The 1980s was an ambitious period for automakers with freedom on experimentation. This helped churn out some iconic and timeless cars like Audi Quattro, BMW E30 M3, Buick Grand National, DeLorean DMC-12, and the Ferrari F40 to name a few. Well, these cars fitted in quite well with the sensual sports appeal that they wanted to portray.
But on the other end of this spectrum, minivans were booming in sales, just like how SUVs have taken the stage and set it on fire today! Chrysler had bounced back with their Voyager that was their best-seller of the time. And so it was befitting to invest in making more vans. This was also the time when Lamborghini was owned by Chrysler. And yes, both of them joined hands, to make the wildest blobby-looking minivan.
Enter the Bertone Genesis, which is also known as the Lamborghini Genesis because of the shared elements with the Italian marque. Lamborghini Urus is known as an SSUV (Super-Sport Utility Vehicle). In that context, the Bertone Genesis was an SMPV! But sadly, it wasn’t intended to go into production; just an ambitious case study of design and dreams. Oh! and you know what else it had? Gull-wing doors!
The 1988 Bertone Genesis happened when a Chrysler Voyager and a Lamborghini Countach got too cozy.
Fusing Practicality And Performance Was A Revolutionary Step Back Then
If we talk of an SUV from Lamborghini today, it’s a casual thing. But making a practical bull back in the 80s was considered barbaric for the sensual and sporty appeal this Italian automaker possessed. But under the ownership of Chrysler, Lamborghini had to make a bold new car. It was to be a bold, practical, and not-so-sharp Lamborghini. Clearly, this was a doubtful move because no one wanted comfort or practicality from a Lambo!
But Bertone was given the bold task and they delivered on a weird new minivan. The Bertone Genesis was showcased at the 1988 Turin Auto Show and it had on-lookers and fellow automakers stare in awe. Bertone had managed to make a comfortable and practical van using Lamborghini and Chrysler parts. It was very much the first Super Minivan! It had 5 comfortable but weirdly designed seats and the occupants would be unaware of the glorious V12 sitting up front.
Bertone Genesis Had A Glorious V12 From The Lamborghini Countach
Yes, Bertone picked the naturally aspirated V12 from the Lamborghini Countach Quattrovalvole as the Genesis’ heart. This 455 HP engine was front-mid-mounted. The engine required so much space, that the driver and front passenger would literally sit on the wheel arches. It had an RWD layout and was funnily coupled to a 3-Speed Automatic transmission from Chrysler. The engine was fearsome but the transmission was puny!
Bertone Genesis Packed Five Of The Sportiest Seats In A Minivan
On the inside, things were weirdly satisfying. Firstly, you get gull-wing doors for the front row which opens up to one of the coolest looking minivan interiors. The second row is accessible via sliding doors. But the main attraction on the inside is the sports seats that are arranged in a 2+1+2 layout, in which the center single seat can be swiveled completely to face the 3rd-row passengers.
In fact, the first row passengers can also move the layout to face passengers behind them. But it surely would be wise to do it when not driving, cos no autonomy here! While Bertone wanted the Genesis to be a practical Lamborghini, it was more inclined on being a very sporty minivan – two very different things.
This Lambo-Powered Minivan Was An Exotic Blob With Gull-Wing Doors
The most non-sporty part of Genesis was its form factor. Come on, guys! No matter how much you try, a minivan is finally going to look minivan-ish; except for the soccer-mom minivan-derived F1 car that can beat a Ferrari on the racetrack! Blob-shaped minivans were a common thing during the 80s, but Bertone did give Genesis a few unique bits to highlight its sporty appeal.
The Genesis was quite tall which didn’t quite go with the “sporty” appeal it was trying to put forth. So, the designers used body-colored feature lines to break its height and create an illusion of the top being a huge fixed sunroof. The coolest part was its wheels which were closely related to the likes of Lamborghini sports cars.
Chrysler Trans Sport Concept Is The Reason We Got The Bertone Genesis
We all know that blob-shaped minivans were pretty much the craze during the 1980s. Major American automakers were putting forth bold new concepts that fused practicality and sportiness in a minivan. And this trend started with the Chrysler Trans Sport Minivan Concept which also came with gull-wing doors! This was Chrysler’s attempt at making sick concepts to save itself from drowning. The formula was crisp – cool looks, cooler interior, and a V6 with an RWD layout.
This was something that the world had never seen and it became a buzz in the automotive world. The word spread fast and wide until it reached Italy. This was the catalyst that gave Bertone the confidence to make the sporty Genesis. But it was strictly a design exercise and sadly didn’t go into production. Bertone only understood its lost potential when Renault came out with the Espace, which was a smashing hit. But the Bertone Genesis is surely a gem of a concept and who knows, Lamborghini might actually think of making one shortly, just like it bent to the SUV-craze!
Sources: Diariomotor.com, Autoblog.com, Driventowrite.com, Designyoutrust.com, Below-the-radar.com, Hemmings.com
Read Next
About The Author