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NEWS
Evolution not revolution for Fiat 500
Fiat design boss says 500 range will evolve... 500X shows the wayFiat will hold to a steady as it goes policy and evolve its 500 range rather than effect wholesale change. That's the verdict of the man charged with overseeing the design of the iconic small hatch and its stablemates, Roberto Giolito.
The head of EMEA Design Centre, Giolito debuted his latest 500 family member, the 500X (pictured), at this week's Paris motor show.
He told motoring.com.au the new compact crossover gives strong clues to the evolutionary styling of the next generation 500 and eventual updates to the 500L MPV, but also stated that the current line-up of hatch, 500X and 500L was "the maximum spread of the family in terms of segments".
Externally, Giolito says the range must remain true to the original 500's "paradigm".
"We would like to evolve it [back] towards the pureness, the simplistic of the original 500.
"The small car deserves little adjustments only to adapt to the culture, to the technology, to the small changes [it needs]... I wouldn't like to swap [design] from one generation to another," he said.
"It's very important to keep the car exactly as some evergreen products like Vespa, Leica camera. Something that is good enough to remain in the hands in the usage of the people exactly in the same condition," Giolito told motoring.com.au
He says the 500 range must gel, but he's not after ‘cookie cutter' models.
"What I am creating is a family in harmony. [But] I don't like only different by scale
"For a treatment of surface this car [500X] is very much influencing the new action on the other models because it's most cultured [refined]... It's like you see a clearer perspective because its [design is] sharper, more detailed. This is what I want to reflect on the other cars.
Interestingly, the 500X has been launched in two alternate variants. The front fascia on the ‘city' version is body-coloured and translates as "an alternative for a hatchback" says Giolito.
The SUV style variant features an A-bar motif on the front-end for a more rugged look and to offer "more protection", the design boss says.
In the hatch this differentiation might manifest itself in a stronger identity for the Abarth version.
Giolito believes a number of new factors will influence the 500 range going forward. Not the least of these is a focus away from driving and toward convenience. He says reduced car ownership and more car sharing will also drive design changes — especially inside the cabin of future 500s.
"For the real evolution of the small 500 we will be inspired by the changes of the habits. As the cars are less driver focussed and more things are happening in the cabin, this is important for the 500.
"The more simple, the more integrated, the more easier to understand [the better the car is as a] mobility tool for the people. That is very important," Giolito stated.
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Written byMike Sinclair
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