Camal’s Retro Sexy Fiat 500 Marcia Corta

What happens when two people who share their passion for sports cars and motorbikes meet under the right circumstances? It depends, but if we ‘re talking about two Italians, Alessio Minchella (designer) and Alessandro Camorali (surface and product development) who met in 2010 while working at Pininfarina, the result is a new company, Camal, and a new product.

The newly formed venture’s main principle was delivering stylish products affordably available to all.The Fiat 500 was the perfect starting point, and the 500 Marcia Corta the end result.

Their goal was to give the little Italian car more character without altering its retro feel like fitting additional headlights that bring to mind old rally cars.

All changes to the bodywork are done in order to comply with the original and quite special feeling of the 500, and ensure adequate air flow to the ducts. Camal is currently looking for partners for production and distribution, with a price close to the Abath kit.

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Designer Imagines what a 2012 Fiat Dino Could Look like

After the axing of the Fiat Coupe in 2000, the Italian brand's range was left without a coupe. And that's where British designer Peter Norris steps in with a new study that envisions a future sports car model for Fiat. However, this concept would not necessarily make a successor to the affordable Fiat Coupe, as the car carries a Pininfarina badge, thus hinting to a more luxurious model.

The study is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive luxury sports car that aims to embody the essence of the Italian thoroughbred. Judging from the drivetrain layout, this concept would be more of a successor to the 1960's RWD Fiat Dino rather than to the late 1990s FWD Fiat Coupe designed by Chris Bangle.

The coupe sports a sleek profile and a very low roofline, which make the wheels seem colossal. It also has an aggressive stance thanks to the massive wheelarches, while the front end brings to mind modern-day Aston Martins, especially the shape of the headlights and the upright bumper. The rear features C-shaped LED light units and central exhaust pipes that give the coupe an elegant look.

The designer explained that the project started as “a reboot of the Fiat Coupe”, representing a vision of a present day model. An ex-Fiat Coupe owner, Peter Norris changed his mind halfway through the project and switched to a luxury coupe, hence the Pininfarina badges on the car.

“I used to own a Fiat Coupe 16v Turbo, and whilst it frequently broke down and cost me a fortune in repair bills, I just didn’t have the heart to get rid of it. I still turn my head every time one drives past me,” Norris told Carbodydesign.

“The Pininfarina styling inside as much as outside just oozes with Italian flair and really was, and still is different to anything else on the road. Some people have referred to it as a 'baby Ferrari'. So I began sketching out ideas for a Fiat Coupe for 2012. After roughing out the body in 3d I changed my mind and decided that I wanted to build something that was more of a luxury rather than a budget sports car and wondered what a car designed by Pininfarina under its own badge might look like, and so it evolved from there,” Norris concluded.

By Dan Mihalascu

Source: CBD

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Fiat Primo Roadster Study Rendered to Battle a future MX-5

Independent designer David Cardoso recently sent in his take on a possible MX-5 competitor from Fiat. The Primo is meant to be a roadster/coupe with a face similar to the Fiat family's baby 500 and a rear treatment reminiscent of the marque's older 128.

If a cute little roadster/coupe like the Primo ever made it through Fiat's gates, there's no reason it couldn't be placed right on the 500's platform as a range expander. That would also allow for the Abarth boys to put an entry-level coupe in their stable of hi-po compacts.

Everyone knows Fiat currently has its hands full trying to reinvent Chrysler, integrate its 500 into the US market, and make Alfa Romeo profitable, but a 500 Coupe sure would make an interesting addition to Fiat's lineup somewhere down the line. More pictures after the jump.

By Phil Alex

Design: David Cardoso

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Fiat Debuts Uno Cabrio and Mio Concepts along with New Uno Sporting at Sao Paulo [Live Photos]

In addition to being one of Fiat's most important markets, the Italian automaker is also getting ready to celebrate its 35 years in Brazil next year, so it comes to no surprise that the company is exhibiting a total of 30 vehicles at this week's Sao Paulo Auto Show. The Uno Cabrio and Mio [or FCC 111] concept models and the new Uno Sporting and Bravo production models, are among the highlights of Fiat's display.

Beginning with the Uno Cabrio, this concept study is a two-seater drop top variant of the South American market Uno supermini. In addition to losing the Uno's top and rear seats, the quirky looking roadster model also sports an aggressive bodykit with newly designed front and rear bumpers and a set of 17-inch alloy wheels.

The engine of choice is the same one as of Punto T-Jet, a 152HP 1.4-liter turbo which is capable of carrying the Cabrio to a top speed close to 200 km/h [124mph].

Fiat's second concept car is the Mio or FCC 111, which is an ongoing project created through an interactive process via the portal www.fiatmio.cc. According to the company, from August 2009 to October 2010, more than two million people, from 160 countries, visited the portal, where 17 thousand registered users posted more than 10 thousand ideas.

The dimensions of the Fiat Mio are: 1,560 mm wide, 1,530 mm high and 2,500 mm long, meaning it's roughly the same size as the Smart Fortwo. Fiat says the city car concept has not yet reached its final form.

In the production model division, Fiat introduced a "Sporting" variant of the new Uno supermini. Powered by a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 85HP when running on gasoline and 88HP on ethanol, the Uno Sporting gets a subtle bodykit with front and rear aprons, side sills and a roof spoiler, plus chrome exhaust tips, special decals and 15-inch alloy wheels wrapped around in 185/60 R15 tires. The car also sits 20mm lower thanks to a new sports suspension.

Interior appointments include a leather sports steering wheel, modified instrument panel and sports seats in unique to this model cloth.

Finally, Fiat also showed the local market version of the Bravo hatchback.

Live photos credit: Sao Paulo Auto Show

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