Fiat Downtown

I’m fortunate to know a few working designers who subscribe to this newsletter, and the only thing they seem to dislike more than me asking, “Why don’t you just do this?” is to be told “No” at work.

I think we can all empathize with Fiat bosses in the early 1990s, for electric city cars were a niche waiting to be scratched.

Mainly, in my opinion, because by that time a used hatchback would be far less expensive to buy, more functional day-to-day, cost less to repair, and would offer, literally, more car.

Who can say for sure that the three-seat Fiat Downtown would have sold, or revolutionized mobility, or whatever promises that auto execs make these days — imagine a microcar more premium than a smart fortwo.

We can, however, say for sure that the Downtown slaps.

Built by STOLA for Fiat, this electric city car prototype was unlike anything the Italian powerhouse had created before it.

It was a rolling laboratory, with a range approaching (allegedly) 300 km owing to sodium sulfur batteries, with a 100 km/h (62 mph) top speed. Weight was 700 kg.

Some sources say it was shown at the 1993 Turin Motor Show, which is not possible because at that time, the show was held biannually — ’92 and ’94. 

Downtown was first shown at the 1993 Geneva Motor Show, being driven to the Fiat stand from the airport by Fiat royalty Gianni Agnelli. This is how all concept cars shou…sorry, car company employees — this is how all concept cars could be released.

I’m determined to keep these stories just long enough to whet your appetite for conducting your own research. Example? 

Chris Bangle was in charge of this computer aided yet quite sensual design. Inside and out, practicality and style earn full marks from me — its discreet fold down navigation screen ahead of the driver is one of those details sorely missed on the latest generation of vehicles.

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