FIAT Makes It Official, The 500e Will Return In 2024 To North America!
Brings The Original Three One-Offs To The LA Auto Show...
FIAT did bring the original three one-off 500e concepts from the original European launch in 2000, during the pandemic. The three vehicles designed by Armani, Kartell, and Bvlgari, reflect Italian craftsmanship, creativity, and sophistication. A symbol of “Made-In-Italy” around the world, the three unique concepts embody the three souls of the 500e: sustainable design, sustainable fashion, and sustainable luxury, in line with FIAT’s vision of sustainability.
500e Giorgio Armani Edition:
Only Giorgio Armani, the undisputed king of the world of Italian elegance, could be the one to interpret the style. His haute couture house interpreted their version of the electric 500e, the 500e Armani, in the name of timeless tailoring and sustainability. Using laser technology, Armani wished to shape the metal covering of the car’s bodywork (and eventually etching it) with exclusive micro-chevron engraving, bringing it as close as possible to the three dimensions of fabric. The result is further enhanced by an Armani gray-green “silk effect” color. What’s more, the opaque paint used for the exterior is an innovative product.
While the “GA” logo is a strong feature of the wheel design and customizes the fabric of the soft top, the amber-colored windows raise the car’s level of harmony and sophistication.
The neutral and elegant nuances continue in the interior: the seats are upholstered in certified full-grain natural leather, sourced from Poltrona Frau, in a “grey” color with micro-chevron wool bands, embellished with details taken from the craftsmanship of the best leather goods.
B.500e “MAI TROPPO”:
Bvlgari’s One-off B.500e “MAI TROPPO” is a homage to craftsmanship and beauty. 500 has always played a role in La Dolce Vita, an Italian icon born of the love for beauty and art. The new interpreter of these values is Bvlgari, an emblem of Italian excellence, a brand that has innovated over the years by rewriting the rules of world jewelry and launching new trends that have become icons of contemporary design. The 500e is a true gem in its own right, with its interiors in the finest materials, embellished by the greatest attention to the details and unique finishes that recall the vivid, unmistakable combinations of colors and motifs and exalt Bulgari’s Roman origins.
It could, therefore, take no other name than “MAI TROPPO” [never too much].
The one-off features a saffron-colored pearlescent paint, an iconic shade at Bvlgari inspired by the chromatic variegation of Roman sunsets. This effect is enhanced by nuance in the paint produced by expert manual technique. The “saffron” paint emphasizes the character of the car as a “jewel”, based on the inclusion of gold powder, recovered from the scraps of jewelry production. The end result: an environmentally friendly car, resplendent in its own light. In addition to the gold paint, the B.500e has side sills and front moldings processed using the glazing technique; specifically designed wheels in the form of a star, the historical symbol of Bvlgari, along with black lacquer with gold trim and a side “jewel” badge in polished gold, with a diamond-paved B.500e logo.
500e Kartell:
The last special edition 500e is by Kartell. Creativity and innovation are the elements of inspiration for the 500e Kartell special edition, from the iconic brand of Italian industrial design, which constantly experiments with and researches new aesthetics and functions vernaculars for plastics. In recent years, Kartell has also been involved in developing increasingly sustainable plastics.
The 500e Kartell is an ideal mixture of materials that come together to breathe life into a true object of contemporary design.
The exterior features a “monoblock color” concept where the different types of materials – metal, glass, rubber, plastic, and fabric – are interpreted in the same color, Kartell blue, derived from Yves Klein blue, a universally recognized color iconic of the brand. The surfaces of the bodywork are mirror-effect Kartell blue, obtained using a blue Kartell mirror effect obtained with environmentally friendly chrome paint. The two brands’ logos stand out from the bodywork thanks to treatment with a sandblasted polycarbonate, to convey a sense of material and depth.
The most symbolic elements of the exterior, in addition to the color effect, are the components made of polycarbonate recycled from end-of-life parabolic projectors, used in the front grille, wheels, and mirror caps. These objects feature a unique design inspired by the pattern of Kartell’s Kabuki lamp, created and developed by the designer Ferruccio Laviani as a motif to lead the new car’s identity, with unique details that recall the texture of the lamp and become special elements of the car. The Kabuki pattern remains the protagonist in the interiors, with a polycarbonate cover on the dashboard insert and transparently applied to the seats.
The contrast between the Kartell blue of the exterior and the brightness of the interior is striking, providing a clear and light environment, combining warm and cool hues. The tactile textile plastics used in the interior are 100% recycled polypropylene, just like the chairs from the latest Kartell collection. The fabrics take on a natural, cozy look, in fully recycled polyester.
500e Kartell Image Gallery:
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