This Adorably Retro City Car Promises a Small, Affordable Ride the US Needs

Much like the bubble cars that took to American roads around the middle of the 20th century, a growing number of micromobility vehicles have been popping up in response to rising gas prices and crowded urban streets.

Unfortunately, the reality is that many of these solutions are more than a little niche in their use cases. Between their diminutive proportions and short-range powertrains, they’re pretty limited in performance capabilities. 

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With this in mind, Fiat has spun up a new concept that’s meant to bring a compact footprint while avoiding some of these compromises. If it makes it to production, it promises fresh potential for affordable commuting.

Fiat revisits the 600

It’s called the Multiplina, and it’s a concept that recently debuted as part of Fiat’s Big at Small event in Rome. While details are slim at this point, word has it that it previews more to come.

Fiat says it’s meant to be a reinterpretation of the 1956 Fiat 600 Multipla. Though it doesn’t go quite as heavy on the old-school styling as the Topolino, it does bring a distinctly retro vibe.

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As such, when you place the Multiplina alongside its midcentury predecessor, the two designs do share some noticeable ties. In addition to a familiar two-tone paint scheme, Fiat’s concept touts a similar egg shape and other reimagined details in the mirrors and hubcaps.

It’s a resemblance that’s more than skin deep. The Multiplina’s design is meant to maximize its interior footprint through clever space-efficient packaging. Like the people-carrying Multipla, then, it touts flexible seating and plenty of practicality despite a tiny city-friendly size.

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Toward that end, Fiat has described the concept as “the missing link between a Topolino and a car.” Based on reports from outlets like Autocar, this means that it promises a higher top speed and a longer range for those who don’t want a full-size vehicle.

A tiny Italian precedent

Much as the Multiplina might seem like something that’s far too small (and cute) for American roads, there’s a real chance that this thing could land Stateside, should it head to production.

Namely because the tiny Topolino made the jump across the Atlantic, and it’s still a smaller option. When Fiat broke the news last year, it almost seemed too good to be true. 

However, sure enough, the little EV is now arriving on US shores.

Moreover, there’s been plenty of recent interest in the space that supports a growing market. From small Mexican vans to Moke-esque electric buggies, the micromobility segment continues to bear fruit, even for North America.

If nothing else, the Multiplina promises an interesting solution for ride sharing and taxi services. After all, the original Mutipla made a name for itself through its fleet applications in Postwar Italy, as much as anything else.

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More to come

For the time being, Fiat is presenting the Multiplina as a concept. However, numerous reports indicate that more developments are on the way, so production sounds likely.

Assuming it does make it to market, it has the potential to be a truly wallet-friendly (street-legal) four-wheeled option. The Topolino starts at €9,890 in Europe, meaning there’s plenty of pricing flexibility before it starts to encroach on the fully fledged Fiat 500s.

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Fiat Multiplina Concept

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