Bertone has dropped a teaser video giving us some enticing glimpses of the comeback supercar the reborn coachbuilding company will reveal in just over a week’s time on December 21.
The firm behind icons like the Lamborghini Miura and Countach and Lancia Stratos went bust in 2014 but is now back on the scene as a maker of low volume, high-priced supercars, a bit like that other classic 1960s coachbuilder, Touring.
But like Touring, which rebodies Ferrari’s sports cars, there’s no way Bertone can afford to build its own machine from scratch. So the question is, what’s underneath the new skin teased in the video? Bertone’s only official statement, apart from lots of references to authentic Italian DNA, is that the powertrain will run on fuel made from plastic waste, which means it’s definitely powered by a combustion engine.
Related: Bertone Teases New Supercar To Herald The Brand’s Revival
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But we think we can do better than that. To us it’s clear that it’s a Lamborghini Huracan in a fancy frock. Take a look at the images below. Although the body panels are different, the giveaways are the bits that Bertone can’t change, like the almost flat windshield, which doesn’t curve to meet the screen pillars. And the small quarter window at the base of that A-pillar, the falling and rising waistline, plus the position of the air intake behind the rear quarter window. Even the mirror position and shape appears almost identical.
It all points to the Huracan being the base for the project, which of course means the powertrain will be a 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V10 linked to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, though we’ll have to wait to see whether it’s two- or all-wheel drive, and which version of the V10 is behind the seats. Base Huracans and the new off-road Sterrato make 602 hp (610 PS), but the all-wheel Evo, Tecnica, and STO all enjoy a boost to 631 hp (641 PS).
The Huracan is heading towards its 10th birthday and is far from the most powerful car in its class. But it’s got better with age, the naturally aspirated engine provides an emotional thrill faster rivals can’t match, and a Lamborghini makes a perfect base for Bertone given the strong historical links between the two brands.
Of course, when Bertone unveils the car on December 21 we could be proved totally wrong. Do you think we are? And do you think a Huracan is a fitting base for Bertone’s comeback car?
