Exclusive: Bertone BAT 11 unveiled

For the first time in over 50 years, Bertone sadly did not have a stand at
this year's Geneva Show, largely due to the severe financial difficulties
facing the company. However, that didn't stop them making a surprise debut at
the first AutoDesignNight last night in Geneva with the amazing BAT 11
concept, commissioned by American enthusiast Gary Kaberle who owned the
original 1955 BAT 9 car. The car was exclusively unveiled before an audience
of 400 of the world's top designers at an evening reception at La Sip
nightclub in the heart of the city.

Marie-Jeanne Bertone and David Wilkie unveil the concept

Based on a modified Alfa Romeo 8C platform, the BAT 11 continues some of the
distinguishing elements of the original 'Berlinetta Aerodynamica Tecnica' cars
designed by Franco Scaglione and developed by Nuccio Bertone. These include
the tapered fins and faired wheels, all in a context where soft proportions
are combined with strong, robust lines. The monolithic form has a simple
dihedral bodyside section with fins that seem to have been designed as a shawl
that wraps around the car beginning from the front fender and extending to the
top of the side windows toward the rear.  

The front end is strongly tapered
to a V-shape with a neat Alfa Romeo shield low down in the lean-forward nose.
The V-shaped form continues into the wraparound windshield and continues at
the rear, with a center fin butting up to the tapering rear window and a pair
of open air extraction slots behind the rear wheels. The vast bat wings cant
over at nearly 45 degrees towards the back, with the rear edge housing a pair
of thin LED taillamps. The 21-inch wheels feature a double layer of twisted
spokes, the outer ones made in carbon fiber that, according to designer Gwen
Pennarun, are a contemporary update of the original Borrani wire wheels.

The story behind this car is quite remarkable and CDN will be bringing you
the full account in a subsequent Design Development story in the next couple
of weeks. Watch this space...

From :
http://www.cardesignnews.com/