How would Zagato do with a modern Fiat 500? Regretfully, the Double Bubble Zagato 500 concept from 2011 is remarkably normal and flair-free. The intersecting side and rear glass is present and correct, as is the bubble hardtop. But… somehow we have lost most of the depth in the bubbles seen on the 1958 750GT, as well as missing trunk humps.
The most joyful part of this design is the flip of the ducktail spoiler.
2011 Fiat 500 Coupé Zagato
01 MAR 2011
World Premier: 500 Coupé Zagato
One of the most iconic names in automotive design, Zagato, returns to the world stage at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The 500 Coupé Zagato was created by the renowned Italian coachbuilder in collaboration with Fiat Group Automobiles’ Centro Stile and was inspired the Zagato-bodied Fiat models of the 1950’s.
A gentler evolution than its completely re-styled predecessors, the 500 Coupé Zagato retains the essential character (and basic dimensions) of the Fiat 500 on which it is based, but dials in more sportiness and aggression thanks to its low-slung coupé roofline and trademark “double bubble” Zagato roof.
The interior takes the retro-cool theme of the Fiat 500 to the next level with its 2+2 cabin layout and traditional “diamond” seats, which are trimmed high-tech fabric and yellow chamois leather to compliment the three-layer ‘Pop Yellow’ paint scheme of the bodywork.
The 500 Coupé Zagato also debuts the new high-power version of Fiat Powertrain Technology’s award-winning TwinAir engine. In a compact, lightweight car like the 500 by Zagato, the 875cc, two-cylinder engine’s output of 105hp @ 5,500rpm and 155Nm @ 2,500rpm ensures the only aspects of the driving experience more surprising than its performance will be its fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of just 95g/km.
There are no plans to put the 500 Coupé Zagato production at this time.
Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
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