Fiat Crafts Furniture Pieces Inspired by the Original 500

At this week's 50th Furniture Fair in Milan, Italy, FIAT previewed the "Fiat 500 Design Collection", an initiative by the firm's marketing boss Lapo Elkann and furniture maker Meritalia. The collection is a tribute to the original Fiat 500 and includes a sofa, a table and a console, all inspired by the 1970's Fiat 500. Each of the three pieces sports a plate that says: "Lapo and Meritalia pay tribute to the Fiat 500". The "PIC NIC" table uses two front ends of the Fiat 500 glued back to back and is mounted on two wheels. Over the car parts sits a transparent glass fixed to the ground with crystal legs. The wheels are not shod with tyres but with flexible black polyurethane. The "CIN CIN" console is similar to the "PIC NIC" except it has no wheels. The top part is made from crystal and the piece is available with three height options. Finally, the "PANORAMA" sofa uses the same Fiat 500 "face" upon which a padded seat and backrest are mounted. The covers are made either from fabric or from leather and the producers say it's a particularly comfortable couch. Fiat says the names of the pieces have been inspired by an "open air" vision of the Fiat 500, as all three of them have been designed for outdoor use.                        PHOTO GALLERY