Garage Italia, a Milan Italy-based creative agency, has recently launched their Icon-e project dedicated to electrifying classic Italian autos. The program aims to celebrate the iconic classic cars of the past while integrating new technology and providing peace of mind for today’s environmentally-conscious people. After recently transforming the classic Fiat 500 Jolly into a modern electric car, the company — founded by Fiat heir, Lapo Elkann, intends to revamp a slew of familiar and much-loved classic cars.
A modern twist on classic cars – the Fiat Jolly Icon-e
Fiat Jolly Icon-e photo by Garage Italia
“We know that people still love historic cars, but that some of those cars would be difficult to drive,” explains Carlo Borromeo, Director of the Garage Italia Style Centre. “So we wanted to make those vehicles that continue to excite entire generations usable, bringing Garage Italia’s signature quality, style and philosophy”. Garage Italia is also big on sustainability. “With Icon-e, the restomod phenomenon becomes eco-friendly too, through re-use and upcycling, both central to the project,” the company further announced in a press release.
Fiat 500 Jolly: an electric transformation
The first classic car to get the Icon-e treatment? The beloved Fiat 500 Jolly, which was first in production from 1957-1975. First off, the classic car’s roof and door panels were stripped away in favor of a modern, enveloping safety cell (which keeps the classic lines of the original intact). The windscreen has been remodeled and reinforced to meet today’s safety standards. LED headlights and white-wall tires from Michelin’s vintage line replace the car’s originals. Inside, the front and rear seats are comprised of natural hand-woven rope, which imparts a casual, beachy vibe. The dashboard features a digital instrument panel with a five-inch screen and custom graphic interface.
The engine, now electric, was developed by Garage Italia in partnership with Newton Group; it is 80kW and flanged directly to the Fiat’s original gearbox. An eye-catching white shift stick denotes the different gears with two symbols: a tortoise and hare. To complete the transformation, the car features the familiar Fiat medallion, which flips open to expose the charging port. Limited to just 100 cars, the price of the Fiat starts at $100,000, which no doubt puts it outside of the reach of many people. However, it can be made more affordable with smart financing according to this LendingTree Auto Finance Review for 2019.
Combining style and reliability
“Our desire was to create a classic Jolly that would look perfectly at home on the Riviera while updating the style and details to match current stylistic trends and quality expectations,” comments Borromeo on the company’s first car transformation. “My favorite key design elements include the white powder coated bumpers, the hand-woven rope seats, the seamlessly integrated digital display. My personal favorite detail is the shifter knob with the hare and tortoise to represent the two speed settings because it synthesizes well the spirit of the project”. Indeed, the project preserves the classic car’s vintage beauty while transforming it into a reliable, usable, and fun model.
The Fiat Jolly is Garage Italia’s first release in the Icon-e project. We can look forward to future releases now in development, including an electric version of the Fiat Panda.
So far, the project shows it’s possible to celebrate Italy’s strong classic car design while updating it for the 21st century.
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Photo by Garage Italia
What are the specs on the fiat jolly (length, width, HP, etc)?