This little Fiat Topolino acts like a sports car and pays tribute to James Dean’s Porsche.


With its 8 horsepower and a top speed of 45 km/h, the Fiat Topolino is hardly fit to be called a sports car. This didn’t stop Fabrizio Giugiaro and Lapo Elkann from turning this electric quadricycle into a stunning speedster inspired by James Dean’s Porsche 550 Spyder. And it’s not their only creation...
It required courage — taking one of the least powerful electric vehicles on the market and giving it the look of a 1950s sports car. That’s exactly what Fabrizio Giugiaro and Lapo Elkann did with the Fiat Topolino. Two very different interpretations were conceived, named Top. L and Top. J.
A Topolino in the style of the Porsche 550 Spyder
It’s undoubtedly the Top L that draws the most attention. The tiny Fiat sheds its urban quadricycle appearance to transform into a miniature speedster. The windshield almost completely disappears, replaced by a wind shield, while the body adopts a “Matte Aquamarine” finish and chrome wheels.
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This Topolino is inspired by James Dean’s Porsche 550 Spyder, nicknamed “Little Bastard.” The comparison might seem unexpected for a vehicle limited to 45 km/h, but why not! Small aerodynamic elements behind the seats and special wheels complete the transformation.
Beneath this bodyshell, however, there’s no chance of finding a Porsche engine. The technical base remains that of the standard Topolino, featuring an electric motor with 6 kW (8 hp) and a 5.4 kWh battery that allows for 75 km of range per charge.


An even more astonishing second Topolino
Fabrizio Giugiaro and Lapo Elkann didn’t stop there. Their second creation, named Top. J, draws inspiration this time from the Ferrari 166 MM that belonged to Gianni Agnelli, featuring a combination of green and blue colors.
This Topolino is presented as a four-seater. Two small additional seats are located at the back, facing in the opposite direction to the travel path. As a result, passengers end up with their backs to the driver, and their legs hang straight out of the car body. It’s best to avoid long trips with this design...


These two Topolino models will likely remain at the concept stage only. No plans for commercial release have been announced. Yet they demonstrate that even with such a simple and modest base, it’s possible to have fun!