Few names command quite the same reverence in automotive circles as Bertone. The legendary Italian design house, having shaped everything from humble hatchbacks to era-defining supercars, now brings its latest masterpiece to the sun-drenched shores of the UAE. Following its spectacular Monaco debut in June 2024, the GB110 hypercar prepares to make its Middle Eastern bow at the Dubai International Boat Show 2025.
Legacy carved in steel
The Bertone story began in 1912 when Giovanni Bertone first opened his workshop doors, likely unaware that his name would become synonymous with automotive excellence. Through decades of innovation, the company’s influence has touched virtually every corner of automotive design, creating masterpieces that transformed not just how cars looked, but how the world imagined them.
Masters of the craft
Behind Bertone’s legendary status stands a pantheon of automotive design giants. Marcello Gandini, whose pencil strokes birthed the impossible angles of the Lamborghini Countach and the sensuous curves of the Miura. Giorgetto Giugiaro, whose work on the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT redefined sporting elegance. Franco Scaglione, whose aerodynamic wizardry pushed the boundaries of what seemed possible on four wheels.
The new chapter
The brothers Mauro and Jean-Franck Ricci assumed stewardship of Bertone in 2022, bringing three decades of engineering prowess to this storied marque. Their vision maintains the delicate balance between heritage and innovation, ensuring each new creation honours the past while pushing boldly into the future.
The GB110: Power meets pedigree
Numbers tell only part of the story, but what numbers they are. The GB110 hypercar unleashes 1,124 horsepower onto the tarmac, channelling 1,100 Nm of torque through its powertrain. Perhaps most impressively, it launches from standstill to 300 km/h in just 12.9 seconds – the kind of acceleration that makes fighter pilots nervous.
Limited edition, unlimited ambition
True to Bertone’s philosophy of exclusivity, only 33 examples of the GB110 will ever exist. Each unit represents the culmination of 110 years of design excellence, earning its name as both a celebration of the company’s anniversary and a tribute to founder Giovanni Bertone.
Beyond the road
Bertone’s creative vision refuses to be contained by mere tarmac. The company now ventures into the realm of yacht design, bringing its distinctive aesthetic to the waves. The upcoming Bertone 1 megayacht, whose digital prototype will share space with the GB110 at the Dubai International Boat Show, demonstrates the versatility of Bertone’s design language.
The future of heritage
Modern Bertone operates with surgical precision, producing between 20 and 40 units per model. This approach ensures each vehicle becomes not just a mode of transport, but a rare collectible masterpiece. The GB110 represents the pinnacle of this philosophy, while the neo-retro Bertone RUNABOUT pays homage to the iconic Autobianchi A112 Runabout of 1969, proving that even as Bertone races toward the future, it never loses sight of its remarkable past.
This careful balance of heritage and innovation, power and precision, exclusivity and excellence defines modern Bertone. As the GB110 makes its Middle Eastern debut, it carries with it not just the hopes of a new market, but the weight of a legacy that spans over a century of automotive excellence.
