Fiat 500 Barbie Concept, 2009
The Fiat 500 makes headlines once more, as befits an authentic Made in Italy icon.
It's a fashionista car but quite tongue-in-cheek and with lots of charm: just like Barbie herself.
The gleaming paintwork resembles varnish and definitely makes for a shock effect, achieved with deep lacquered colour using ultra fine aluminium plunged in deep, up-to-the-minute pink. The seating is upholstered in strikingly soft fabrics: silver laminated Alcantara is not only trendy but plush to the touch and its glimmer bounces as far as the roof panel.
There are mats enhanced with natural silk yarn and sleek viscose, not to mention lip glosses in brilliant colours stored in the glove compartment, plus a LED-decked vanity mirror to ensure perfect application.
The car has more features than a crown has jewels! Crystals sparkle on interior bezels, hubcaps, outer window mouldings and antenna and even outline the doll's famed silhouette on the pillars. Lastly, this Fiat 500 the Barbie show car also has its own glossy cover, featuring the distinctive Sixties version of the Fiat 500 and a Barbie autograph.
Roberto Giolito, creator of the Fiat 500, had this to say about the Mattel-Fiat partnership scheme: "All-American Ms Barbie already has a number of 'transport solutions' available, like thundering GTs and motor homes with endless accessories.
So if she's spotted a 500 and wants one as a gift for this landmark birthday, it's a signal typical of modern times that there's a renewed need for dreaming the simple things in life, which give so much, allow us to lighten up, thrill who's born beautiful or just feels beautiful, but doesn't have to prove anything.
The Barbie already has everything. Sleek Barbie is a looker, smart enough to listen to everyone, a universal ambassador opting for a car that never divides but frees everyone from having to declare their social status.
