Advert
The Fiat Concept Centoventi concept car, shown at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, aims to be the market’s most affordable electric mobility solution and one of the few also able to provide a practical driving range.
The concept has many innovative features, it will be interesting to see which of these make it to production.
The Fiat Concept Centoventi will be produced in just one colour, which customers will be able to personalise using a choice of 4 roofs, 4 bumpers, 4 wheel covers and 4 external wrappings. The vehicle can be updated in its colours, interior configuration, roof configuration, infotainment system and even battery range.
A modular battery pack allows drivers to extend the range from 62 to 310 miles simply by buying or renting additional battery units.
As standard, the car comes with a factory-mounted battery with a range of 62 miles. But if a longer range is needed, up to 3 additional batteries, giving an increase of 62 miles each, can be purchased or hired. The extra batteries are installed underneath the floor of the car, by the service network. A sliding rail which supports and connects the batteries makes their installation or removal particularly quick and easy. An additional battery, for mounting under the seat, is also available; it can be disconnected and put on charge directly in the user’s home or garage, just like the battery of a modern e-bike. The total range which can be achieved is 310 miles.
The car’s weight distribution and handling are unchanged regardless of the number of batteries installed. The braking system is suitably sized to ensure maximum deceleration even when fully laden. The multiple charging socket is located at the bottom of the windscreen.
The Fiat Concept Centoventi can be built to the customer’s specification, creating a new business model involving Mopar – the FCA group division that specialises in accessories, parts and services and innovative product personalisation, through the sales network and increasingly digital customers. Except for six features (bumpers, polycarbonate roof, colour, Lingotto instrument cluster, batteries and digital tailgate), which can only be installed at retailers, the other 114 accessories specially designed by Mopar – including the sound system, the dashboard and door storage compartments, the seat cushions, etc. – can also be purchased on-line and fitted by the customer at their own home.
Some simply structured accessories, such as a cup holder or a document holder, can actually be printed using a 3D printer, in the owner’s home, at their dealership or at a specialist printing shop.
The Fiat Concept Centoventi cockpit is totally reconfigurable and can accommodate up to four people.
The dashboard has small holes into which a multitude of additional components, of any shape and function, can be fitted, thanks to the patented interlocking mounting system. The same approach is found on the door panels, which are totally customisable with flat surfaces and minimal design, they can be fitted with storage pockets, bottle holders and audio speakers as and when required.
The seats have a bare structure made from eco-sustainable materials, while the cushions and head restraints can be replaced to change their colours and materials. The front passenger seat can even be substituted with a storage box or child seat if necessary. The rear seats consist of a retractable bench and a back which rotates to make a “trunk”.
The standard Fiat Centoventi comes with an open roof, which is closed by a “cap”. As the other details, the roof can also be customised by choosing one of the available roof solutions – two-colour polycarbonate top, canvas soft top, integrated cargo box and even a roof integrating an innovative solar panel. The 50 Watts generated by the solar panel will keep the car cool when it is parked and will power the innovative digital display arranged under the rear tailgate.
The car becomes a social media device thanks to the modern display on the tailgate
The large tailgate can accommodate an innovative display that enables Fiat Concept Centoventi to supersede the concept of connectivity to become a real social media device, on which messages can be shared with the outdoor world. When the vehicle is on the move, the car will only show the Fiat logo, but once it stops, the driver can switch to “messenger” mode.
