Fiat Multiplay concept turns from family car to pick-up

Fiat’s Multiplay concept has made its full debut in Paris. The 4.45m concept can switch from a seven-seat family car to a four-seat pick-up by sliding its rear section along a set of rails.

When we ran the teaser, we noted that our EV editor Gavin Shoebridge has gone from mocking the 1998 Multipla to calling it one of the most beautiful cars ever built. We await his verdict on this one.

Three in one

Fiat describes Multiplay as a mix of MPV, SUV and pick-up. The key part is what it calls the “Metamorfosi” C-pillar: a rear module that slides along guides, opening up an open bed behind four seats. In pick-up mode the rear spoiler rotates to become a rack for two bikes.

In family mode it has six seats plus what Fiat calls the “Petsenger seat”, which can take a child seat or a pet, or work as a small table or storage. Part of its cushion detaches to become a dog lead, and a folding water bowl is stored in the door. Fiat says the rearmost area can take two children or an adult.

The front passenger seat folds into a lounger, using the dashboard as a backrest, for when the car is parked. The dashboard screen hides away when the car is switched off. The colour scheme is inspired by watermelon, with a green body and red and pink cabin.

The name refers to two earlier Fiats. The 1956 600 Multipla seated six in about 3.5m, and the 1998 Multipla fitted six seats in two rows of three in under four metres.

Fiat says Multiplay is a laboratory of ideas rather than a preview of a specific production model, and it has given no powertrain details.

“Multiplay expresses a quality we want to bring to FIAT’s next chapter,” said Arnaud Belloni, chief executive of the Fiat, Abarth and Lancia brands.