Bertone Revives Runabout Concept as Lotus Exige-Based Supercar

The iconic design house brings back a 1969 concept car as a limited-edition, retro-modern sports car.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 4:55pm

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Bertone, the renowned Italian design house, has unveiled the all-new Bertone Runabout, a limited-edition supercar based on the 1969 Runabout concept designed by Marcello Gandini. The modern interpretation maintains the original's wedge-shaped silhouette and sharp lines, but features updated technology like LED lighting and a carbon fiber body. Powered by a tuned 3.5-liter V6 from a Lotus Exige, the Runabout will be limited to just 25 units and priced at over $550,000.

Why it matters

The Runabout is an iconic Bertone design that never made it to production, until now. This revival showcases the company's commitment to its design heritage and ability to reinterpret classic concepts for the modern era. It also highlights the continued demand for limited-edition, high-performance sports cars that blend retro styling with cutting-edge technology.

The details

The production Runabout will use a Lotus Exige chassis as its foundation, with the Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6 engine tuned to produce 469 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque. Bertone has also implemented weight-saving measures like a carbon fiber body to keep the curb weight down to 2,600 pounds. Performance figures include a 0-62 mph sprint of 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 168 mph, despite the use of a six-speed manual gearbox.

  • The original Runabout concept was unveiled at the 1969 Turin International Motor Show.
  • The new Bertone Runabout will debut at the Rétromobile 2026 show.

The players

Bertone

An influential Italian automotive design house responsible for iconic cars like the Miura, Stratos, and Countach.

Marcello Gandini

The chief designer at Bertone from 1965 to 1980, who penned the original 1969 Runabout concept.

Lotus Exige

The sports car platform that serves as the basis for the new Bertone Runabout.

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What they’re saying

“One of Gandini's great designs finally finds its way to production, more than 50 years after its debut.”

— Lucas Bell, Associate Editor (Road & Track)

What’s next

The new Bertone Runabout will make its official debut at the Rétromobile 2026 show in Paris.

The takeaway

Bertone's revival of the iconic Runabout concept showcases the company's commitment to its design heritage and ability to reinterpret classic automotive styles for the modern era, despite the car's limited production run and astronomical price tag.