Fiat has revealed a concept car that looks like a mashup of its own history and a weird pickup truck. The new vehicle is the Multiplay, and it combines the open load space of a pickup with the comfort of an SUV. The teaser image shows the 1998 Multipla shape overlaid on a 1950s design. According to Fiat, this concept is built around an ingenious mechanism that lets the car change configuration in a few moves.
Looking Back at Weird Utility
Before this concept exists as a finished product, it is just an image. The teaser is a digital mix of two older Fiat models. The 1990s Multipla is famous for its odd, bulbous shape, while the 1950s Topolino is a smaller, reversing-teardrop shape. Fiat says the Multiplay challenges convention by blending these styles with a truck bed. The company notes that the vehicle offers outdoor versatility and flexible seating.
The concept recalls the Skoda Felicia Fun from the late 1990s. This Eastern European car was essentially a ute version of a hatchback with a movable rear wall and jump seats. A movable wall turns the bed into a passenger area, though passengers sit in the open air. Over 4,000 of these cars were produced between 1997 and 2001, proving that quirky designs can find an audience.
Another vehicle with a similar spirit is the Toyota bB Open Deck. This car, based on the Scion xB, had a short bed and a large degree of versatility. To transport longer items, the tailgate lowered and the rear wall opened. Folding the rear seat created a load area the length of the closed car. Chrome roof rails extended to the bed corners, and the Open Deck was sold only in Japan from 2001 to 2003.
The Subaru Baja, which launched in 2002, represents the most recent example of this type of vehicle. Built on an Outback platform, it featured a usable 3.5-foot bed that connected to the passenger cabin. An opening in the rear wall allowed cargo to pass through to the front seats. A cargo cover could be added to hide the bed, turning the Baja into a sedan. The car sold 33,000 units between 2002 and 2008.
Read Also: GM partners to produce rare earth magnets domestically
These vehicles share a common trait: they are all products of the late 1990s and early 2000s. A modern approach to modular design could bring back this versatility. Skateboard-style electric platforms might make such wild configurations more practical than they were two decades ago.
The Multiplay concept will debut at the Paris Motor Show. The teaser suggests it will sit between the bulbous Multipla and the Baja in terms of layout. Fiat has not confirmed if this vehicle will enter production. The company has previously announced a longer variant of the Topolino called the Multiplina. The concept names are endless, but the teaser image gives the first concrete look at what might come next.
Historical Context and Future Possibilities
The Skoda Felicia Fun was a rare production vehicle. Skoda initially planned to build only 300 units. The model was based on a front-wheel-drive hatchback. This design allowed the car to function as a passenger vehicle. Passengers could sit in the open air when the wall was moved. Some canvas top options existed, but they were not widely used. The car was produced between 1997 and 2001. Over 4,000 units were eventually sold.
These vehicles share a specific time period. They all appeared around 25 years ago. Fiat says an ingenious mechanism allows the vehicle to switch configurations. The concept is set to debut at the Paris Motor Show.