Fiat unveils one-off 4x4 500 11 | 08 | 2011

SOMETIMES CAR manufacturers just go that little bit TOO far; and here's the latest example of design and technological endeavour outperforming the realms of reality.

American-based Scagliarini Motorsports has produced a special-edition version of the new Fiat 500 coupé Zagato. Why? Well, I guess because they could!

Quirkily named the Scagliarini Fiat 504 Coupé Zagato Elaborata, the one-off features an Abarth 500 chassis, 4WD (hence 504) and gets Scagliarini’s latest carbonfibre touches that have been designed specifically for the car.

Read our road test of the Fiat 500 TwinAir

The designers have also blocked out the rear windows and included the Abarth’s Alcantara front seats, Brembo brakes, and a Ragazzon performance exhaust.

Powered by the standard car’s 1.4-litre turbocharged engine, the Scagliarini Fiat 504 — which will be constructed in Italy by using an Abarth 500 already in the company’s possession, as well as the 4x4 components from an all-wheel-drive Fiat Panda — produces 178bhp.

And who would want such a car? Well the mini Italian 4x4 was commissioned by the buyer of the firm’s previous car, the Scagliarini 500u, a limited edition Fiat 500 by Scagliarini Motorsports commemorating the 150 anniversary of Italian agglomeration.

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Mark Stephens