Bertone Mantide supercar

21st April 2009

If Darth Vader drove a supercar, the Bertone Mantide would surely be it! This shocking one-off is the creation of Italian design house Bertone, who stunned the Chinese crowds when it threw off the covers at the Shanghai Show this week.

Peel back the slashed and vented carbon-fibre bodywork and you’ll find a Corvette ZR1 underneath. But the Origami-inspired panels aren’t just to draw attention – its designers claim the new shape reduces air resistance and produces more downforce at high speed.

Sensibly, Bertone has left the ZR1’s incredible engine well alone - it’s still a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 producing 631bhp. But thanks to the extensive use of super light carbon-fibre in the bodyshell, performance has increased. The mantide’s 0-60mph time of 3.2 seconds shades two tenths off the standard Corvette, while the top speed climbs by 12mph to 217mph.  

Although there’s no word on price, this unique vehicle will be available to buy, and Bertone has confirmed that replicas can be produced if demand is sufficiently high.  

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