How unique the Bertone Blitz EV concept of the '90s

UNIque ONES Indeed today we are in the era of electric vehicles. It feels like just yesterday, we are amazed when we see electric-powered concept cars presented by the makers. But now, there were so many electric-powered vehicles had been milling about on the streets.

1992 Bertone Blitz electric-powered sporty vehicle concept is one of the 79 units of Bertone's collections bought by the Automotoclub Storico Italiano (Italian Historic Automobile and Motorcycle Club) in the auction event held in the 2015. (Picture from: WardsAuto)

So it should be if we thank those who pioneered this electric vehicle, ranging from the very beginning of its development to the present day. So that in recent years we have been inundated with electric cars from small to large automakers and ranging from regular to high performance.

On this occasion, we are trying to return to the 1990s when electric-powered vehicles were not what they are now, and were still looking for the shape and direction of its development, which sometimes gives birth to unique forms that are look weird when viewed today.

1992 Bertone Blitz electric-powered sporty vehicle concept on display at the Automotoclub Storico Italiano (Italian Historic Automobile and Motorcycle Club) museum in Volandia near Milan-Malpensa Airport. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

And the Bertone Blitz electric-powered car is one of those most bizarre interpretations ever built in the 1990s of what an EV sports car should look be like. When viewed at the time this car was being developed, indeed, the Blitz was said to be ahead of its time. This concept electric car made by Bertone at a glance has a physical appearance that is no less eccentric than a Fiat Multipla which also came from the same era.

1992 Bertone Blitz electric-powered sporty vehicle concept in another style of bodywork, which has a difference in the front fascia. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

This prototype is an open-air two-seater electric-powered show car created in the 1992 as a study design and also experimented with electric traction and with new materials for the chassis and bodywork. To achieve the desired 'lightness', the body is made by Albatech in 25CD4 steel tubes, mounted with fiberglass panels with epoxy resin and a Roacell core.

Well, the bodywork consists entirely of composite materials (consisted of epoxy glass and autoclave-produced nomex), with the interior made of carbon. So it's not surprising that the car weighs only 650 kg (1,433 lbs), of which 260 kg (572 lbs) is the weight of the batteries.

1992 Bertone Blitz electric-powered sporty vehicle concept's performance is also decent via two 36 horsepower (continuous output) DC motors with a total torque of 95 Nm. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

Moreover, its appearence peeled at the back, fully open roofless, with an unusual seating layout (with the driver's seat located slightly in front of the passenger seat). The closest production car analogy to it was the Volkswagen XL1, which has an almost similar seating layout, but it was a sport coupe and has a diesel-hybrid drivetrain.

1992 Bertone Blitz electric-powered sporty vehicle concept appearence peeled at the back, fully open roofless, with an unusual seating layout. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

Another feature of great impact was the solution created for the car's door, which are the front-hinged and opens vertically. It's a concept taken from the Alfa Romeo Carabo made by Bertone in 1968 and which had subsequently been used on a succession of other models.

The car's performance is also decent via two 36 horsepower (continuous output) DC motors with a total torque of 95 Nm. So that it can make the car accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in six seconds. This Bertone's electric powered car range is 100 to 130 km per charge and its lead acid battery can be recharged in 4 to 6 hours.

1992 Bertone Blitz electric-powered sporty vehicle concept range is 100 to 130 km per charge and its lead acid battery can be recharged in 4 to 6 hours. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

We were assumes 2 units ever had produced (according to the pictures shown at several sites such Carstyling, Conceptcarz, etc), both of which had that incredible two-tiered design like the Fiat Multipla and have been shown off for the first time at the 1992 Turin International Motor Show.🙏

Unfortunately, after surviving for almost 102 years since it was first founded in 1912, Carrozzeria Bertone finally should closed the doors after being declared bankrupt in 2014.😭 And a lot of its works were then auctioned off starting in 2015 and one of them is the 1992 Bertone Blitz which is now sat on display at the Automotoclub Storico Italiano (ASI) Museo in Volandia near Milan-Malpensa Airport. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIPEDIA | CONCEPTCARZ | JALOPNIK | CARSTYLING.RU | AUTOCAR | WARDSAUTO ]

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