The story of Bertone: the Most Controversial Coachbuilder Ever
The beginning of Bertone Bertone was founded in November 1912, when Giovanni Bertone, then aged 28, opened a workshop specialising in the construction and…
Audi F103 Hatchback
The Audi F103 Hatchback proposal by Bertone.
Vehicle Overview
The Audi F103 Hatchback by Bertone is a one-off concept vehicle constructed in 1969 by the Italian design house Bertone. The vehicle was developed as a stylistic reinterpretation of the Audi F103 platform, which was in production from 1965 to 1972. The purpose of the exercise was to explore the aesthetic and functional implications of adapting the conventional sedan format into a compact hatchback configuration, a body style then still emerging in Western European markets. The F103 series, introduced following Volkswagen’s acquisition of Auto Union, utilized a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout and was equipped with a four-cylinder four-stroke engine, a departure from the earlier two-stroke DKW lineage. The Bertone variant preserved the mechanical foundation of the standard F103, including engine, transmission, and suspension systems. No performance enhancements or engineering modifications were recorded. The design revisions were confined to the vehicle’s bodywork. Bertone replaced the original three-box saloon structure with a fastback silhouette terminating in a rear hatch. The new roofline extended continuously from the windscreen to the tail, incorporating a large glass hatch that permitted access to the rear luggage compartment. This alteration introduced a greater degree of versatility to the vehicle’s configuration while simultaneously reducing the visual mass associated with the upright design of the base model. The concept car featured bespoke front and rear fascia designs, integrated lighting elements, and a simplified surface treatment typical of late-1960s Italian proposals. Interior modifications, if any, were minimal and undocumented. The Audi F103 Hatchback by Bertone was never developed beyond the prototype stage. It was not exhibited widely, and no production was pursued by Audi or its parent company. The prototype’s present status and location are unknown, and no verified chassis number has been publicly recorded. This vehicle represents an instance of mid-century European coachbuilding applied to German industrial design. It reflects a period of transition in automotive form and typology, wherein traditional saloon formats were being reconsidered in light of evolving user requirements and market trends. As such, it serves as a historical example of conceptual divergence within the broader framework of the Audi brand’s post-war development.
Technical Specifications
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Production
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Year1969
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MakeAudi
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ModelF103
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CoachbuilderBertone
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