heritage and modern coachbuilding.
Rather than chasing nostalgia outright, Bertone frames the Runabout as a continuation of ideas that once defined its experimental phase: freedom of form, compact proportions, and exposed mechanical honesty. The result is a car intended to read as sculpture first, performance machine second.
Exterior defined by wedge and coda tronca
Two design gestures define the Runabout’s shape: a forward-leaning wedge and a sharply truncated rear, or coda tronca. These elements give the car a planted, purposeful stance, reinforced by an exceptionally low bonnet and wide rear track. An integrated S-duct channels airflow through the nose for cooling and aerodynamic balance, while reinterpreted pop-up headlights nod to classic sports-car design without disrupting the clean surface language.
At the rear, four rectangular apertures form the graphic signature, with the exhaust outlets integrated into two of them. Forged aluminum wheels, inspired by the original concept, complete the profile and underline the car’s compact proportions.
One architecture, two body types
The Barchetta and Targa are the two body options that Bertone offers for the Runabout. Because the Barchetta is completely open, the sense of exposure and light is enhanced and the connectivity between the exterior and interior is emphasized.
The Targa adds a removable carbon roof, introducing structural complexity while preserving the purity of the wedge silhouette. Both share identical geometry and proportions, conceived as parallel expressions of the same architectural idea rather than trim variations.
Interior focused on mechanical clarity
Inside, the Runabout adopts a naval theme. Inside a hull-shaped tub with a horizontal dashboard that resembles a deck, occupants are seated low. Carbon-fiber seat shells, precisely machined metal parts, mechanical switchgear, and hand-finished leather are examples of materials that lean toward tactile honesty.
Instrumentation is deliberately sparse. A single digital tachometer sits directly in the driver’s line of sight, supported by a gated manual shifter and exposed controls. A nautical compass at the center of the dashboard reinforces the maritime inspiration without drifting into ornamentation.
Supercharged V6 and limited production
Power comes from a mid-mounted, supercharged 3.5-liter V6 producing 475 hp and 490 Nm of torque, paired with a close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox. Bertone quotes 0–100 km/h in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 270 km/h. Extensive use of carbon fiber bodywork and a lightweight bonded aluminum chassis keeps curb weight to 1,057 kg.
Production is capped at 25 units, each built on a newly acquired chassis re-engineered for the project. Pricing starts at €390,000 before taxes and duties, placing the Runabout firmly in the realm of modern, ultra-limited Italian coachbuilt cars.