Special Coverage
Geneva
Auto Show
TURIN – Bertone plans to unveil two design concepts for the Jaguar brand at the Geneva Motor Show.
In addition to the Jaguar B 99 sedan, pictures of which were released this week, there will be a “racing” derivative, called the B 99 GT.
Mike Robinson, director of design and brand manager, is putting the final touches to the second show car, which will be presented as a full scale model.
The B 99 nomenclature is derived from the design house’s name and the fact it is 99 years old. The concept is the fifth Jaguar design produced by Bertone. Previous cars include the 1957 Bertone Jaguar XK 150, Jaguar FT (1966), Jaguar Pirana (1967) and e Jaguar Ascot (1977).
The 2011 show car also will suggest a new hybrid powertrain developed by subsidiary Bertone Energia.
By completing the project and the two design pieces in just 100 days, Bertone believes it has established a new record. This might be true for recent times, but in the past designers could build a new show car in a month or so.
Bertone’s Marcello Gandini created as many as three superlative dream cars for the 1966 Geneva Motor Show in his first three months on the job: the Porsche 911 Roadster, Jaguar FT and Lamborghini Miura.
