The modern reincarnation of the Fiat 500 has been a success for the Italian brand, with its cute and nostalgic styling having won the hearts of over 3.2 million buyers. The production model was introduced in 2007 but its design was based on the Trepiuno concept that debuted in Geneva, on March 4, 2004. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the unveiling, Stellantis Heritage created a new limited edition of the Fiat 500 called Tributo Trepiuno.
The special model is based on the 500 Hybrid but features several exterior and interior modifications, echoing the design of the concept car which was heavily inspired by the 1957 original. As such, the Fiat 500 Tributo Trepiuno is painted in a special shade of white, and rides on a new set of alloy wheels with five double spokes and a shiny finish. Other references to the concept include the red accents within the taillights, and the old blue-faced Fiat emblems found on the grille, tailgate, and wheel caps.
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2024 Fiat 500 Tributo Trepiuno
Inside, there is a unique combination of reddish-brown and white. The dashboard is covered by the original sketches of the concept, while the front seats with full-grain white leather upholstery feature Trepiuno embroidery with XX (Latin numbers for 20) badging underneath. The door cards, side moldings, and rear seatbacks are painted in the same color, as a reference to the concept’s bathtub-style cabin.
The Fiat 500 Tributo Trepiuno is part of the “Reloaded By Creators” project curated by Stellantis Heritage department, which recently gave us the Alfa Romeo 4C Unica and Fiat Multipla 6×6 one-offs. As with the Multipla, the Trepiuno concept was designed by Roberto Giolito, who is now Head of Stellantis Heritage. In the official video below, the design veteran explains how the production version of the Fiat 500 stayed loyal to the lines of the Trepiuno concept following the enthusiastic response from the press.
Commenting on his design, Giolito said: “My idea with my team, Advanced Design – founded in 2002 and made up of young designers from various fields – was to strip down any decorative form and use the minimalist design of the 500, which mainly meant using overlaid levels like on Giacosa’s 500. This led to the inclusion of a rounded lower body – a ring which surrounded the entire volume, even the sides of the hood – and a glass bubble which even avoided breaks in continuity between the windshield and the glass or openable roof.”
The production-spec Fiat 500 which arrived in 2007 and received a facelift in 2016, is slightly bigger than the concept and features a more conventional four-seater interior. However, the basic forms and styling features have been carried over. The same can be said about the fully electric Fiat 500e which followed in 2020 as a clean-sheet design that stayed true to the same recipe.
Fiat didn’t announce the production numbers and pricing of the 500 Tributo Trepiuno but said that all examples of the limited edition will be certified and sold directly by the Stellantis Heritage department.
