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AUTOMOTIVE Armani, Bulgari, Kartell, three of history’s 500S
ARMANI, BULGARI, KARTELL, THREE OF HISTORY’S 500S
A timeless myth is reinterpreted by three of the world’s iconic brands for a project of pure art and beauty: Made in Italy
by Letizia Strambi
Nobody knows the formula that is at the center of the creative process of a wellknown masterpiece: The 500. An Italian icon in the world is reborn in the world with its iconic curves now squared off, marking once again in the 21st Century, as it had been during the economic boom, the value of beauty. A car within everyone’s reach, and at the same time so personal as to become an inimitable Italian myth. Many machines have been reinvented, but this is the only one, which is almost the same as its original, chosen by the third generation of youth. Klaus Busse, vice president of design for FCA EMEA, rightly states that, “We are not looking at a car of a generation, but the car of an era.” “The 500 Elettrica,” says Rossella Guasco, the head of Colors & Material Design FCA EMEA, “Is a piece of our heart, and this is why the OneOff project was born. We have selected three brands that symbolize three different aspects of the Italian spirit.” The momentum that the new 500 has seen in recent years has led to unprecedented success, undoubtedly due to its unmistakable design, but also to the modern, sustainable impact that it had on the market, and to the levels of customization possible with each model. Then, to become even more iconic, he created three One-Offs of the new 500 Elettrica with an exhibition curated by three memorable names in Italian fashion, design and craftsmanship:
Giorgio Armani, Bulgari, Kartell.
ph. Alessio Panunzi
Car interiors B.500 of Bvlgari - “Mai Troppo” Event presentation 500
All three have used natural and recycled materials to honor the intent of this symbol as it is projected into the future. We found ourselves faced, in the darkest moment of the world’s economy, with masterpieces that awaited the glory of the Geneva Motor Show. But facing the immobility of lockdown, inflamed by the difficult world of online events, the strength, passion, and measure of this Italian project proved itself capable of paving its own path even in the most difficult times. The online presentation represented a worldwide event, and the three masterpieces were put up for auction to give the proceeds to the environmental associations indicated by Leonardo Di Caprio, owner of the 500 electric and a radical environmentalist. Eco-sustainability is, in fact, one of the cornerstones of FCA, which has its flagship model in the electric 500. The three cars are not only an aesthetic exploration, but material, and allow Fiat to understand how far to go into the future.
B.500 MAI TROPPO
Bulgari, synonymous with luxury, opulence, and beauty, has described the B.500 as “Never Too Much”. Made of imperial saffron metallic paint, a symbolic color from Bulgari that has elevated gold to a new hue, that reminds us of the sunsets of Rome that reflect in the horizon the amaranth of its historic buildings. To make it, a special gold powder was used, obtained from the residues from the jewelry-making process at the Bulgari Manufacture in Valenza. The Parentesi motif is reinterpreted in this car to customize the front engine cooling grille with a play of solids and voids that evokes the jewels of the Openwork collection. The shiny rims are instead conceived as rays of golden light, reminiscent of Bulgari’s eight-pointed star. Inside, the dashboard is covered in hand-painted colored silk with
B.500 Mai Troppo
the Maison’s motifs. On the steering wheel, inside the 500 logo, three colorful gems, a symbol of nature’s gift to technology. Next to the external logo of the car, the famous B by Bulgari set with diamonds, testifying to 136 years of history of this incredible jewelry signature.
FIAT 500 ARMANI
King Giorgio gives the Fiat 500 Armani the finesse and elegance that are typical of this immense creative master. Armani green could not be missing. Here it changes with reflections of gray to give the effect of silk. The bodywork was laser engraved with infinitesimal precision to call to mind the pattern of a fabric. Above the hood is the unmistakable Giorgio Armani logo, also marked in the alloy wheels. The interiors are done in natural leather and wool fabric, the inserts in reclaimed wood with aluminum details.
KARTELL 500
Kartell, which has given the world the beauty of light in the sinuous curves of its design, brings back the distinctive theme of plastics that have become eco-sustainable. The Kartell 500 is a new design object. The paint is blue, with a mirroring effect, which like the lights in the night, makes an impact much like that of admiring the legendary Kartell lamps, in particular the Kabuki, with which the car is associated. The headlight bezels, mirror caps, front grille, and rim trims are all made of recycled polycarbonate. In fact, the interior is 100% made of recycled material.
Fiat 500 Armani
Car interiors Fiat 500 Armani
Kartell 500 Car interiors Kartell 500
