Key Points
- Coachbuilding involves custom car bodies using existing production models.
- Bertone’s 2026 Runabout revives Gandini’s wedge design from 1969, limited to only 25 units.
- The car debuts at Retromobile 2026, offering 460 hp and two body styles.
Italian Coachbuilding
An almost forgotten and lost art of the automotive world is coachbuilding, which refers to the idea of building the body of the car, but using the underpinnings of an already existing model. While most countries had their own coachbuilders, the Italians were known as one of the best, with famous designers and design houses.
One of the most iconic Italian design houses is Bertone, and it’s coming back to the spotlight with a limited-run production unit called Runabout.
Wedge-Shaped Glory
When it comes to iconic shapes and designs, the wedge motif, penned by Marcello Gandini of Bertone, is top of mind. This was the definitive design language of the supercars of the 1960s and ’70s, which we all know and adore.
Gandini was also responsible for a concept back in 1969 called the Runabout. It was a striking wedge design that sat on a long-forgotten automotive creation, the Autobianchi A112. This design, despite not making it into production, heavily influenced cars like the Lamborghini Countach.
Fast forward to today, and the Bertone Roundabout is about to get a new lease on life. The design has been updated for 2026. It uses Bertone’s Zero principle with only two defining lines, one is the L-shaped profile that is prominent from the top of the Roll bar up to the front nose, accentuating the wedge design. This car also integrates the ever-cool pop-up headlights, a Coda Tronca tail, rounded tailights, and an industrial-inspired engine cover.
The 2026 Runabout was already actually teased back in October 2024 and in March of this year, giving people a hint of the official design that will hit production.
With a design worthy of an art gallery spot, the Runabout will instead advertise itself on the move. It will be powered by a 3.5-liter V6 making 475 hp paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. It will come in two distinct body styles, the Targa and Barchetta.
It will, however, be an extremely rare production run, with only 25 models slated for potential customers. The 2026 Runabout will make its official public debut during the Retromobile 2026 in Paris.
