Fiat 500 Coupé Zagato Concept
The renowned Italian coachbuilder Zagato lists on its resume such stunning automotive sculptures as the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, the Fiat 8V Coupé Elaborata, and the Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ. But design houses like Zagato have to pay the bills—especially when competitors like Giugiaro and Bertone are owned by Volkswagen and Fiat, respectively—and that can translate to cars that don’t sport such breathtaking designs. Case in point: The Fiat 500 Coupé Zagato concept. It debuted at the Geneva auto show, and we’d be fine if it stayed there.
To create this 2+2, Zagato lowered the standard 500’s rear roofline and raised the rear quarter panel, producing a spear-shaped window where the two lines intersect. The resulting shape of the C-pillar and rear window is reminiscent of the same section on the Hyundai Veloster. The company says that the design changes are intended to provide a coupe-like look for the three-door hatch. One nice touch, which preserves some noggin space inside, is the inclusion of Zagato's signature “double bubble” in the roof.
The 500 Zagato’s Pop Yellow exterior is matched by an interior outfitted in a mix of black and yellow. New 17-inch wheels, cross-drilled brake rotors, and burnished chrome trim complete the visual transformation.
Under the hood is Fiat’s turbocharged two-cylinder TwinAir engine, tweaked to produce more power than it does in any present application: 105 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. In fact, in this state of tune the little mill actually surpasses the 1.4-liter four-banger in the U.S.-spec 500 by 4 hp and 16 lb-ft. Although Europeans have been receptive to the high-tech two-cylinder in the 500 so far, cost and public perception will bar it from American shores for the foreseeable future.
None of that matters, of course, unless the Coupé Zagato emerges from its concept cocoon and becomes a production model. Although Fiat is running much of Mini’s playbook with its 500, we don’t imagine that Zagato’s creation will be challenging Mini’s own squashed-roof coupe any time soon.
The renowned Italian coachbuilder Zagato lists on its resume such stunning automotive sculptures as the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, the Fiat 8V Coupé Elaborata, and the Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ. But design houses like Zagato have to pay the bills—especially when competitors like Giugiaro and Bertone are owned by Volkswagen and Fiat, respectively—and that can translate to cars that don’t sport such breathtaking designs. Case in point: The Fiat 500 Coupé Zagato concept. It debuted at the Geneva auto show, and we’d be fine if it stayed there.
To create this 2+2, Zagato lowered the standard 500’s rear roofline and raised the rear quarter panel, producing a spear-shaped window where the two lines intersect. The resulting shape of the C-pillar and rear window is reminiscent of the same section on the Hyundai Veloster. The company says that the design changes are intended to provide a coupe-like look for the three-door hatch. One nice touch, which preserves some noggin space inside, is the inclusion of Zagato's signature “double bubble” in the roof.
The 500 Zagato’s Pop Yellow exterior is matched by an interior outfitted in a mix of black and yellow. New 17-inch wheels, cross-drilled brake rotors, and burnished chrome trim complete the visual transformation.
Under the hood is Fiat’s turbocharged two-cylinder TwinAir engine, tweaked to produce more power than it does in any present application: 105 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. In fact, in this state of tune the little mill actually surpasses the 1.4-liter four-banger in the U.S.-spec 500 by 4 hp and 16 lb-ft. Although Europeans have been receptive to the high-tech two-cylinder in the 500 so far, cost and public perception will bar it from American shores for the foreseeable future.
None of that matters, of course, unless the Coupé Zagato emerges from its concept cocoon and becomes a production model. Although Fiat is running much of Mini’s playbook with its 500, we don’t imagine that Zagato’s creation will be challenging Mini’s own squashed-roof coupe any time soon.
