End of the Line for Bertone
According to the latest rumors, the Italian design house Bertone is now bankrupt. The rumors started at the end of 2013, stating the company wasn't doing so well financially.
While there is no official statement yet, Bertone has laid off 165 workers in the last week, and those who are still employed have reportedly not been paid in the last 6 months. Even worse, some material suppliers have sued them over unpaid bills.
Sadly, 2013 started well for the Bertone. They unveiled the Jet 2+2 at the Geneva Auto Show. This fantastic-looking shooting brake was based on the Aston Martin Rapide and was commissioned by a fan of the English brand who wanted to commemorate the 60 year anniversary of the DB4 GT Jet, another Bertone creation.
Bertone has left its mark in the car world, designing iconic cars over the years. Their most notable work includes the Lamborghini Miura, the Iso Grifo, the Alfa Romeo Montreal, the Lamborghini Countach, the Volvo 780 and countless others. They even had their own supercar at one point, the Bertone Mantide. It was based on the Corvette ZR1, but with better aerodynamics and lower weight, it was faster. More expensive too, with a nearly $2 million dollar price tag.