Fiat Cinquecento ID

The Fiat Cinquecento ID by Italdesign was a bold reinterpretation of the legendary Cinquecento first introduced in 1955.

In 1992, ANFIA (Associazione Nazionale Filiera Industria Automobilistica), with Fiat’s backing, invited Italy’s leading carrozzerie to rethink the Cinquecento concept as part of a special design initiative. Italdesign, led by Giorgetto Giugiaro, responded with the Cinquecento ID, presented as a static show model at the 1992 Turin Motor Show.

Conceived as a contemporary evolution of the classic city car, the Cinquecento ID was designed to suit modern urban life. Emphasis was placed on compactness, agility, and ease of maneuvering in crowded city streets, while maintaining the spirit and recognizability of the original Cinquecento. The result was a small but well-proportioned vehicle that balanced practicality with a clear, modern design language.

Visually, the Cinquecento ID combined clean, streamlined lines with a fresh interpretation of familiar cues from the historic model. Its proportions and layout were optimized for everyday city use, reflecting Italdesign’s forward-looking approach to urban mobility.

Just a year later, in 1993, the concept evolved into the fully functional Lucciola prototype. This running model expanded on the ideas introduced by the Cinquecento ID and ultimately served as the foundation for the Daewoo Matiz, launched in the late 1990s.

The progression from the Cinquecento ID to the Lucciola, and finally to the Matiz, highlights Italdesign’s lasting influence on the development of modern city cars, seamlessly linking classic heritage with contemporary automotive design.