The two houses have worked closely together for some eighty years and created north of fifty concept and production models in that time. But while Fiat prospers madly in its post-GM alliance life, Bertone has gone from one struggle to another of late. Rumors abound now that Fiat is actually taking on Bertone as a special rejuvenation project. Regardless of what the real story is, we say BRAVO!

Take a look at what is sure to be one of the sentimental favorites of the upcoming Geneva auto show in early March. Still nameless at the time of this writing, this tiny two-seater barchetta uses the recent Fiat Nuova Panda 100HP’s underpinnings. Seeing as all we didn’t love on the Fiat 100HP Panda we drove was the soft rolly-poley feel in hard curves, this dramatic lowering of the body mass is certain to improve things somewhat. We will drive the little sucker at a later date.

And don’t be surprised if it reminds you of something you’ve seen this decade. Remember the Nissan Urge at the 2006 Detroit show? It was a sheer expression of fun and this Bertone Fiat charmer does exactly the same thing to the cockles in our collective heart. It also hearkens way back to the dawn of the great Nuccio Bertone and his 1947 barchetta version of the original Fiat 500 that he made into his personal racer on weekends.