1992 Torino

The 65th Turin Motor Show, held from April 22 to May 3, 1992, at the Lingotto exhibition center, was a landmark event in Italian automotive design.

Fiat’s initiative to invite renowned Italian coachbuilders to reinterpret the newly launched Fiat Cinquecento resulted in a series of innovative concept cars that showcased the versatility of the Cinquecento platform. Among the standout concepts was the Fiat Cinquecento Birba by Maggiora, a vibrant yellow-and-white convertible that captured the playful spirit of the Cinquecento. The Birba’s design was so well-received that Maggiora decided to produce a limited number of units, adding a roll bar for safety while retaining the concept’s charm.

Stola presented the Cinquecento Cita, an open-top two-seater designed by Aldo Garnero. The Cita featured a fabric soft top with a PVC rear window and a generous third volume, hinting at the coupe-cabriolet trend that would become popular in the following decade.

Coggiola’s Cinquecento Fionda stood out with its futuristic design, featuring soft, sleek lines reminiscent of a small coupe. Despite sharing the same mechanics and platform as the base model, the Fionda’s aesthetic was entirely distinct.

Pininfarina introduced the Cinquecento 4×4 Pick-up, a mini pickup truck with four-wheel drive and a fixed center pillar acting as a roll bar. The rear seats could fold down into the floor, transforming the car into a pickup truck, a solution reminiscent of the Citroën C3 Pluriel.

Italdesign’s Cinquecento ID reimagined the city car with MPV-like shapes, offering a proposal for a possible successor to the Cinquecento. Although Fiat did not pursue this direction, the design evolved into the Italdesign Lucciola, which later became the successful Daewoo Matiz.

Bertone’s Cinquecento Rush was a modern dune buggy developed on the Cinquecento platform. Its soft, rounded shapes were in line with the brand’s later products, such as the Punto Cabrio.

I.DE.A Institute’s Cinquecento Griguà offered a futuristic version of the city car with large glass surfaces and a unique seating arrangement: the driver seated in the center, with two passengers positioned slightly rearward on either side.

Zagato’s Cinquecento Z-Eco combined four-wheel mobility with “soft” transportation solutions, featuring a design that allowed access to traffic-free historic city centers by bike..

Beyond the Cinquecento-based concepts, the show featured other notable prototypes. Bertone unveiled the Blitz, an all-electric roadster with offset seating and a minimalist design, highlighting the potential of zero-emission vehicles. Pininfarina presented the Ethos, powered by an orbital engine, emphasizing ecological innovation.

The 1992 Turin Motor Show underscored the creativity and ingenuity of Italian automotive design, offering a glimpse into the future of compact vehicles and reaffirming Italy’s position at the forefront of automotive innovation.