– To mark its 120th anniversary, Fiat is presenting the Fiat Concept Centoventi in Geneva, a new milestone in its history – Always a pioneer of democratic mobility, Fiat today offers an electric mobility solution that is affordable for all. – “Democratizing” all major trends is part of the brand’s DNA: Affordable but cool. – With the Fiat Concept Centoventi, the customer can configure the interior himself, choose his accessories and design the vehicle according to his needs in order to get a unique vehicle. – Customization goes even further: the Concept Centoventi’s modular battery pack allows the driver to extend the range from 100 to 500 km by purchasing or renting additional battery units. – The Fiat Concept Centoventi is like a blank sheet of paper. It is manufactured in just one color, but can then be customized by the customer using the “4U” program. The selection includes 4 roofs, 4 bumpers, 4 wheel covers and 4 stickers. – Mopar is FCA's brand for after-sales products and services and has partnered with Fiat to develop the Fiat Concept Centoventi. Mopar will design, manufacture and handle logistics for the Fiat Concept Centoventi accessories. – The Fiat Concept Centoventi takes up the well-known stylistic elements of the brand and is characterized by Italian design and creativity.
The Fiat Concept Centoventi will be presented at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show, a concept car that shows the Italian brand's idea of electric mobility in the near future. The vehicle is the expression of a bold, democratic vision of the future, based on 120 years of history and experience in the field - hence the name of the prototype, which means "one hundred and twenty" in Italian. While maintaining tradition, the concept car breaks away from the past and goes beyond it. Just as, for example, in the 500s, when the Fiat XNUMX sparked an industrial and cultural revolution, overcoming traditional categories in appearance, design and technology to become an icon and the first example of mobility affordable for the mass market.
But can we imagine something just as revolutionary in the future of our modern cities? The answer to this question is the Fiat Concept Centoventi, the most affordable electric mobility solution on the market and one of the few vehicles that can also offer a range for long trips outside the city. To design and develop the vehicle, the brand has drawn on the values that have previously given rise to cars with highly modular interiors and a distinctive stylistic personality. The Fiat Concept Centoventi projects the brand into the future, with the ability to "democratize" key trends: affordable but cool.
Fiat Concept Centoventi – Overview
Fiat Concept Centoventi is basically a blank sheet of paper that can be customized according to the customer's wishes and needs at any time, regardless of when the vehicle was purchased. It will only be produced in one color, but the customer can choose between 4 roofs, 4 bumpers, 4 wheel covers and 4 stickers using the "4U" program. This allows the vehicle to be customized with a lot of imagination in terms of colors, interior design, roof configuration, infotainment system and even its range. And this is one of the strengths of the concept car: owners no longer have to wait for new special models or facelifts, but can "change" their car on any day. The choice will be even greater thanks to 120 additional accessories at launch, which will generate both a new business model and a community of Fiat Centoventi fans.
In other words, Fiat Concept Centoventi is the answer to a design and business challenge that embodies the spirit of the brand while paying tribute to its 120-year history – with a modern interpretation of some of the brand's signature styling elements, reminiscent of the Panda of the 1980s.
Inspired by Italian design, Fiat Concept Centoventi embodies Fiat's "less is more" concept. This means eliminating everything unnecessary and complex in a car to create more space for people (More You), more attention to the environment and the community (More Care) and more space for the brand's DNA in terms of values and appearance (More Fiat). With these three focuses, Fiat Concept Centoventi revolutionizes the idea of electric mobility in the city and outside: by successfully overcoming the increasingly tough challenges - in terms of traffic, regulations and running costs - while taking advantage of the new opportunities offered by electric mobility.
Fiat Concept Centoventi – an innovative business model
Fiat Concept Centoventi can be built according to the owner's wishes, opening up a new business model involving Mopar - the FCA brand specialising in accessories, parts and services and innovative product personalisation - the distribution network and increasingly digital customers.
With the exception of six features (bumpers, polycarbonate roof, paintwork, Lingotto instrument panel, batteries and digital tailgate) that can only be installed in stores, the other 114 accessories specially designed by Mopar - including the sound system, dashboard and door stacking compartments, seat upholstery, etc. - can also be purchased online and assembled by the customer themselves. In addition, some accessories with a simple structure, such as a cup holder or a document holder, can be printed on a 3D printer at home, in the car dealership or in a specialised printing shop. It is therefore a new business model for automotive accessories that allows resale or trade on the Internet, fostering a real community of brand fans or connoisseurs of Fiat's Italian design, just like with collector's items. The new business model focuses on e-commerce, the virtual market that knows no borders.
Cockpit with modular design – "Plug and Play" principle
Modular, spacious and well-lit - this is the best way to describe the cockpit of the Fiat Concept Centoventi, which is fully reconfigurable and can accommodate up to four people. Sitting in the vehicle, it quickly becomes clear that it was designed for people and their needs today.
Following the philosophy of the vehicle, various parts of the interior are designed according to the "plug and play" principle. The dashboard has small holes into which a variety of additional components of any shape and function can be installed, thanks to the patented interlocking fastening system, similar to the famous Lego blocks.
The same applies to the door panels, which are completely customizable and inspired by refrigerator doors: with flat surfaces and minimalist design, they can be equipped with storage compartments, bottle holders and audio speakers if required.
The seats are also innovative, with a bare back structure made of environmentally friendly materials. The cushions and headrests can be easily replaced to change colors and materials. The passenger seat can even be replaced with a storage box or a child seat if necessary. The rear seats consist of a retractable bench and a backrest that turns into a "trunk" with exceptional load capacity.
Innovative materials for seats and headrests
Fiat Concept Centoventi breaks new ground in design with its materials, draws inspiration from trendy everyday objects and uses innovative technological solutions and unique production processes.
One of the many reference points are sneakers, a fashion icon and very high-performance product. They inspired the seats of the Fiat Concept Centoventi, a masterpiece of Italian (Fiat) creativity, created with the help of leading industrial partners. For example, the seat is made of an innovative plastic produced using an exclusive, patented manufacturing process that uses a new plastic with polyolefin resins. The end result is a material that is three times lighter than other moldable plastics, such as foams - and what's more, it is directly colored, meaning it has no external coating, looks attractive and is soft to the touch. In addition, this innovative plastic is antimicrobial, UV-resistant and completely washable. Not to mention that it can be colored in an infinite variety of shades, including metallic and pearl colors, as well as bright or saturated pigments.
Equally innovative is the "3D knitting" technology used for the backrests and headrests, made from 100% recycled yarns. This technology is used successfully not only in the sports sector, such as sneakers or other technical sportswear, but also in interior design to create innovative, functional and flexible seats. In addition, the process in question is able to produce fabrics with different cross-sections, thus avoiding the creation of waste that has to be disposed of.
New hole system for the dashboard and the new 20″ instrument cluster “Lingotto”
The vehicle has an innovative one-piece dashboard with a Fiat-patented hole system for securely and individually anchoring a variety of accessories - from cup holders to the glove compartment or anything else the customer might need - to create a cozy, comfortable environment.
The dashboard is available in two variants: the first, perfect for the millennial generation, makes the smartphone the heart of the system, combined with the 10-inch main screen, while the second, more traditional option, has a second integrated display, resulting in a screen of 20".
In the first case, drivers can connect their smartphone or tablet to the dashboard at no additional cost to use its navigation, music, messaging, etc. functions.
Those looking for a more traditional solution can opt for the "Lingotto" instrument cluster, a sophisticated, fully digital 20" device housed in a holder reminiscent of the historic Fiat factory in Turin. The "Lingotto" display integrates driver assistance and safety functions such as indicators, blind spot assist, braking system and battery charge status. In addition, the part of the "Lingotto" instrument cluster facing the windshield houses an additional display, perfect for displaying car sharing messages.
One paint job but lots of customization
Fiat Concept Centoventi changes the automotive paradigm. To simplify production, there will be a single color, but at the same time the car will be extremely customizable. The new "4U" program allows customers to choose from four roofs, four bumpers, four wheel covers and four car wraps, which, combined with an extensive catalog of accessories, makes Fiat Concept Centoventi unique and exclusive. In particular, the wraps can be applied at any time by any dealer at the customer's request. The application is very quick, thanks to the remarkably linear and flat external surfaces, and is also very inexpensive. The effect is similar to a metallic paint job, but unlike a paint job, the car does not have to stay that way forever.
convertible or sedan
The standard Fiat Concept Centoventi has an open roof, which can of course be closed. Like the other details, the roof can also be customized by choosing one of the available roof solutions - two-tone polycarbonate roof, fabric roof, integrated cargo box and even a roof with an innovative solar panel. More specifically, the 50 watts generated by the solar panel keep the car cool when it is parked and power the innovative digital display located under the tailgate.
Modern display on the tailgate
An innovative display can be integrated into the large tailgate, allowing the Fiat Concept Centoventi to share messages with the outside world. While driving, only the Fiat logo is displayed for safety reasons, but once stopped, the driver can switch to "Messenger" mode. In addition, the digital tailgate can easily become an "advertising space" that can be rented to advertisers to cover parking fees, for example.
Modern reinterpretation of Fiat's typical design language
Everything in the Fiat Concept Centoventi is typically Fiat, especially in the charming and functional details. Such as the retrofuturistic minimalist hinges and locks, the new multifunctional dashboard, the slim seats, the colored wheel covers that use the most innovative materials in the sector today and the front grille where the familiar vertical air vents become the LEDs of the battery charge indicator.
The Fiat identity is not only evident in these details; the entire exterior appearance of the car is also typical of the Italian brand. In a simple, uncluttered style, the new Fiat Concept Centoventi has robust and compact proportions, with dimensions that make the most of every space. The impression of solidity is also underlined by the wide door bumpers made of a new foam material that, thanks to its elasticity, absorbs scratches and impacts without denting. In addition, its "3D texture" underlines the feeling of protection and safety that the exterior of the vehicle conveys.
Modular electric range of up to 500 km
The freedom of customization is also evident in the electric power source that powers the Fiat Concept Centoventi. It consists of a set of modular batteries that offer the greatest possible flexibility of use. As standard, the vehicle is equipped with a factory-fitted battery with a range of 100 km. However, if a greater range is required, up to 3 additional batteries can be purchased or rented, allowing an increase of 100 km each. The additional batteries are installed by the dealer under the floor of the vehicle. A sliding rail that supports and connects the batteries allows particularly quick and easy installation and removal. An additional battery to be installed under the seat is also available; it can be disconnected and charged directly at home or in the user's garage, just like the battery of a modern e-bike. The total achievable range is 500 kilometers.
Impressively, the vehicle's design, with the rolling center of gravity exactly in the middle between the two axle shafts, and the placement of the batteries below the vehicle's center of gravity, mean that the weight distribution and handling of the vehicle remain unchanged regardless of the number of batteries installed. The braking system is designed to ensure maximum deceleration even when fully loaded.
The multiple charging socket is located on the underside of the windshield. Specifically, it is a cable reel that is housed under the panel, eliminating the need for a cable cavity in the trunk, and which, thanks to its central position, is equidistant from the charging stations on both sides or can serve as a hub for several vehicles in the case of power distribution. The socket glows in the dark and can be used as an electric flashlight and as a windshield defroster.
Perfect for business and sharing
Fiat Concept Centoventi is not only suitable for individual use, but in the future can also be used for company fleets and shared with other users. Fiat Concept Centoventi excels in all aspects of urban mobility. It is the most affordable BEV on the market, thanks in part to the modular battery pack, as well as the easiest to clean, repair and maintain, with a lower risk of damage and an even lower total cost of ownership.
Fiat Concept Centoventi Technical Data
- Length: 3680 mm
- Height: 1527 mm
– Width: 1740 mm (with door mirrors 1846 mm)
- Wheelbase: 2430 mm
– Front overhang: 658 mm
– Rear overhang: 592 mm
Press contact:
Anne Wollek
Phone: +49 69 66988-450
Email: anne.wollek@fcagroup.com
