What would a modern Fiat pickup look like? One designer has a theory...
Fiat Sentiero pickup concept - click image above for high-res gallery
Picture it: you're on holiday in Ericeira, Portugal and wouldn't you know it, the Vespas you rented to take to Sintra won't fit in the back of the Peugeot. You bang on your Brit ex-pat neighbor's door to see if you can borrow his Ford Transit, but he's not home and the suspiciously young Hungarian lady backpackers he's letting crash are too stoned to remember where he went. This could happen to you, but not if design student Dragos Prodan has anything to say about it. Behold -- the Fiat Sentiero.
Feeling that Fiat needed a pickup truck specifically tailored to the European market, Mr. Prodan spent his last year in school coming up with a vehicle that is practical, functional and innovative. The truck also had to draw upon Fiat's design heritage as well as Italian design in general. We think the results are rather sharp looking. And the various cubby holes to stash stuff are always welcome.
The proposed 3.0-liter diesel V6 sounds like a smart engine, especially as the Sentiero has a payload capacity of 1,800 pounds and can tow nearly 5,300 pounds. In fact, forget Europe – bring this little darling Stateside. That is, if Fiat decides to build it.
Gallery: Fiat Sentiero
[Source: Diseno Art via Pickuptrucks.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
futurama 7:58PM (8/20/2009)
oh... NO.
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Vincenzo 8:24AM (8/21/2009)
nice El CAMINO dude....
not
James 10:58AM (8/21/2009)
The Sentiero is Fiat's Italian translation of the Toyota A-BAT.
http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/detroit-2008-toyota-a-bat-concept#25
Bill 8:04PM (8/20/2009)
Holy cow, are those whitewall tires?
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VW GTi 8:12PM (8/20/2009)
I think those tires just have a white line on them. It's still pretty bad though.
Epyx 9:08AM (8/21/2009)
White walls can look good on the right vehicle. These don't have a fat enough stripe and look lame. Also whitewalls usually only look good (IMO) on black cars with black wheels. WWs make a car look like a hipster wearing Chuck's.
Pat 8:04PM (8/20/2009)
No offense to the designer, but I think the odds that it looks like a rebadged Dodge truck are much more likely!
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geo.stewart 8:13AM (8/21/2009)
definitely a Fiat take on the Rampage.
I actually kind of like it. a little District 9 alien eyes for headlights.
white wall tires have to go, along with the Vespas. stick some mountain bikes back there instead
Throwback 8:38AM (8/21/2009)
I agree, if built it would be a Dodge. I am hoping someone will build a small unibody pick-up that is as versatile and innovative as all these concepts. ABAT, GM Bare Necessities Truck, Suzuki X-Head now this. Come on someone make a decision, there is a market for a true compact truck, look how the Ranger continues to sell.
rooster 9:42AM (8/21/2009)
Given the dimunitive bed, you'd better stick with the Vespas.
VW GTi 8:11PM (8/20/2009)
Reminds me of and Audi, an Infiniti, and a Subaru Brat.
In other words, NO!!!
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VW GTi 8:14PM (8/20/2009)
Oh, and a Nissan GTR. There is even one pictured next to it in the recent reviews panel.
Tony 9:40PM (8/20/2009)
Hey! What's wrong with the Subaru Brat? It was an awesome, simple little trucklet. The Subaru Baja on the other hand I offer in place of the Brat in your posting.
VW GTi 10:38PM (8/20/2009)
The Brat was the first trucklet that came to mind. Those Brats were cool (but much better when they lost the rear seat).
This trucklet looks more like the Dodge Rampage now that I think about it (how ironic), with a more dramatic swooping of the C pillar. I'm not picking on any of these trucklets, that's just what I see the base as.
What really has me though, is that front end. It's not just me, right? The front end is a dead-ringer for a Nissan GT-R. Right?
Ligor 8:44AM (8/21/2009)
and a Kia Forte side window treatment as well
it's just a big ugly mess
terible
Other Man 8:23PM (8/20/2009)
I do think certain elements here could be implemented on the next Dakota, which probably isn't too far off.
And while I'm on the subject, it ought to mirror the platform and powertrains that are found in the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
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gus 8:24PM (8/20/2009)
Those are some awful surfaces... never seen reflections that bad.
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RowFive 8:36PM (8/20/2009)
I don't understand the "laid-back" cabin design as applied to pickups. The whole point is to maximize bed space, which logically calls for a more upright cabin that consumes less of the wheelbase. If you're simply tacking a bed onto what is otherwise a car, then you're making something that's neither as good looking as a coupe nor as useful as a truck. If what you want is a "car that hauls", just make a damned station wagon. The Australian Ute concept completely eludes me.
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AlittleCarLover 8:40PM (8/20/2009)
Three letters: WTF
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futurepastnow 8:43PM (8/20/2009)
Looks like a 2-door Ridgeline. That's not a good thing.
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