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Fiat MPV
Turner LMP
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The project briefing from Roberto Giolito - FIAT pointed out that the class MPV needs to be 'reinvented' because nowadays these cars are just big buses without any strong concept behind the design of the vehicle. In the project the basis of design was the FIAT Multipla. In this segment the interior of the car is really important, so the project was started with the design of the interior. In the concept of the interior the six seat setup of the original Multipla was kept, but the goal was to make it even more flexible and if possible keep all the seats inside the car because removable seats are heavy and complicated. The main idea was to create a seat which can be turned backwards and this way the car could be used as a small room, or even align the backrests into horizontal position and so to create a big sleeping area. With these changes the car could be used as a small camper, or for one-day trips for business travellers. The seats can be moved separately in the car, this way many setups can be reached: the two-row setup for normal use, the front row facing backwards for 'aperitivo' setup, the 'sleeping' setup, or all five passenger seats closed for carrying big items. The concept of the interior led to some changes: the cushions of the seats are almost flat, and one part of the backrest can be moved up and down for driving or for to create the 'sleeping' position. The seat can be closed to gain space inside the car for luggage. The dashboard is very simple in design, it is covered with two-tone fabric. The interesting part is the 'side pocket' concept, which is a packing place like a glowe-box, but it is opened from the inside, and also has a small separate door from the outside of the car, so when the user arrives to the car he/she can just open the side pocket door, drop all the small items (mobile phones, keys, wallet) into the side pocket, and the sit in, or put down the luggages, and still when inside the car, all these items are withtin his/her reach. For 'aperitivo' setup the roofpanel has been studied: it is a half-glass roof, and from the center two perspex tables can be opened with moving arms, so the tables can be positioned as preferred. The tables can also be illuminated. For to create space for the side pocket door, the car has one big sliding door on each side. From inside the side panels are also simple, covered with two-tone fabrics, which also distinguish the armrests, which are shaped negatively to minimize the width of the door. On the exterior the main concept is the 'backpack'. The idea was to leave out the usual boot of the car, and instead create a flexible space on the back of the vehicle. So there is a flat cargobay and two rails on the back, but an extra luggage-box can be added. This box can be attached to the rails also, and along them it can be pushed to the top of the car. In this case further boxes can be attached for extra luggage. In the exterior design these two rails became the main styling element of the car: they run along the car from the front mask to the A-pillars and then these become the roofrack, further descending on the back of the car until the rear wheelarcs, bumper. With these rails, the cargobay and the protective plastic parts around the car the new MPV became a crossover with SUV cars, styling.
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