Surprise! Bertone's birthday gift

Described as being 'aggressive and refined', yet 'futuristic and minimalist', the Bertone roadster concept is based on the mechanicals of Fiat's Panda 100 HP first shown at last year?s Paris Motor Show.

The concept is an open top two-seater inspired by Nuccio Bertone's once-off Fiat 500 barchetta created in 1947 as his personal racer.

The hot Panda uses a 1.4 litre 16-valve engine that produces 75 kW (or 100 hp, hence the name) at 6 000 r/min and 131 Nm at 4 250 r/min and is mated with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Not much has been revealed about the Bertone concept, though its performance figures shouldn't be too far off those of the Panda, which accelerates from 0 - 100 km/h in 9,5 seconds and has a maximum speed of 185 km/h.

The roadster concept will be officially unveiled at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.