The unveiling of Bertone’s cabriolet version of the Alfa Romeo GT coupe has been anticipated for nearly a decade. But it was only on April 6 at Bertone's first media event since its reorganization in late 2009 that the public finally got a view of the car that reminds us of what Bertone and Alfa could have achieved together. In 2003, Italian design house Bertone built this four-seat softtop concept for Alfa Romeo, Fiat's sporty subsidiary.
Bertone came up with the design and engineering of the Alfa GT coupe. Bertone took the front end of the Alfa 147 and combined it with the central portion and front seats of the 156 and the 159 wagon's reclining rear seats and rear end. It wanted its carmaking arm, Carrozzeria Bertone, to build the GT coupe but Fiat instead chose to produce it at its Pomigliano, Italy plant, together with the 147 and 159. Bertone then made attempts to persuade Fiat to allow it to build the GT cabriolet.
Lilli Bertone, the chairman and widow of Nuccio Bertone, said that former Alfa CEO Daniele Bandiera had said that “they loved the car” and that Bertone will build it. But instead, Alfa chose to produce the Alfa Spider, which was based on the Brera coupe. This loss prompted Carrozzeria Bertone to later seek bankruptcy protection. In late 2009, it was sold to Fiat, which changed its name to Officine Automobilistiche Grugliasco. Nonetheless, Bertone's design business continues to exist.
