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Specialists in car styling, such as Bertone, expect extra scrutiny on any of their cars that roll out of their design studios. For this, they are held in high regard by people both internal and external to the automotive industry and are closely followed as leaders in the latest trends of automotive design. Although Bertone themselves do not manufacture cars (on a large scale), many of their designs have made it to production through projects completed for established manufacturers. Some of these companies range from Daewoo, Opel and Fiat to Citroen and Alfa Romeo.

The similarities of the designers initial idea (sketch) is very close to the final product - A sign at how well it was designed to capture the feeling of what the designer intended.

To show off their latest innovations, and to keep interest in their brand that is synonymous with style, Bertone produces its own concept cars (or low volume ones) that are highly anticipated at all reveal events (such as motor shows). They gauge the audience’s reaction to the works to help guide them into future trends in automotive design.
Based on the 2009 Corvette ZR1 platform, the 2009 Bertone Mantide Concept boasts internal features such as carbon fiber racing seats with a FIA regulation roll cage – some serious racing gear. It is obvious that this car is indeed a concept car with bold visual elements such as the rear ‘fender’ that creates an arch/buttress to the window graphic, and its sharp blade elements that make up the rear of the car. The impact of the overall design is quite dramatic and loud. The formula of a fast slope to the back of the glasshouse and the beltline equate to the Mantide obviously being a sports car.

Influenced 'fins' from Formula 1 Racing - 'W' shaped fins of the rear flow from the butresses/arch of the rear fender.

Contrasting to the common consumer car designs where the rear fascia is a result of what has happened to the body side, the ‘fins’ at the rear create a ‘W’ shape that has begun from the side of the car (the rear ‘fender’ as mentioned earlier). They look like they guide the air around the car in a very controlled way, to improve this vehicles aerodynamic efficiency. This justifies the design of the rear as something that is functional (whether it is or not) as the arches start the theme, that is inspired by fully functional Formula 1 car designs. (Apparently the arches increase down force with minimal drag).

Intersecting - The body side diving powerfully into the arch way of the rear fender

An interlocking of the muscular body side that dives into the ‘arch’ blade of the rear fender resembles a tough and aggressive connection between the front and the rear. The peaking out of the glasshouse that is heavily raked backwards has the inspiration from a cockpit of a jet fighter aircraft. The surface languages of both the glass area and body sides are very actively sympathetic to each other having a clean an undisturbed aerodynamically clean feel – you’d almost be able to see how the air would flow around the car. Even the fender vents have been designed like it would create minimal disturbance across the clean surface with an array of stamped out holes. Fitting in with the same theme of stamped out holes; the front grille is also created in the same way.

The symphatietic relationship of the lines on the front half of the car.

The boundaries of the bonnet and front fascia are blurred as there are no part line markings; instead there are creases and edges that break up the front of the car. Most distinct being the ‘beak’ that is framed between the vertical lamps that creates the illusion that the bonnet is wider than what it may actually be, and planting the car down to the ground. Following is the bonnet bulge that brings some tension in the surfaces to create strength in this large area and leads the eyes to a viewing area of the engine bay window – its beating heart.

Comparison of the initial designers idea of a sheerer body side, compared to the final model that has more crown in the surface (more full).

How the elements of the front half of the car, and the rear part of the car relate with each other is quite intriguing. The overall weight at the front of the car is quite heavy with a lot of body color mass that contrasts the rear of the car that seems lighter with fins and thin shapes that dramatically decreases the weight. In the context of this sports car concept, the heavier strength of the front makes sense as it encloses the power of the engine – almost wanting to contain it from escaping. The rear of the car focuses on down force with the aero-bits that functions specifically though body work. The joining of the two elements (heavy and light) although quite strong it does seem a little abrupt from the solid body side of the door that is a bit too heavy leading into the arched fender.
The Mantide is quite a striking concept both in its design and name. To be able to pick out the inspirations for its design can be justified, its name however, that story we will have to wait for…