20 years of FIAT Trepiuno: the concept that changed the world

To die.

In these days when you think fondly about Italian car brands and the related industry, it might be a good idea to reflect on the FIAT Auto period around the turn of the century. The centennial celebration in 1999 did not exactly take place during the factory’s heyday. Big losses were incurred because the Italian manufacturer had no answer to the German competition that flourished in the years after the fall of the Wall. FIAT focused mainly on the domestic and Brazilian markets. Then the great Gianni Agnelli died in 2003 and brother Umberto was given a creaking worry in his thigh.

Rescue operation.

But then there came a man who folded his hands and seemed to have a car that allowed you as an organization to crawl out of a deep valley; Sergio Marchionne. Major reforms were carried out and FIAT Auto was able to discreetly withdraw from the tents of GM, which initially wanted to take over the fallen Italian giant for the production of small cars only. However, GM ultimately didn’t want to commit to the ailing Italian group and all kinds of union problems that come with it. Marchionne released FIAT and even ensured that this was accompanied by a financial injection of 2 billion euros to be able to return to the bank. FIAT went through the needle hole. Work can be done repeatedly and efficiently. As a parent brand, FIAT only had to invest in cars that could be profitable and with which the brand could recreate a new image. Of course, FIAT could not do it with only Stilo, Panda and Idea, so initially there was more focus on the brand for the masses. At first they relied on platform technology that had been developed together with GM. After the Croma came the Grande Punto, which marked the way back up.

Trepiuno offered a vision of a fruitful future.

That was already impressive, but FIAT needed more to come to consumers with more impact. Preferably on a global scale. And that happened in 2004 when it launched the eye-catching Trepiuno in Geneva. A very beautiful pearl that completely changed 500 years ago. Anyone who saw it immediately realized that FIAT was giving birth again. This idea even made a large group of consumers want FIAT again, as they did in the 1950s. The powerful and attractive FIAT that drove the whole nation after the war. For Trepiuno, FIAT finally broke away from the sad situation it had been in for years.

The breakthrough began in 2007.

Trepiuno showed that something good was about to happen. The FIAT 500 returned and the world saw FIAT again. At the same time, Fiat Group Automobiles became FCA, thanks to the addition of Chrysler and thus the North American market. Completely renovated factories ensured a high level of quality and there was a successful expansion in South America. FIAT came back and had the 500 as a visible symbol of it all.

20 years later.

That was already 2 decades ago. Marchionne is no more and FIAT has become part of the Italian-French conglomerate Stellantis. The world around us is going through great changes economically and geographically. But the 500 as once conceived by Roberto Giolito and his team lives on as a permanent line of the mother brand from Turin. And for the last, 500 even now comes from the Piedmontese capital again. According to a recent statement from Stellantis, this will remain the case in the future. The FIAT 500 is a car that is loved around the world in a way that seems like it was never far away. From 1957 to … forever. The name Trepiuno (tre-piu-uno = 3+1) is now also used again for 500 and the third door. As far as the 2004 concept was concerned, the name had more to do with the fact that the 3.3 meter minivan was very short, just like Dante Giacosa’s predecessor. It was designed as a car with 4 seats basically, where 1 rear part can be converted into a luggage compartment (sometimes it can be folded down). However, for practical reasons this did not reach the production stage.

Reloaded by Creators.

Heritage has been a department that has not sat still recently. Based on concepts from old and vintage models, one-off creations are created, which above all tells a beautiful story about the colorful history of Centro Stile. Over the years, the group’s design department, divided between brands such as FIAT, Lancia, Alfa Romeo and Abarth, has remained a thriving branch, through all industrial developments. The important role that Trepiuno played for the FIAT brand is now honored through the exclusive Fiat 500 (Hybrid) Tributo Trepiuno. This can be recognized by the old blue logo (centenario) FIAT from 20 years ago, the color scheme and even the beautiful rims of the concept car. The dashboard also has a unique front and graphics by Roberto Giolito. For more information about 500 Tributo Trepiuno click this link of mail naar (email protected).