Fiat Cars

The Fiat Multipla is a compact MPV manufactured by Italian automaker Fiat since 1998. Based on the Brava, the Fiat Multipla is shorter and wider than its rivals. It has two rows of three seats, while all its competitors have two seats in the front (the Honda FR-V, which has the same layout, was released in 2004). The MulFiat Multipla ipla was even shorter than the three-door Fiat Bravo upon which it was based, despite offering substantially more space and seating.

Fiat Multipla

In common with a number of other modern Fiats, the Fiat Multipla reuses the name of an earlier vehicle, in this case the "Multipla" variant of the Fiat 600 produced during the 1950s and 1960s.

The exterior and interior design of the Fiat Multipla was displayed at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York during its "Different Roads - Automobiles for the Next Century" exhibition in 1999.

The car, along with the Opel/Vauxhall Zafira, were beaten by the Toyota Yaris in the 2000 European Car of the Year contest.

It won the Top Gear "Car of the Year" (2000) and was voted Top Gear Magazine "Family Car of the Year" for four years in a row (2001–2004).

Fiat Multipla sales began in Italy late in 1998 but most other markets had to wait a year before receiving imports. The Fiat Multipla sold well with Italian buyers, but sales elsewhere were less successful. The car was voted 'Ugliest Car' in the 1999 Top Gear awards. Also when Simon Cowell went on Top Gear he was shown a picture of the car and said it had a disease.

In 2004 the Fiat Multipla underwent a major facelift to shed its original styling for a more restrained look, with the intention of attracting more buyers. It did arrive to critical acclaim. The first generation Fiat Multipla was ranked the 24th ugliest car in a list of the 50 ugliest cars in history by MSN.co.uk.

The new generation Fiat Multipla was praised by journalists at its launch for its flexibility. The Fiat Multipla's three-abreast seating configuration allows for adjustment of the front seats and the removal and relocation of the rear seats into many formats. It also affords a big 430 litres (15 cu ft) of luggage space which can increase to 1,900 litres (67 cu ft) of flat floor load space with the rear three seats removed from the vehicle.

Fiat Multipla photos