Jay Leno car collection UPDATE: $2 million Bertone Mantide sled is hot new exotic with 2009 'Stile'

July 26, 1:25 AMExotic Car ExaminerKae Davis

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Breaking Bertone Italian car news: Bertone Mantide (photo above) from Jalopnik

You asked, the Exotic Car Examiner answers. Has car collector Jay Leno made an offer to purchase a $2 million dollar exotic car -- and if so, what the heck is it? The car is an Italian exotic treasure designed primarily by auto house Bertone, and the rumor appears to be ture that the celebrity may be buying the second special sled produced by the manufacturer in a very limited and exclusive run of automobiles. Named the "Mantide", the sleigh is sure to give toy collector Leno a twinkle in his eye and put a rosey glow like Santa Claus in his cheeks whenever he takes the car for a drive -- because reports say it flies. As such, congratulations go out to Mr. Leno for his unique gift item he seems to be purchasing wisely for himself and any women drivers her loves.

Photo Credit Italian Junkyard

BERTONE TRENDING IN IN POP CULTURE NEWS

According to TrendHunter.com, the rumor has been confirmed true that celeb and late night talk show host and comedian Jay Leno will be paying a cool two million dollars to add a new beautiful girl to his backyard garage barn find collection.

Bertone has certainly been surging in popularity lately, with talk that Fiat Group made an offer to aquire one of the auto design house factories to add to their McWorld-class collection of exotic automobiles. If you are unfamiliar with the brand, take a peek through these links to help bring you up to speed:

Exotic Cars 101: What is the Bertone BAT 11 and how it is related to the Alfa Romeo?

Fiat Group and Bertone as influencing Italian stock market trade factors: Exotic car business news

Speaking of the Mantide in particular, auto mag Jalopnik introduced the new Italian American dream car as follows:

Meet the one-off Bertone Mantide — part Corvette ZR1, part Italian model, all sex appeal. Designed by Jason Castriota, the Mantide may even outshine his last great design, James Glickenhaus' Pininfarina P4/5.

 

 

2009 BERTONE MANTIDE: COMPETION FOR THE 2009 CORVETTE ZR1

The Bertone vehicle Leno is buying is called a Mantide. As a car co-created with Stile, it promised to rise to fame with the other show-stopping prototypes and 'fuori serie' cars designed by the Stile Bertone team - the Alfa Romeo Carabo, the Lancia Stratos Zero and the Lamborghini LP500 prototype.

Here's a quick peek:

The 2009 Bertone Mantide, according to ConceptCarz.com,  "has been designed and fully engineered in collaboration with the renowned Danisi Engineering and aims to be the world's greatest street legal performance car, wrapped in an iconic and radical Stile Bertone design."

The reviewers go on to say,

Mantide's futuristic design draws equal inspiration from modern aerospace and the world of Formula One. The iconic theme is clear to see: a teardrop-like fuselage which tightly encases the mechanicals and the passenger cell which is embraced by two prominent wrapping aerodynamic appendages. While shockingly bold and technical, Mantide's unique design maintains a sensuality unique to Italian sports cars thanks to a futuristic interpretation of the classic Kamm Back two volume silhouette.

The aerospace inspired design aesthetic is further characterised by innovative yet beautiful forms which are fully driven by performance: the low-slung nose, jet fighter style teardrop canopy and butterfly opening doors, as well as the numerous air inlets and exhausts for maximum air efficiency.

Mantide also boasts cutting edge aerodynamic performance fine-tuned in an advanced full scale wind tunnel. Features include a Le Mans prototype-derived flat floor and diffuser as well as 'flying buttresses' which help to increase aero efficiency, guarantee a lower drag coefficient and greater levels of down force. The final aerodynamic results are class leading, with drag reduced by 25% (Cd 0.298) and a 30% improvement in down force. The Mantide not only delivers greater speed and stability, but also more efficiency and therefore lower fuel consumption.

 

 

 

STILE BERTONE CAR REVIEW STATS READ LIKE A CHRISTMAS WISH LIST FOR EXOTICS LOVERS

Ultimately, the Bertone Mantide has been engineered in such a way that the car is expected to regularly outperform the Corvette ZR1. Combining the aerodynamic design features with a lighter overall weight chassis, speed performance should give a driver that "natural male enhancement" feeling upon warp speed entry. [Just think Santa Claus Bob from the Enzyte funny TV commercial seen below.]

More Christmas-like wish list STATS Bertone confirms will be true and provided on Leno's gift wrapped modern classic automobile:

-- 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds

-- a top speed of 351 kph (217mph)

-- Safety and chassis rigidity have been increased with the incorporation of an FIA regulation triangulated roll cage, light-weight carbon fibre racing seats and 4pt racing harness for track use.

Stile Bertone invites exotic car fans to follow Mantide through articles, images, picture stories, and videos online during its year-long journey.

The concept model car will be on display at various major auto events and car shows around the world at www.insideprojectm.com.

See the final Stile Bertone Mantide creation video by clicking the play button below.

 

 

 

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For more information about the cars of Italy and Exotic car design elements, visit the following link(s):

• Fiat 500 Car Configurator
• Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia
• Fiat Chrysler Italian American News Report
• Fiat Group rumor about bid on Bertone confirmed: Details on the design house
• Design your own Fiat 500 for 2010 and beyond: Fiat Group car configurator video game graphics rock

 

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For more information about concept cars and exotic cars already in production, click the following link(s): 

Smart car business: Teenager fan designs unique, limited production Michael Jackson cars as tribute

Exotic Cars 101: What is the Bertone BAT 11 and how it is related to the Alfa Romeo?

American Exotic Supercar: Mosler Land Shark MT900 GTR XX slideshow photos, specs, and VIDEO

Exotic cars for exotic locations: Bamboo Taxi car runs on coconut oil

Formula 3 car tastier concept than F1: Powered by chocolate, exotic car race fans ready to eat it up

Substantiating the rumor that Mercedes - McLaren F1 team is planning to engineer a hybrid supercar

Tesla Motors opens visionary London flagship dealership; England ready for American electric cars

Is the industry rumor true that Ferrari has applied for patent on a four wheel drive hybrid vehicle?

Tesla, Ford, and Nissan auto makers get new government loans for CAFE 35.5 MPG energy efficient R&D

Next Gen X Y exotic car of interest: Lotus Esprit to boast Lexus V10 engine (growl roar zoom) [Tuner Car News]

Lamborghini follows Ferrari Tesla Green PR: Confirms possible hybrid and reduced emissions by 2015

Ferrari makes strong confirmation of intention to produce Hybrid Exotic sports car by or before 2016

The future of supercars: Green exotic cars from Lamborghini and Ferrari to war in eco-market race?

Tesla Motor Company marketing sedan to upper middle class green-friendly 'Baby Boomer' generation

Tesla to open 7 showrooms: Will the luxury electric car become the next boutique exotic automobile?

Go topless on demand: Savage dutch design for exotic supercar sedan convertible really turns heads

China's next import exotic car to be sold is the American built Hummer? How fortunate.

Extreme Off-Road 4x4 lust and Recession inspires purchase of low cost pre-owned Jeeps to modify

 

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See Smiling Bob playing Santa Claus at his office Christmas party

in this funny video of the funny TV commercial (clever, classic adult theme humor)

Rated R for content theme ONLY -- no descriptive language or graphic visual imagery