Unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, the Bertone Nuccio stands as one of the 21st century’s most radical coachbuilt concepts, created to mark the 100th anniversary of the legendary Italian design house. Named in honour of Nuccio Bertone, son of founder Giovanni Bertone, the Nuccio was the final creation to bear the Bertone name before the company’s bankruptcy in 2015.
Penned by then-design director Michael Robinson, the Nuccio draws inspiration from the iconic 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero, reinterpreting its extreme wedge profile for the modern era. The entire process — from sketch to rolling sculpture — took just three and a half months and was completed entirely in-house at Bertone’s Turin headquarters. Beneath its futuristic lines lies a Ferrari-sourced 4.3-litre V8, paired with a six-speed Graziano automated manual gearbox and F1-style paddle shifters for all necessary driving inputs.
One of the concept’s most intriguing features is its patented forward-facing brake light, which causes part of the headlamp to glow blue to alert pedestrians when the car is slowing. The interior was designed with ergonomics in mind, blending show-stopping visuals with surprising usability. Although the car debuted as a static display in Geneva, a fully functional version was later shown at the Beijing Auto Show, where it drew attention for its subtle modifications, including working headlights and a widened windscreen. It was acquired by a private owner in 2018 and is now once again available.
With only a single prototype ever built, the Bertone Nuccio is both a rolling sculpture and a poignant final chapter in the coachbuilder’s original legacy. This remarkable vehicle is now offered through RM Sotheby’s online auction, closing July 17. More details are available on their official website.
