There are models people remember with nostalgia. And then there is the Fiat Multipla—a minivan with dual-tiered headlights that was once called one of the ugliest cars on the planet, but after its release, it became cult design rebellion. And so, years later, Fiat decided: since the world has forgiven Multipla for all its eccentricities, it’s time to bring it back. Only this time, in miniature.

The Multiplina concept, a four-seater electric microcar, became the star of a presentation in Rome. The event focused on micro-mobility. Fiat described the new project as a «bold and socially significant reimagining» of the legendary 1956 Fiat 600 Multipla. In terms of size, it occupies the niche between the Topolino microcar and the full-sized Fiat 500—meaning it is officially the missing link between a quadricycle and a city car. Although Multiplina currently exists only as a digital render, it looks promising: a smiling bumper, round headlights, a gently sloping windshield, high doors, and a folding roof.

Fiat CEO Olivier François boldly declares micro-mobility to be synonymous with the Fiat brand’s DNA. According to him, Fiat is aiming for leadership in the compact urban vehicle segment—though currently only within the Stellantis group. The logic is clear: the success of the Topolino model, introduced in 2023 and still gaining popularity, proved that small doesn’t mean second-rate. People in Europe are willing to buy tiny electric cars not because they cannot afford larger vehicles, but because they like them.

And here, things are quite straightforward. A city dweller who is constantly stuck in traffic and hunting for a parking spot the size of a postage stamp doesn’t need a full-sized crossover to get to the supermarket. Micro-mobility options like Topolino and the upcoming Multiplina solve a simple problem: parking successfully and not worrying about fuel consumption. For many, this isn’t just a second «leisure» car—it’s their first and only one. This is especially true for young buyers and those living in historic city centers with narrow streets where a normal car physically won’t turn around.

Traffic congestion isn’t disappearing, parking spaces aren’t expanding, and ecological zones in European cities are only increasing. Against this backdrop, a four-seater electric microcar—which costs significantly less than a conventional car, doesn’t require Category B driving licenses (unlike quad bikes), and can park almost anywhere—is not a passing fancy, but a rational response to urban reality. Fiat is betting not on nostalgia for its own sake, but on its legendary name and a timely format. Previously, the Multipla was polarizing in its appearance. Now, in the guise of the tiny Multiplina, it risks becoming a city favorite. We await the production version and hope the headlights remain as depicted in the render.