The dubbed world’s narrowest Fiat Panda drives around as a fully functional and single-seater electric car made with reused components. Handcrafted by Andrea Marazzi of the channel tutti pazzi per marazzi, the vehicle is only 50 centimeters wide and retains the original parts of the 1993 model it uses. There’s enough space for just a driver, and inside the modified automobile, they can take the vehicle for a spin using a small steering wheel. A single headlight helps the driver cruise at night, and from behind, the car’s design resembles a ship’s or yacht’s bow.

It’s much slower than the typical Panda, but at least it is small enough to fit between two cars and even tight roads. Andrea Marazzi produced the dubbed world’s narrowest Fiat Panda over the course of 12 months. He hand-built the vehicle using ‘99 percent of the original parts’ from the 1993 model he used. He retained the roof, doors, and styling cues, but reshaped the body, frame, and internal structure to create a single seat for the fully electric vehicle. He even kept the four-wheel design of the original car, managing to fit them all in this downsized vehicle.

all images courtesy of tutti pazzi per marazzi

drivable art automobile by tutti pazzi per marazzi

In the end, the dubbed world’s narrowest Fiat Panda weighs just 264 kg, stands at 145 cm tall, and is 340 cm long. Its electric motor allows it to reach a modest top speed of 15 km/h, similar to the speed of walking or a moderate biking pace, and it has a range of approximately 25 kilometers on a full charge. The catch is the vehicle isn’t road-legal; it’s made as an exhibition piece for events, fairs, and shows. Because of this, the handcrafted vehicle is more of a drivable art automobile, even a sculptural project, instead of a traditional road-suited vehicle. 

The maker of the dubbed world’s narrowest Fiat Panda worked on the project on his own, using his family-run auto recycling business and workshop. The vehicle came to life at Autodemolizione Marazzi in Bagnolo Cremasco, which is a scrapyard owned by Andrea Marazzi and his family. The 30-year-old craftsman had the idea to compress the original vehicle’s width to half a meter, just enough for a single person to sit in the middle, and came out with the dubbed world’s narrowest and fully functional Fiat Panda. At the present time, he and his small team are preparing the official application for a Guinness World Record recognition as the narrowest car ever built.

the dubbed world’s narrowest Fiat Panda drives around as a fully functional and single-seater electric car

there’s single headlight on the vehilce

the rear resembles the shape of a ship’s or yacht’s bow

front view of the modified vehicle

the vehicle is only 50 centimeters wide

the vehicle is handcrafted by Andrea Marazzi of the channel tutti pazzi per marazzi

view of the cabin

inside, there’s a small steering wheel

detailed view of the front wheel

project info:

name: World’s Narrowest Fiat Panda

maker: Andrea Marazzi

channel: tutti pazzi per marazzi | @tutti_pazzi_per_marazzi

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Italian coachbuilder Castagna Milano has unveiled a sweet adaptation of the new Fiat Topolino electric car. The tiny Topolino, itself a charming take on the Citroën Ami, gets a full beach-ready makeover in the form of the Fiat Topolino Spiaggina. Drawing inspiration from the iconic Fiat 500 Jolly of the 1950s, Castagna Milano has transformed the Topolino into a silent, stylish electric runabout perfect for cruising the seaside. The Fiat 500 Jolly, creation of Fiat CEO Gianni Agnelli, was a specially commissioned open-air version of the 500 designed to complement his yacht.

image courtesy Castagna Milano

From Ghia to Castagna: A Legacy of Beach Cars

The original Fiat 500 Jolly, built by Ghia, featured a striped canvas roof and distinctive wicker seats. It quickly became a cult classic, spawning rival beach cars like the Vignale Gamine and the Bonacina Spiaggina, known for its woven rattan seats crafted by the famed furniture company.

Castagna Milano’s Spiaggina reimagines the Bonacina aesthetic with a touch of nautical flair. Channeling the elegance of Riva yachts and other Mediterranean luxury boats, the car is shaped by the Milanese coachbuilder with teak and chrome detailing alongside a striped canvas roof. The seats, while not actual wicker, maintain a woven look that pays homage to the beach car of yesteryear.

image courtesy Castagna Milano

A Tradition of Transformation

For those seeking a touch more practicality, Castagna Milano offers an extended version of the Spiaggina. This version adds 30 centimeters of length, transforming the strict two-seater into a car with a slightly more spacious rear deck and storage compartments.

The Fiat Topolino Spiaggina is Castagna Milano’s smallest creation yet, but it follows a successful lineage. The Milanese firm has built similar open-air conversions for modern Fiat 500s and even Minis in recent years. The Topolino Spiaggina is sure to capture the hearts of design and car enthusiasts alike, offering a delightful blend of classic beach car charm and modern electric mobility.

image courtesy Castagna Milano

image courtesy Castagna Milano

 

 

 

 

 

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project info:

project title: Fiat Topolino Spiaggina

author: Castagna Milano

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2023 has seen selected car designs get transformed into real-life vehicle models, albeit some of them are limited or one-offs. These cars – be it an electric vehicle, hypercar, or sports car – all showcase their distinctive design and technological features, from the projection of driver’s information onto the entire front windshield to restoring a classic model into a retro-futuristic ride in 3D-printed titanium.

Other car models even spotlight copper-orange alubeam paintwork, an installed HD camera to replace the removal of the entire rear window, and a removable roof for an electric microcar. There’s even a solar car carpeted with photovoltaic panels that managed to drive from Northern Morocco to the Sahara. Our annual round-up of this year’s BIG stories continues. Read on for our TOP 10 production cars of 2023.

BMW BRINGS YOLK-YELLOW INTERIOR TO ITS VISION NEUE KLASSE

BMW Vision Neue Klasse in our TOP 10 production cars of 2023 | image by BMW | read more here

During the IAA Mobility 2023 in Munich, Germany, BMW unveiled a real-life model of its Vision Neue Klasse, an electric car outlined by a clean-white exterior topped with a transparent glass roof to offer the passengers unobstructed views of the outside. The seemingly glossy white exterior becomes interrupted by the appearance of a yolk-yellow interior, and the electric BMW Vision Neue Klasse even glows as it detects the driver and passengers approach the vehicle. As soon as the driver and front passengers sit down, they can see that the driving information is projected across the entire width of the windscreen rather than on a device.

read more here

MERCEDES-BENZ IMAGINES FUTURE OF SPEED WITH VISION ONE-ELEVEN

Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven in our TOP 10 production cars of 2023 | image by Mercedes-Benz | more here

Bringing back nuances from iconic cars inspires Mercedes-Benz to produce Vision One-Eleven. Its design cues were taken from the likes of the Type 300 SL and C 111, both with gullwing doors, before adding distinctive elements such as a bow-shaped silhouette, copper-orange alubeam paintwork, and muscular hindquarters. Mercedes-Benz’s electric sports car is even powered by liquid-cooled cylindrical cells alongside advanced motors to ensure that Vision One-Eleven can provide efficiency in driving. The striking copper-orange alubeam paintwork pays homage to the iconic C 111 which lends the vehicle a sense of power and extravagance. Its shade even changes with the light, adding a touch of opulence and setting the Vision One-Eleven apart from its predecessors.

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PORSCHE UNVEILS MISSION X, ITS ROAD-LEGAL ELECTRIC HYPERCAR

Porsche Mission X in our TOP 10 production cars of 2023 | image by Porsche | read more here

During the eve of the ‘75 Years of Porsche Sports Cars’ exhibition opening at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart Zuffenhausen, Porsche introduced what may be dubbed as its fastest road-legal electric hypercar yet. The car brand envisions Mission X to have a low and sculpted body and certain parts carried out carbon-weave finish. A lightweight glass dome covers both the driver and passenger, made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, and the butterfly doors open forwards and upwards, similar to those used on the Porsche 917 racing car. The Porsche crest on Mission X has also been made modern with a brushed precious metal finish and other tweaks including a three-dimensional honeycomb structure, a refreshed heraldic beast, and a more subtle gold color. Inside the car, the two seats have different colors, with the driver’s seat in Kalahari Grey and the passenger seat in Andalusia Brown.

read more here

LANCIA INTRODUCES ITS FIRST 100% ELECTRIC CAR, PU+RA HPE

Lancia Pu+Ra HPE in our TOP 10 production cars of 2023 | image by Lancia | read more here

During Milan Design Week 2023, Lancia exhibited the real-life model of its first 100% electric car, Pu+Ra HPE. The word Pu+Ra is a moniker for pure and radical which refers to the design language that Lancia employed for its electric car, and HPE stands for High-Performance Electric to signal the vehicle’s mission to be eco-sustainable. The car company says that it takes little more than 10 minutes for the Pu+Ra HPE to be fully charged. Inside, the driver and front passenger can easily control the sound system, cabin temperature, and brightness level of the lighting simply by clicking a button.

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POLESTAR 4 ELECTRIC SUV REPLACES REAR WINDOW WITH CAMERA

Polestar 4 in our TOP 10 production cars of 2023 | image by Polestar | read more here

No rear window? It’s not a problem for Polestar 4 since its electric SUV installs a camera to replace its rear window. The feed is shown on a high-definition screen in front of the driver and flashes a real-time feed from the rear HD camera, enabling a far wider field of view that relies on technology over manual action. The rear camera is capable of showing the landscape views of what is happening behind the vehicle to enable the driver to maneuver the electric SUV well when they are parking or want to check the views from the car’s tail.

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MEYERS MANX DEBUTS NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC BUGGY ‘RESORTER’

Meyers Manx’s Resorter in our TOP 10 production cars of 2023 | image by Meyers Manx | read more here

An electric buggy that can be driven around cities and has a removable roof? Meyers Manx debuted just that during Monterey Car Week 2023. Its neighborhood electric vehicle named Resorter hides an aluminum monocoque chassis and pouch-cell lithium-ion batteries in its bodywork. Even if it can be roofless, the electric vehicle comes equipped with standard A/C and heating alongside power steering and regenerative braking. Since Resorter is more suitable for city driving, it may make sense that its top speed can reach up to 25 miles per hour.

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FIAT TOPOLINO RELEASED AS DOLCEVITA ELECTRIC CAR WITH OPEN DOORS

Fiat Topolino Dolcevita in our TOP 10 production cars of 2023 | image by Fiat | read more here

La dolce vita – always a lifestyle, now a Fiat Topolino electric car variant. Fiat puts its own spin on Dolcevita by transforming part of the Italian way of life into an electric minicar with rollable fabric sunroof and open-air doors. A noticeable feature in the Dolcevita model is its door sills and rope that lend the aura of the movie star stepping out of a luxurious hotel lounge. Owners can still opt for the closed version which is offered with customization of wooden effect stickers on the doors. With both versions, a rear carriage is included, but the Dolcevita has vintage chrome effect mirrors to live up to its model’s name.

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ECCENTRICA’S LAMBORGHINI DIABLO HYPERCAR COMES IN TITANIUM

Eccentrica’s Lamborghini Diablo in our TOP 10 production cars of 2023 | image by Eccentrica | read more here

Restoring a classic 1990s Lamborghini Diablo hypercar may be deemed laborious, but Emanuel Colombini of Eccentrica Cars and design studio BorromeodeSilva managed to pull it off by transforming the vintage hypercar into a retro-futuristic vehicle with a 3D-printed titanium body. The restomod, produced only in 19 custom models, takes its design cues from the sporty Diablo GTR with an overhauled bodywork except for its original windshield. Eccentrica’s Lamborghini Diablo hypercar is thought of to be a street-legal vehicle that can also be driven on racetracks.

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WORLD’S FIRST OFF-ROAD SOLAR CAR ‘STELLA TERRA’

Stella Terra in our TOP 10 production cars of 2023 | image by Bart van Overbeeke and Rien Boonstoppel | more here

Solar cars have emerged, but the 22 students from the Eindhoven University of Technology that make up the group Solar Team Eindhoven took it further by driving the dubbed world’s first off-road solar car named Stella Terra from Northern Morocco to the Sahara. Stella Terra managed to run for around 1,000 kilometers all through the generated energy using the absorbed solar power from the photovoltaic panels on its vehicle roof. The panels cover nearly the entire upper surface of the solar car, including the hood, and Stella Terra, which is road-legal, drove up to a top speed of 145 kilometers per hour.

read more here

REAL-LIFE TESLA CYBERTRUCK IS FINALLY HERE

Tesla Cybertruck in our TOP 10 production cars of 2023 | image by Tesla | read more here

After months of delays and waiting, the real-life production line of Tesla Cybertruck has finally come alongside three models and their expected delivery timeline. Tesla began Cybertruck’s delivery on December 1st, 2023, following the announcement during the  Cybertruck Delivery Event on November 29th, 2023 where Elon Musk led the presentation. The three models include the Rear-Wheel Drive, which is expected to be available in 2025; the All-Wheel Drive, which may come out in 2024; and the Cyberbeast, which is foreseen to be shipped in 2024.

read more here

see designboom’s TOP 10 stories archive:

2022 — 2021 —

2020 — 2019 —  2018 — 2017 — 2016 — 2015 — 2014 — 2013

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Mickey Mouse takes center stage as Fiat transforms the iconic Disney character into the exterior design of the Fiat Topolino electric car. Designed by Disney’s own artist Giorgio Cavazzano, the electric car was unveiled on November 21st, 2023, coinciding with Fiat’s tribute to the 100th Disney Anniversary. As a special gift for Disney’s centennial celebration, Fiat also presented four additional Fiat Topolino electric cars, each designed by the Fiat Centro Stile design team and inspired by Disney Creatives.

The presentation of the five one-off Fiat Topolinos took place at Casa 500, on the fourth floor of the Pinacoteca Agnelli art institution. The event commemorated not only Disney’s 100th anniversary but also Mickey Mouse’s 95th birthday and the centenary of Lingotto in Turin, Italy. The long-standing relationship between Mickey Mouse and Fiat dates back to the 1930s, with Topolino being the Italian name for Mickey Mouse and the nickname given to the first Fiat 500. Today, it also serves as the name of the new electric quadricycle.

Fiat Topolino designed by Disney artist Giorgio Cavazzano | images © Disney

Fiat pays tribute to disney and mickey mouse in five ways

To further celebrate Disney’s Mickey Mouse and the Fiat Topolino, an exhibition showcasing these five one-off electric cars will be organized soon at the Lingotto building’s North ramp, in collaboration with Pinacoteca Agnelli. Visitors to the shopping center will have the opportunity to stroll along the ramp and admire the Fiat Topolino one-offs as they make their way to La Pista 500.

Mickey Mouse’s bubbly personality shines through in the Fiat Topolino designed by Disney artist Giorgio Cavazzano. Clad in his signature red jumper with two yellow dots, Mickey’s cheerful image is adorned on the electric car’s skin, set against a backdrop of a sunset-hued landscape. For the other Fiat Topolino one-offs, the Fiat Centro Stile design team worked on a thematic brief, resulting in electric car skins named historical, modern, street, and abstract. The historical Fiat Topolino brings back Mickey Mouse from the graphics of the first Disney short film, Steamboat Willie.

Disney and Fiat tap into the nostalgic iconography of the beloved mouse in the film, drawing inspiration from the synchronized sound in the world of animation, as well as an exhibit at MoMA in New York. The contrast between the modern Fiat Topolino and the historical Mickey Mouse graphics creates a juxtaposition. In the latter, a texture with Mickey Mouse’s initials as a second skin imparts a sense of positive energy, with the bright-colored letter M continuously printed around the electric car. The M not only signifies the name of the Fiat Topolino, modern, but also Disney’s Mickey Mouse.

Mickey Mouse on historical Fiat Topolino

Abstract and street graffiti electric car skins

The other Fiat Topolino one-offs transform the electric car into a modernized Disney and Mickey Mouse, starting with the abstract design. Delineated by visible divisions of luminous colors (yellow, pink, dark blue, and orange), the white-penciled drawing of Mickey Mouse is seen walking on one side of the electric car before striking a pose on the other side. A pair of psychedelic-looking glasses adds a touch of whimsy, while Mickey Mouse remains oblivious to their effect, focused instead on his pose.

Finally, Disney and Fiat envision their take on street art as the last of the Fiat Topolino one-offs turns the electric car into a graffiti canvas. References to Disney’s Mickey Mouse are still subtly present, with his jumper and fluffy shoes emerging onto the electric car’s skin. Bright swirls reminiscent of street art techniques adorn the car, paying homage to the iconic character while adding an urban twist, all the while promoting the joyful urban mobility that inspired this final work of art.

Mickey Mouse on modern Fiat Topolino electric car

Mickey Mouse on abstract Fiat Topolino

Mickey Mouse on street Fiat Topolino electric car

Fiat pays homage to Disney and Mickey Mouse with five one-off Fiat Topolino electric cars

Mickey Mouse’s bubbly self shines through in the Fiat Topolino designed by Disney artist Giorgio Cavazzano

the design of Disney artist Giorgio Cavazzano is a special collaboration for Fiat

Disney artist Giorgio Cavazzano’s Fiat Topolino car skin

project info:

name: Fiat Topolino one-offs

companies: Fiat, Disney

character: Mickey Mouse

The post fiat taps italian cartoonist giorgio cavazzano for 100th disney anniversary topolino car appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Furniture brand Bonacina splashes summer pink for its custom – and the successor to its topless, powder blue version – Fiat 500 Spiaggina and makes the car design beach-ready by planting woven rattan chairs as its interior seats. Bonacina joins the pink wagon – and the Barbieland as seen in the doll’s recently renovated Malibu dreamhouse – for its return to the automotive industry. It taps Garage Italia Customs to personalize the new fully electric Fiat 500 Spiaggina car with its signature woven rattan seats and take it further with an all-pink design hooded with light tarpaulin and white framing. 

Rechargeable in just a few hours and from any domestic power socket, the Fiat 500 car is transformed with rattan-core woven seats, resuming the first version designed by Vittorio Bonacina in the 1950s, which became part of the collective vision of the ‘dolce vita’ (a seeming sibling of the new Fiat Topolino Dolcevita that exudes the Italian-summer spirit). The main difference between the new 500 Spiaggina and Vittorio Bonacina’s version is in the color hues. While the first models were made out of rattan core in its natural shade, the Fiat 500 Spiaggina can be produced in any color chosen by Garage Italia’s customers.

header photo by Filippo Ferrarese | images courtesy of Bonacina

Courtesy car in como area for the guests

It was Elia Bonacina himself who introduced the idea of aniline-dyeing seats, giving customers the chance to customize their Fiat 500 Spiaggina and match the color of the bodywork. Bonacina and Garage Italia share a common passion for customization, paving the way for them to explore new ways a Fiat 500 can look. ‘With Garage Italia being an extremely creative company and Bonacina having so many different types of weave techniques and weaving materials, a fabulous window has opened up. There are several new scenarios for thinking about innovative seats, gadgets, and car modifications with different types of weaving options,’ says Elia Bonacina, CEO of Bonacina.

The Fiat 500 Spiaggina will become a company mascot for Bonacina in all of its future projects in Italy and abroad. It also plans to welcome its guests in the Como area, where the company’s headquarter is based, and use it as a courtesy car from the Galleria Giardino Museum, inaugurated in early 2023, to the nearby production pole. ‘It was nice to travel back in time with our craftspeople, we found ourselves with the same bare seat of the classic version and had to figure out how to weave our material within its metal skeleton. This has been developed with our philosophy in mind: creating a product that lasts over time and offering an ergonomic and comfortable solution, as for all the products that we design and manufacture,’ adds Bonacina.

Bonacina and Garage Italia turn Fiat 500 Spiaggina in summer pink with woven rattan car seats

Bonacina and Garage Italia turn Fiat 500 Spiaggina in summer pink with woven rattan car seats

the Fiat 500 Spiaggina with Bonacina resumes the first version designed by Vittorio Bonacina in the 1950s

Bonacina and Garage Italia for Fiat 500 Spiaggina car in summer pink with rattan seats | photo by Filippo Ferrarese

close up view of the rattan seats

steering wheel and dashboard of the fully electric Fiat 500 Spiaggina

it was Elia Bonacina himself, CEO of Bonacina, who introduced the idea of aniline-dyeing seats

the car is planned to be used as Bonacina’s courtesy car to welcome its guests in its Como headquarters

Bonacina and Garage Italia for Fiat 500 Spiaggina car in summer pink with rattan seats | photo by Filippo Ferrarese

project info:

name: Fiat 500 Spiaggina

brand: Bonacina

car company: Fiat

customization: Garage Italia

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The new Fiat Topolino Dolcevita puts a joyful spin on electric minicars by adding a rollable fabric sunroof and open-air doors to the car design. It is one of the two versions that Fiat will release for the new Topolino, and the second one, dubbed ‘closed’ or simply Fiat Topolino, gets the usual doors and car roof for city cruising. Fans of Riviera coasting can savor the scenic views and summery breeze as they drive in Fiat Topolino Dolcevita with the open setting it offers.

If they want, they can also crawl inside a modified Fiat Panda that is cut in half yet still functions like hooded bump car. Even a 14-year-old – the minimum age to drive the electric car yet depending on the local regulations – can drive the quaint and cozy vehicle. A noticeable feature in the Dolcevita variant is its door sills and rope that lends the aura of the movie star stepping out of a luxurious hotel lounge.

Personalization is also at the heart of the new Fiat Topolino. The closed version can be customized with wooden effect stickers on the doors, while in the open version, the stickers with stripes as a summer tent can be added to the roof. Both versions are equipped with the rear carriage so the passengers can store their luggage at the back of the car; the Dolcevita Box, which is a band of fabric inside to store personal items in; and vintage chrome effect mirrors to fully embody la dolce vita.

images courtesy of Fiat

Electric car for small seaside villages and busy city centers

With the new Fiat Topolino, the brand makes a step towards complete electrification. Drawn from its light Verde Vita palette and modest size, the electric car can cater to younger drivers who aim to find a driving-friendly transport solution. The car can also easily navigate the narrow roads, making it ideal for both small seaside villages and the chaotic city center.

The Fiat Topolino is the 500’s little sister, taking its name and design from the original 500, affectionately called ‘Topolino’ – which translates to ‘pup’ or a baby mouse – because of its small size. Optional accessories are also offered for the electric car users such as a spacious rack bag, a USB fan, a Bluetooth speaker, a thermal water bottle for both hot and cold drinks, and two seat covers that convert into comfortable and soft beach towels when required. 

While the new Fiat Topolino has two versions, both are consistent in their characteristics: one color, called Verde Vita, one wheel design, and one aesthetic approach for the interior. They can cruise at a top speed of 45 km/h and feature electric capability due to a 5,4 kWh battery that offers up to 75km of range and less than four-hour time for a full charge. They also have a  total of 63 liters of interior storage space, including the one between the driver and passenger where one suitcase can be placed.

new fiat topolino electric car can be driven by 14-year-olds, depending on local rules

the Dolcevita version has a rollable sunroof and open-air doors

new Fiat Topolino electric minicar

front view

it has a rear carriage to store luggage at the back of the car

the Dolcevita version also gets door ropes

new Fiat Topolino with foldable sunroof

door rope for the Dolcevita

interior close up

new Fiat Topolino electric minicar

project info:

name: Fiat Topolino

brand: Fiat

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Car modifier collective Carmagheddon cuts Fiat Panda in half and turns it into the world’s lowest car that still functions, steers, rides, and drifts like an ordinary, street-legal vehicle. What might have been an ambitious car design project became a reality for Cocchi Rudi, Matteo Marzetti, Nicola Guadagnin – the masterminds behind the renovation and modification work – in a series of videos to show how they tweaked the car into a seemingly robot vacuum slash toy car with the person controlling the vehicle crammed inside the cramped Fiat Panda.

At first glance, the dubbed world’s lowest car appears floating on cemented roads. In reality, someone is driving it from the inside, their body bent and laying sideways – depending on their height and size – and as they control what seems to be a steering wheel straight from arcade machines. The Fiat Panda, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, holds over-four decades of history, part of a testament to its durability and robustness, and Carmagheddon’s modification pays tribute to its glorious days by offering their reinterpretation of the vehicle in a bizarre yet fun flair.

screenshot images courtesy of Carmagheddon

How can someone drive the modified fiat panda?

Inside the world’s lowest car, the Carmagheddon team planted a go-kart-sized vehicle frame with wheels that aligned the height of the Fiat Panda to elevate it, enough so it does not graze and drag the car’s frame when it is being driven. For the bonnet of the car, they installed wheels like the ones on supermarket pushcarts to lift it off the ground a bit. As they welded the mini-car frame with wheels to the modified Fiat Panda and added more wheels inside the car, the end result enables them to have a functional low-leveled car that still drives.

In the video above, the team tests out the world’s lowest car on gravelly roads and cemented streets. The modified Fiat Panda runs slow – perhaps an expected result given its style, concept, and mechanism – but it still steers and propels forward. If someone wants to drive the modified Fiat Panda that looks like a hooded bump car, they need to crawl inside the modified vehicle and be ready to be locked inside (the windows do not seem to open). It looks imperative that they feel comfortable enough to drive the world’s lowest car in a position similar to them watching movies on their laptop while in bed on their stomachs.

Carmagheddon cuts Fiat Panda in half and turns it into the world’s lowest car that still functions

Carmagheddon planted a go-kart-sized vehicle frame with wheels that aligned the height of the Fiat Panda to elevate it

for the bonnet of the Fiat Panda, they installed wheels like the ones on supermarket pushcarts to lift it off the ground

If someone wants to drive the world’s lowest car, they need to crawl inside the modified vehicle

Carmagheddon takes out the upper part of Fiat Panda to create the world’s lowest car

 

 

 

 

 

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project info:

name: World’s lowest car

car company: Fiat

model: Panda

team: Cocchi Rudi, Matteo Marzetti, Nicola Guadagnin

channel: Carmagheddon

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45,000 plants of over 100 different species now inhabit the roof of FIAT‘s old Lingotto factory in Turin, Italy, as part of a landscape design by architect Benedetto Camerana. Called ‘La Pista 500’, the project creates a new public space where people can gather, exercise, meditate, and enjoy spectacular views of the city and the Alps in the distance.

When it was inaugurated in 1923, FIAT’s Lingotto plant was the biggest and most modern car factory in the world. The modernist building spans five storeys tall, 500 meters long, and features a kilometer-long rooftop test track, which will now be used for electric vehicles, bicycles, and scooters. The factory was closed in the 1980s but it was reopened in 1994 following a renovation project by Renzo Piano. The Lingotto building is now a large multifunctional structure offering workspaces, hospitality, commercial activities, events, and cultural activities.  

images by Marco Schiavone courtesy Benedetto Camerana

a patchwork of color

Camerana’s recent intervention, or ‘green graft’, harks back to Renzo Piano’s original concept of incorporating nature inside the reinforced concrete, which he pioneered in one of the inner courtyards. The new linear garden covers 6,000 sqm, divided into 28 green islands planted in and around the track. Designed in collaboration with Il Giardino Segreto, the lush islands boast a natural mix of greenery and wildflowers. Plant species were selected based on ecological criteria: the majority are herbaceous perennials that grow swiftly without much water. 

FIAT’s Lingotto plant in Turin was inaugurated in 1923

Benedetto Camerana planted 28 green islands in and around the rooftop test track

the garden hosts 45,000 plants of over 100 different species

plant species were selected based on ecological criteria

Renzo Piano added a spherical structure to the building in the 1990s

the new public space is a place where people can gather, exercise, meditate, and enjoy spectacular views

project info:

name: La Pista500

program: public park

location: Lingotto, Turin, Italy

client: Stellantis Group

architecture: Benedetto Camerana (landscape design, architectural design and coordination, concept and artistic direction)

collaborators: Mattia Greco (project manager), Alberto Domini, Laura Acito, Gabriele Rossi, Antonio Pangallo, Andrea Tomasino
consultants: Arch. Cristiana Ruspa (botanical design), DROMO Engineering Architecture and Landscape (Dekra specialist advice and certification), Guarino – Gierregi Ingegneria (mechanical systems design and structural consultancy), P.I. Alberto Richiero – Gierregi Ingegneria (electrical systems project), Ing. Massimo Pasquero – Pi Greco Engineering (fire protection consultancy)
contractor: D’Engineering srl

total area: 27,000 sqm

hanging garden: 7,000 sqm

no. of species: over 100 

no. of plants planted: 45,000 

linear meters of irrigation and dripline pipes: 20,094 m

completion: September 2021

photography: Marco Schiavone

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Fiat’s parent company Stellantis has announced Arena del Futuro, a revolutionary circuit equipped with dynamic induction that can charge moving EV’s. Built by A35 Brebemi, the two companies have been testing the circuit in Italy, where a Fiat New 500 shows that Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT) really does work, removing range anxiety while supporting decarbonization and environmental sustainability.

Following the tests, the companies have unveiled results that show the DWPT enables battery electric vehicles (BEV) to travel at typical highway speeds without consuming the energy stored in its battery.

A SYSTEM OF COIL IS POSITIONED UNDER THE ASPHALT TO TRANSFER ENERGY DIRECTLY TO THE CARS

After months of testing, Stellantis has demonstrated that the Arena del Future has the capability of Dynamic Wireless Power transfer (DWPT) technology to wirelessly recharge electric vehicles (EVs) as they travel over specially equipped, dedicated road lanes. The DWPT is a system of coils positioned under the asphalt that transfers energy directly to the cars, trucks and buses without the need to stop at charging stations to refill their batteries.

The technology can be adapted for all vehicles equipped with a special receiver that transfers the energy incoming from the road infrastructure directly to the electric motor, extending the range, while conserving the vehicle battery charge.

The Arena del Futuro tests showed that a battery electric vehicle like the Fiat New 500 outfitted to test the system, can travel at normal highway speeds without using the energy it has stored on its battery. The test showed that the efficiency of the energy flow from the asphalt to the car was comparable to that of the fast charging stations. This means the driver can continue driving and doesn’t have to stop to recharge because it’s already doing it just by moving. Furthermore, measurements on magnetic field intensity prove that there is no impact on the driver and passengers.

‘Our long-term strategic plan, Dare Forward 2030, is based on the premise of bringing ‘cutting-edge freedom of mobility’ to all and this project is the very essence of where we’re headed as a company,’ said Anne-Lise Richard, Head of Global e-Mobility Business Unit, Stellantis. ‘Working with this incredible group of partners, we have proven that inductive recharging technology can power our electrified future. These joint projects are exciting steps as we work to achieve longer battery lifespan, lower range anxiety, greater energy efficiency, smaller battery size, outstanding performance and lower weight and cost.’

Overall, the DWPT technology is intended to simplify the customer approach to electric mobility and ultimately to respond in a tangible way to the requirements for decarbonization and environmental sustainability in the mobility sector.

project info:

name: Arena del Futuro

created by: Stellantis and A35 Brebemi

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rome-based LAB71 architetti has completed the new fiat 500 museum in turin, italy. dubbed casa 500, the exhibition space set inside the pinacoteca agnelli extends over 700 sqm, showcasing the history of the fiat 500 and its bond with italian history and culture. 

universally linked to italy, the cinquecento was designed by dante giacosa in 1957 and quickly became a car for the masses — fun, stylish and accessible to all. casa 500 celebrates this italian icon by showcasing its history, sporting background and social relevance through the metamorphosis of its three generations.

LAB71 ARCHITETTI WANTED A SUSTAINABLE SPACE FOR FIAT’S CASA 500

built under the reuse, reduce & recycle mantra, casa 500 by LAB71 architetti repurposed both wood and metal into the interior space. the fabrics that upholster the seating objects are made from recycled plastic recovered from the oceans, and plexiglass — a material that can be recycled over and over again — is used throughout.

‘we want to recount the possibility of a new ecological sensitivity in design as well, where the forms of nature and reclaimed materials are blended to give life to new spaces, a new environment where natural and artificial are finally amalgamated into an unexpected equilibrium,’ said massimiliano gotti porcinari, lead architect at LAB71 architetti.

casa 500 respects the internal space defined by giacomo matté-trucco’s original design and the later intervention by renzo piano, keeping the central space as empty as possible. this design decision provides visitors with an open plan, allowing them to define their own personal itinerary based on their own relationship with the fiat 500.

a majestic installation stands in the center, shaped as a full-height tree. made of reclaimed wood, the exhibition flows around it. under it, a wooden master (mascherone) for sheet metal of a historic fiat 500 model sits next to the nuova 500 (new 500). while the mascherone’s wood fuses with the installation to represent solid roots, the nuova 500 presents itself as a new beginning. thus, the tree represents what the fiat 500 is: solid roots with branches that extend into the future.

beneath the tree branches, two large sofas in different shades of grey, which are rectangular and can be broken apart, invite visitors to lie back freely as if on a meadow, to be inspired by the world of the fiat 500 and give shape, even if only in their thoughts, to their own aspirations.

‘in the main casa 500 installation, we aimed to recount the link between inspiration and aspiration that is always present in the world of the fiat 500,’ continued porcinari. ‘we have all had occasion to lie on a meadow and start daydreaming about our future, to try, even only in our thoughts, to give shape to our own ambitions. this gesture, so simple and spontaneous, shows the desire we all have to cultivate our dreams and let them grow more and more, to allow ourselves to be inspired, so we can attempt to achieve new aspirations.’

the exhibition is divided into eight thematic areas. legacy immerses visitors in photos and videos that highlight the places, people and stories behind the fiat 500; the made of italy area showcasing objects that over the course of history have gained prominence thanks to their italian design; the poster collection with posters and advertising images of the first 500 from the 1960s; the digital counter where two interactive multimedia screens show, through films, how the story of the fiat 500 was told through history; 3 generations showing the evolution of the car; social relevance with images from owners around the world; foreseeing the future, a section that retraces the history of yesterday, today, and tomorrow against the background of the lingotto which, on its long journey, has shown a great ability to change its skin, even radically; and a space dedicated to temporary exhibitions.

project info:

name: casa 500 – new fiat 500 museum
design: lab71 architetti
location: pinacoteca giovanni e marella agnelli, lingotto, turin
year: 2021
client: FCA – fiat chrysler automobiles
concept and leader: massimiliano gotti porcinari
team: giovanni castellano, filippo seganti, ilaria perroni, francesca costa
visualizer: edoardo fabbroni – lab71 architetti

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