Boat on a highway

The Runabout concept, designed by the legendary Italian automotive designer Marcello Gandini in 1969, was a harbinger of the major shifts in car aesthetics that defined the 1970s. This two-seater "barchetta" with an open top featured sharp lines inspired by the speedboats of that era and a wedge-shaped silhouette—a hallmark that would later characterize Gandini's iconic creations such as the Lancia Stratos and Lamborghini Countach. The car's relationship to boats extended beyond its contours and pointed nose, incorporating a doorless body, a roll bar behind the driver and passenger seats, and air intakes on the rear-mounted engine cover.

Today, Bertone revisits the spirit of the original Runabout with a modernized design based on the 1969 concept, now equipped with doors and a removable hardtop. The new Runabout will feature a V6 engine producing over 500 horsepower, a significant upgrade from the 50-horsepower inline-four used in the prototype. The car will be offered in two versions: Barchetta, with no roof or windshield, and Targa, featuring a removable roof for added versatility.