The Fiat Topolino was transformed into beach-themed concepts.
Famous automotive designer Fabrizio Giugiaro and Italian entrepreneur Lapo Elkann joined forces to create two unique concept cars based on the smallest and cheapest electric vehicle from an Italian brand. Rather than developing another powerful supercar or expensive restomod, these close friends decided to use the Fiat Topolino microcar as a foundation and transform it into a source of pure excitement and fun. The result of their collaboration was a pair of open-air beach concept cars named Top. L and Top. J, developed at the renowned Turin studio GFG Style.
The first Top. L (Love) concept is a roadster whose creators were inspired by James Dean’s legendary sports car, the Porsche 550 Spyder. The vehicle lacks a roof and A-pillars, featuring instead a low, circular windshield. Instead of doors, the designers installed woven cable enclosures, which are offered as an accessory for the production version of the Topolino Dolcevita. The body is painted in a matte aquamarine color, paired with retro-style chrome multi-spoke wheels and an interior finished in premium leather and alcantara.
The second version of the Top J (Joy) was developed for transporting three passengers. Instead of a trunk in the rear, engineers installed an additional seat facing away from the direction of travel. The model features a lightweight fabric canopy to shield against the sun, tubular doors instead of solid panels, and a blue-green livery inspired by Fiat chairman Giovanni Agnelli’s personal 1950s Ferrari 166 MM race car.
The technical specifications of both concepts remained entirely standard, as the project’s creators believe a passion for cars and design has nothing to do with horsepower. The vehicles are powered by a modest electric motor with just 8 hp/6 kW of output. The system is fueled by a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 5.5 kWh, ensuring up to 75 km of range. These specific beach cars have no chance of going into production, but Elkanne and Giugiaro officially confirmed their intention to continue working together on other unconventional body design projects.
AC Note
The historical name Topolino (translated from Italian as “little mouse”) originally belonged to the first mass-produced popular car, the Fiat 500, which was manufactured from 1936 to 1955. Bringing back this name in 2023 for an electric quadricycle was a successful marketing move by Stellantis. Interestingly, due to its unconventional four-seater layout, the Top. J concept technically no longer fit into its respective category because its weight exceeded the limit. To register the model for use on public roads, it needed to be certified in the L7e category. This is not the first time a cheap electric car has been transformed into an expensive luxury vehicle: previously, Italian body shops Castagna Milano and Carrozzeria Garavini had already produced their own versions of the open-top Topolino, but the cost of these custom modifications for wealthy collectors exceeded $50,000, several times more than the factory version.
