A legendary Italian automobile company has launched a new ‘supercar’ that runs on fuel made from plastic waste.
The new Bertone GB110 uses ‘Fuel Select’, a patented method to convert polycarbonate waste, such as plastic bottles, into liquid fuel.
Bertone has not yet announced a price for the car, but says it will be ‘like a work of art’ allowing for a range of modifications to suit ‘unique tastes and identities’. The limited edition of 33 pieces was launched to celebrate Bertone’s 110th anniversary, but they won’t be delivered to customers until spring 2024 at the earliest.
Video: Bertone reveals renderings of the new ‘hypercar’ Bertone GB110 м>
Bertone has released artistic images of the car showing off its design, showing that the car itself is still being put together.
“The GB110 is continuing Bertone’s automotive legacy and is a contemporary interpretation of Bertone’s DNA,” said design and project manager Gioʋanni Sapio. It pays homage to Bertone’s pioneering designs from the ’50s and ’70s, combining the soft, rounded lines of the ’50s with the sharp lines of ’70s style. ‘
Bertone was founded in 1912 by Italian automobile designer Gioʋanni Bertone, but the company went bankrupt in 2014. The company was known for its iconic designs such as its wedge shape. The sharp edges of Laмborghini Countach.
Previously in 2022, brothers Mauro and Jean-Franck Ricci acquired the rights to the brand and are remanaging it, starting with GB110. They claim this is the first high-performance car that will be fueled by plastic waste.
“We believe that reducing pollution will require different solutions with a combination of technology,” said Jean-Franck Ricci, CEO of Bertone.
‘Plastic waste needs to be treated as a valuable resource. Through our partnership with Select Fuel, we take what was once waste and turn it back to its original form.’
Select Fuel uses a patented process to turn cleaned and shredded plastic into liquid fuel. Renewable fuels can also be generated from exhaust gases (such as waste fats and oils), agricultural waste (crops such as camellia or rapeseed) or municipal waste such as grass clippings and feed redundant.
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“We recognize that plastic waste is a serious environmental problem,” Select Fuel says on its website. We are committed to developing technologies that turn polycarbonate materials into renewable and sustainable fuels. With our advanced plastic-to-fuel technology, Select Fuel products can be used in a variety of applications. Our fuels are used in everything from the transport industry and renewable fuels to high-end sports and sports cars including the Bertone GB110.’
Besides the unique power source, the new ʋehicle also has other interesting features, namely realistic images.
According to the company, the GB110 has a high-speed transmission and can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.79 seconds and reach a top speed of 236 miles per hour. Like classic Bertone models, its wedge shape gives it enhanced aerodynamics, allowing it to reach such impressive speeds, although its sleek exterior belies the car’s ‘it’s not just about raw power and performance’.
It also has a pair of scissor doors, which swing vertically on a fixed hinge at the front, rather than facing outward like a conventional door.
The company’s website says it pays homage to “Bertone’s pioneering designs from the 50s and 70s and has been”sculpted for a timeless, striking presence”.
Those interested in purchasing the GB110 are in luck as only 33 will be produced. Potential buyers can register on the Bertone website to register their interest and receive more information about the Bertone GB110, which is the first in a new limited edition series from Bertone.
