The Walt Disney Company was born in 1923 and in the same year, the Lingotto, the historic Fiat factory and symbol of the Italian economic boom, was built in Turin. To celebrate these two centenaries as well as the 95 years of Mickey Mouse, Fiat and Disney have joined forces by creating five specimens unique theme of the new Fiat Topolino dedicated to Mickey Mouse.
Topolino was the nickname of the first Fiat 500 of 1936, which was given to it due to the resemblance in the front end to the mouse from the Disney comics, which was becoming popular in Italy in those years. It was in Italy, as Daniel Frigo, Disney's Italy Country Manager, recalls, that the first magazine dedicated to Disney outside of America was born, called Topolino.
“The stories of FIAT and Disney have strong roots, both are celebrating 100 years, and are intertwined with each other” said Oliver Francois, CEO of FIAT and CMO Global of Stellantis on the occasion of the presentation of the five Mickey Mouse one-offs which took place in Casa 500, on the fourth floor of the Agnelli Art Gallery. “The same goes for Mickey Mouse, the Disney icon and the very first Fiat 500, which have inspired artists, street art and fashion for decades.”
Four of the one-off cars were created by the Fiat Style Center, which defined a visual journey from abstractionism to the world of street art. The fifth was designed by Giorgio Cavazzano, the famous designer of Disney comics in Italy. Here they are.
Tribute to cinema. The first livery presented draws inspiration from the graphics of the revolutionary 1928 Disney short film entitled “Steamboat Willie”. This iconic script marked an epochal moment in cartoons, introducing the synchronization of sound with animation. It is recognized as a work of contemporary art and is part of the archive of the MoMA in New York.
Modern. The modern livery is based on modern art, with a distinctive pattern that repeats Mickey Mouse's initials throughout the bodywork. According to Fiat designers, this choice aims to convey a sense of positive energy and reflect the future vision shared between FIAT and Disney, underlining the role of the two brands in contemporary art and culture.
abstract. The third livery presented simplifies the Disney creative elements to the essential, presenting a pattern of references to Mickey Mouse through the use of geometric elements, such as the intersection of the three circles that recreate the ears of the famous mouse, or the bow attributable to Minnie, his decades-long companion.
street art. The street art livery incorporates graffiti references that celebrate Mickey Mouse through the language of urban art. The latter ideally represents cars like the Fiat Topolino, designed to meet the mobility needs of increasingly crowded metropolises.
Mickey Mouse by Cavazzano. The last of the liveries presented was instead created by Disney, more specifically by Giorgio Cavazzano. Born in 1947, he has been linked to the Californian company since the beginning of the 60s, when he began a long association with the master of Disney comics Romano Scarpa. This livery is characterized by Cavazzano's pencil stroke; it was drawn during a sleepless night and represents a Mickey Mouse with open hands which, in the designer's intentions, invites the cartoonist to find inspiration to complete the project with Fiat.
Francois: we have DNA in common
Speaking about FIAT and Disney “We have much more in common than a name” says Francois, “DNA, authenticity, and we both share the importance of bringing simplicity, warmth and joy to people. And we both want to show the world, and the future, with a smile and with optimism and speak to a younger audience."
The new Fiat Topolino will have an important role, according to the architects of the project, because “it was created to bring people one electric mobility with a smile". Today I am proud to present our tribute to Disney: five very special and unique Mickey Mouses, inspired by the iconic Disney character who gave his name to our Mickey Mouse in the XNUMXs" concludes Francois.
“For us it is truly an honor to be part of the culture and incredible creativity of Italy” added Daniel Frigo, Country Manager The Walt Disney Company Italy & Turkey and Head of Studio Italy. “This love for Italy inspired us to establish a relationship based on respect and trust both with Italians and with FIAT. We are truly honored to be able to celebrate our XNUMXth anniversary with this magical moment that unites FIAT and Mickey Mouse once again, in the spirit of creativity and the bond of friendship.”
The Topolinos will be produced in Morocco
The Topolino, together with the new 600, were presented last July at Lingotto in the presence of John Elkann, president of the Stellantis group. The first was designed for all those urban or short-distance journeys that are easily reachable thanks to a 100% electric motor a zero emissions. The speed is reduced to just 45 km/h, but the autonomy is decidedly large: the 5,4 kWh battery allows a range of 75 km and a time of less than four hours for a full charge. The potential customer? The car is suitable for both families and younger people, who can drive it from 14 years of age.
But production of the two cars will be outside Italy: the new Topolino will be produced in Morocco, while the new 600 in Tichy. The announcement immediately sparked controversy, to which Francois responded: “In Italy we would produce more cars if we bought more of them. This country is the only one in Europe that is moving backwards on electricity because there are not enough incentives,” he declared. According to the Fiat CEO, the Italian factories are saturated or will be saturated according to the planned plans, with specific reference to Melfi, Pomigliano and Mirafiori.
