On the nautical ropes in the Fiat Portofino beach car
Click above for hi-res gallery of the Portofino
Fiat took one of its Fiorino vans, chopped off, well, most of it, and dubbed it the Portofino. Supposedly no more than a study for the Caravan Show that starts in Dusseldorf later this week, the golden, buggy-like conveyance is an homage to the 1960s. In a time before Fiat was building $200,000 supercars, coachbuilders were adding open-topped bodies to Fiat chassis like this for fun in the Italian sun.
To stress the beachgoing theme, the Portofino has wood laminate flooring and natural fibers treated with a special waterproofing for the interior surfaces. The car can (optimistically) seat five, and the rear seat folds down for your surfboards and anchors.
Instead of doors, the Portofino has nautical ropes -- which might sound risky, but the 12-foot car only has 75 horsepower, so you shouldn't be getting in too much trouble. Fiat has no plans to make the Portofino, but says it will create a covered version for protection from win and sun. Andiamo, then...
Gallery: Fiat Portofino Concept
[Source: Carscoop]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
xpolarx 1:02PM (8/27/2008)
Wow...that car sucks a lot. It's slightly upsetting.
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MajorGeek 1:10PM (8/27/2008)
Like a bad song stuck in my head, I am going to see this all day long. It should be cool, it should work, it fails badly instead.
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Alex 1:10PM (8/27/2008)
umm... no thanks.
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izzy 1:21PM (8/27/2008)
Is that a velvet rope door? Seriously? Am a going into a car or a gay nightclub?
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Rick 1:28PM (8/27/2008)
And I thought Autoblog readers were big on automotive history. It's a 21st century version of the original Fiat Jolly. A staple for the rich and famous along both the French and Italian riviera. The originals are now going for crazy prices at auction.
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AZMike 2:02PM (8/27/2008)
Rick,
you took the words right out of my mouth! perhaps many of the posters here don't take much interest in automotive history, beyond what Honda did two years ago. did anything happen before then?
this is indeed the successor to the Jolly. it just needs a copper-and-tan striped roof with fringe on the edges, and we're there!
perhaps these will be going for crazy money at auction in 50 years.
AZMike
Alex 3:26PM (8/27/2008)
It is still ugly. Just because the rich buy something doesn't mean I need to appreciate its modern successor.
Menice 1:35PM (8/27/2008)
that rocks. man if i had my 100' yacht i would have one of these to unload everytime i dock...... i see the ropes as more Hugh Heffner (sp?) less gay bar.. but that was f'n funny.
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Isuzu32 1:48PM (8/27/2008)
Well, if I had a 100' yacht, I would put this thing on it, sail it out to the middle of the ocean, and push it off.
TyWright 1:56PM (8/27/2008)
Seriously who needs side impact beams??
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Ken Stamper 5:09PM (8/27/2008)
Not Jeep
esteva03 2:01PM (8/27/2008)
i like it. if a had a lot of money, for more than many boats and more than many autos, i would totally but this...thing. its a design meant to reach the 6th or 7th car status. for example
1st R35
2nd Ferrari F430
3rd Range Rover Sport
4th Porche GT2
5th R8
6th EVO# (any number)
7th Civic Si
8th ZR-1 (HEHE...)
...
ok i keep thinking about other cars to get. I guess i would never buy this thing but if i had it as a gift or anything i would like it!!!
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tankd0g 2:57PM (8/27/2008)
Doesn't look any less safe than a wrangler with the half doors installed :)
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Rman91Bird 5:49PM (8/27/2008)
Call it the Jolly!
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