Pop-up headlights from my childhood days in the 90s were the coolest thing on this planet. Of course, at that time I spotted them on card games and posters, coming across beauties like Lamborghini, Ferrari F40, Chevrolet Corvette, Mazda MX-5, BMW M1, and Dodge Daytona. Even the common rides like the Honda Accord had a flip-up light. This feature eventually became so accepted in the industry. However, the flip-up headlights became somewhat of a rarity due to unknown reasons. Call it regulations, advancement in lighting technology, or simply a fading trend – those cheeky lights could only be spotted on classic restored cars or restomod versions.
Bertone, the iconic Italian automotive design house wants to change that perception with a modern interpretation of a 1969 concept Autobianchi Bertone. The original version designed by Marcello Gandini was revealed back in the late 1960s. The vehicle will be limited for now to 25 units each carrying a price tag of €350,000 (approximately $3,80,000) and is set to arrive in mid-2026. It’ll come in lively colors like Azzurro Mediterraneo (blue shade), Bianco Perla (a pearlescent ivory shade), or a special Rame Antico shade too which is a mix of copper and bronze. Quitely under the radar, this classic roadster won the Gran Turismo Award at the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Designer:
They call it the Runabout, exemplified by the neo-retro aesthetics and of course, the pop-up headlights that bring the nostalgia of bold and modern in one form factor. The daytime running light bar is integrated seamlessly into the hood of the L-shaped sportscar which lends it a very bold stance. There’s an additional LED strip placed on the grill like the modern electric cars, just in case you don’t want to reveal the hidden lights. When you do open them, there is a brighter projection at your disposal. The taillights go for a more classic aesthetic in the round configuration. You can choose to keep the rooftop Targa configuration or retract it back for an open roadster Barchetta configuration for those beautiful summer days.
Under the hood of this pretty brunette is a mid-mounted V6 gasoline engine capable of churning out 454 horsepower for the thrill of driving dynamics. The open-top design of the lightweight vehicle further adds the element of exhilarating rides to the equation which will please purists. Runabout will be offered in two variants – one will be a roadster version purely designed for motorheads who value driving pleasure more than anything else. The other version will be for the rich and famous who desire an opulent experience. This variant will have additional features more tailored towards comfort and lifestyle. The dashboard flows over the hood and into the engine compartment with wide-open vents for optimized airflow. The interior is contrasted with the lively paint job in black with red accents, or red with white accents. For now, there’s not much known about the other functional addition to the vehicle.
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