It's fitting that the Bertone Mantide sounds more like a gay nightclub than a car, because it has visuals that are trying so hard to be butch that they're camper than the original Batmobile - but with Robin driving it and Alan Carr in the passenger seat. We realise that you might disagree with that assessment, and that's fine, so we'll just get on with giving you the details on this very intriguing concept car, which was penned by a very intriguing fellow in a very intriguing way.

The Mantide's gestation was documented in a seven-part video weblog, culminating in, funnily enough, part seven, which finally spilled the beans on the finished car you see here. Styled by former Pininfarina designer Jason Castriota ( the brains behind the Maserati GranTurismo, Rolls-Royce Hyperion and Ferrari 599, amongst others), the Mantide is based on a Corvette ZR1 chassis and has just debuted at the Shanghai Motor Show.

Very little is known about the concept at the moment, despite the reams of web footage dedicated to it, although its looks alone should be enough to satisfy most interested parties until more details are unveiled in Italy next week. It's expected we'll see a working version do its thing then.

According to Bertone - the styling house responsible for such classics as the Lamborghini Miura, Lancia Stratos, and the seminal Vauxhall Astra Coupé - the Mantide's styling comprises "a teardrop-like fuselage which tightly encases the mechanicals and the passenger cell which is embraced by two prominent wrapping aerodynamic appendages." Quite. Rumour suggests it will outperform the ZR1, which is no slouch itself with its 3.2-second 0-62mph dash and 217mph top speed. We'll believe it when we see it, but for now just enjoy the self-indulgent machismo of it all.