Ahead of its time: Bertone Blitz
01/09/2023
"Elektro salonfähig", wrote the Automobil Revue in March 1992, referring to the Bertone Blitz. This open-top sports car was actually on display at the Geneva Motor Show 31 years ago and was even announced as functional for the Turin Motor Show in April.
Auto motor und sport described the Spider as a car-motorcycle. With its scissor doors and very flat silhouette, the car was definitely eye-catching with its yellow color, although the color and shape of the body still had to undergo corrections for Turin.
According to specifications at the time , the sports car, which weighed just 650 kg, accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in six seconds. Two engines, each with 28 kW or 37 hp, were sufficient for this, giving a total output of 56 kW or 75 hp, the equivalent of less than nine kilograms per hp.
Because an early generation of nickel-cadmium batteries had to be used at the time, the range was just 100 to 130 km and this also required 260 kg of batteries. However, the Blitz 2 on show in Turin still had lead batteries under the hood.
Anyone who thinks of the Tesla Roadster when they think of the flat Bertone Blitz is certainly not completely wrong. But the battery technology was simply not mature enough and even today it still isn't for such fun cars. And so the Blitz was simply ahead of its time, with no chance of series production. After all, it would already be a classic car today ...
