Bertone Nuccio Concept

Over the years, the name “Bertone” has graced some truly classic automobiles, including the Alfa Romeo Giulia GT, the Lamborghini Muira, the Lancia Stratos, the Lamborghini Countach and the Ferrari 308.

Despite Giuseppe "Nuccio" Bertone’s death in 1997, the company is still active in automobile design and still producing concept cars. At the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, Bertone will debut its radically styled Nuccio concept, named in honor of its former CEO. Based on the sketches leaked ahead of the show, Car Body Design calls the concept “muscular” and “extreme.”

We agree on both counts, and think the mid-engine, berlinetta sports coupe looks more like something from Hot Wheels than from a major automotive design studio. Bertone says of the design, “an aesthetic phrasing with a strong emotional impact will progress the brand identity into the future.”

As far as we can translate design-speak, that means “the low height and muscular stance of the Nuccio concept honors Bertone designs of the past, while the futuristic styling gives an idea of what to expect from us in the future.”

Bertone celebrates is 100th anniversary in 2012, and the Nuccio concept will feature prominently in the design firm’s celebration. Look for the car to be unveiled at next month’s Geneva Motor Show, before being exhibited in Beijing, China and Turin, Italy later this year.