First look: Bertone celebrates with eye-catching roadster

TO celebrate its 95th anniversary, Italian styling studio Bertone has unveiled its Geneva motor show concept, the Roadster.

The minimalist concept is a true open two-seater sports model on the 1.4-litre four-cylinder Fiat Panda that harks back to the Fiat 500 Barchetta designed by a young Nuccio Bertone in 1947 as a one-off for his own personal use in races.

The two-seater features a wrap-around windscreen, aluminium body and clear door panels while the 1.4-litre develops 75kW at 6000rpm and 131Nm at 4250rpm.

The car’s light weight ensures a top speed of 185km/h and a 0-100km/h sprint time of 9.5 seconds.

Bertone is well known as a coach builder of "special" vehicles and has previously penned many Fiat models over the past 80 years - from the 850 Spider to the X1/9, and the Ritmo Cabrio to the Punto Cabrio.