What do you get when you soup up the already amazing Corvette ZR1 and throw on a unique, futuristic body that looks like it's about to take flight? The Mantide, a truly awe-inspiring automobile by famed car designer Stile Bertone.

The Mantide supercar is a one-off prototype using the the mechanicals of the formidable 2009 Corvette ZR1, considered the greatest all-round performance car in the world. The Corvette C5R, a cousin to the ZR1 has won Le Mans and set the fastest ever lap time on the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany, long considered the benchmark for a car's true performance.

The Mantide promises even greater performance than the ZR1, due to significant weight savings and its highly advanced aerodynamics. Using carbon fiber for all body panels, interior trim, seats and even the wheels, the overall vehicle weight has been reduced by about 220 pounds. The result is a staggering 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 217 mph.

If the speed of the car doesn't grab you, the design surely will. Mantide's futuristic design draws from both 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.

Over the last 50 years Stile Bertone has created a series of iconic one-off prototypes based on the mechanicals of Chevrolet's sporting automobiles including the Alfa Romeo Carabo, the Lancia Stratos Zero and the Lamborghini LP500. Looks like they have outdone themselves with the Mantide.

Check out the progress of the Mantide at Stile Bertone's website: www.insideprojectm.com.

photo credits: Stile Bertone