Fiat 500C Riva... when 2 Italian legends anchor together
Fiat 500C Riva... when 2 Italian legends anchor together
Fiat 500 – automotive legend. Riva – the yacht company – nautical legend. Both Italian.
What about a collaboration between Fiat and Riva to create an icon with the name as the other? How can design aspects of a Riva yacht and Fiat 500 anchor together? That is how the Fiat 500C Riva idea came into being.
Fiat 500 and Riva share Dolce Vita
The Fiat 500 strongly contributed to motorising Italy, and quickly became a cult model. Those were the years of the Dolce Vita, during which the country was rapidly evolving and restarting with dynamic vigour and enthusiasm.
A similar expression of vitality was projected in the same period by Aquarama, the Riva speedboat synonymous with elegance and perfection – an authentic status symbol, made of premium quality materials, meticulously executed detailing and maximum craft expertise.
Real wood, navy blue, ivory leather… as is yacht, so is city car
The Fiat 500 Riva is an exclusive limited series, which stands out for its unique appearance and refined details, created in partnership with Riva.
The Sera Blue bodywork is an exclusive deep navy blue paint colour for this limited special series, and is one of the most appreciated of the palette offered for the Aquariva Super (the Italian shipyard's emblematic yacht and successor to the legendary Aquarama). Yes, a yacht does not have to be default white.
Both the Fiat 500 Riva hatch and Fiat 500C Riva sliding-roof cabriolet (shown here) are available. The Fiat 500C boasts a new dark blue soft-top, created exclusively for this version, while the black of the 500 hatch’s panoramic roof makes it particularly elegant.
Unique details embellish the livery: a double aquamarine line (the lighter blue pinstripes) running along the belt line enhances the soft profile of the 500 and recalls the beautiful line of a yacht. As chrome also features on yachts, the car’s mirror caps are chrome-plated, complemented by the chrome door handles, while the bonnet trim chrome line (usually the mirror caps and bonnet line are options on some Fiat 500) emphasises the streamline style of the bonnet, in perfect harmony with Riva boats.
This special special-series car also features exclusive 16-inch 20-spoke light-alloy rims with a dedicated blue inner-spoke finish. Not by chance, the special series really carries the Riva name: it is the only 500 to give way to the logo of the nautical legend, as the Riva name is spelt out on the front side panel, while the 500 logo is mounted on a wooden insert, to the sides-rear and bootlid.
Style is expressed by the dashboard in hand-painted mahogany with maple inlay work, while the gear knob is carved from solid mahogany. Totally original for application in a car, the door sills are also in wood. These superior woods, as used to make the Riva yachts (and featured inside certain privileged cars) are re-interpreted for the Fiat 500 Riva.
For the seats, an exclusive ivory leather created by Poltrona Frau (also a preferred supplier to Ferrari) has been selected. Ivory stitching in a different tone is used on the seat piping, while seat side stripes are Sera Blue to echo the exterior paint. Threaded onto the seat upper panels, the Riva name-logo in blue. The safety belts are in matching ivory with dark edges – simple black wouldn’t do here.
Even the floor mats and boot mat are specially chosen (as per truly exclusive cars)… all mats have ivory hems and contrasting Sera Blue stitching, while the boot mat also gets a detail style touch, in the wood insert with Riva lettering.
The colours and materials recall the exclusive ambience of the Riva Aquariva Super yacht.
The iconic Fiat 500 blends with the timeless allure of Riva, to produce a car that combines the style and design features of both brands. Two absolute legends in the world of cars and of boats meet to create a new desirable object – a car which symbolises outstanding Italian beauty.
Limited editions don’t go to this much detail, but this one adds a unique touch: the Riva logo appears on the digital instrument cluster, against Riva’s typical aquamarine corporate colour background.
The fiat.com site mentions the 500C Riva is available in Italy, Spain and France… clearly defining the ideal customer in areas along sun-kissed azure-water coastlines where Riva yachts play. The Fiat 500C will make the perfect companion / matching accessory to your Riva yacht.
See also www.riva-yacht.com