Congratulations! The Fiat Multipla turns 21

The Fiat Multipla has just turned 21, and we’re sure that at least once in your life you’ve seen one in your city. This curious 3+3 seating model has become the winner of the “ugliest car” lists. The Multipla, believe it or not, deserves a place in history alongside the Citroën 2CV, the Mini or the Renault 4.

The history of the Fiat Multipla begins with the Fiat 600 of 1955. This car, with a rear-mounted water-cooled engine, was designed to motorise the population, making it the Italian equivalent of the BMC Mini, Volkswagen Beetle and Renault 4CV. Some of the 2.7 million units were built at the Fiat plant in Mirafiori, although the figure is closer to 5 million if production in Latin America, Spain, Germany and the former Yugoslavia is included. Though not as iconic, the 600 proved more versatile than the enormously popular Fiat 500. Abarth built a version for aspiring racing drivers and Ghia built the Jolly for the adventurous.

This is the story of the Fiat Multipla

The Fiat 600 Multipla was a triumph. Seen from behind, it resembled the standard Fiat 600, with the engine mounted behind the rear axle, but the cabin was enlarged to take in the whole front section of the car. The front was almost vertical, rather like a small pick-up. It was brilliant. Four doors: two with rear hinges at the front and two at the back. It also had three rows of seats if needed. Alternatively, the rear seats could be folded down to create a loading area of almost two metres or converted into a camper van with a double bed.

Fiat claimed that “no other vehicle in its class can offer such a variety of uses”, “whatever the need, a family car, a delivery vehicle, for the city or the countryside, the 600 Multipla fits the bill”. The 600 D Multipla was introduced in 1960, with the engine enlarged from 633 cc to 767 cc. Then came the Taxi Fiat 600 Multipla, which helped boost Multipla Taxi sales. The front passenger seat was replaced by a luggage shelf and a taximeter was installed on the dashboard. The rear of the cabin was fitted with two standard seats and a pair of folding seats to accommodate two or four passengers.

In 1993, Robert Giolito developed the exterior and interior design of the Fiat Downtown. This concept featured a three-seat layout similar to the McLaren F1, along with a pair of electric motors. Weighing just 700 kg, the Downtown could reach a top speed of 100 km/h, although the high production cost meant it never got beyond the concept stage. In 1994, the Fiat Zic arrived and is possibly the concept that inspired the Multipla’s front end. The small electric car could seat four adults. The styling of the rear recalls the second-generation Renault Mégane, a car that would not arrive until 2002.

The Fiat Multipla made its debut at the 1996 Paris Motor Show

Giuseppe Scagliola, Fiat’s platform development director, stated that “it is a calculated risk. Due to the innovative features, we felt our dealers had to know well in advance what we were doing, so we informed them at an early stage. It is interesting to note that Fiat had no plans for a right-hand drive version”.