The inauguration of Casa 500 and La Pista 500 has just ended at Lingotto, Turin. The major event saw the unveiling of the New (500)RED, the first (RED) car and the result of the partnership with (RED).
The ceremony was attended by :
John Elkann, Chairman of Stellantis;
Olivier François, FIAT CEO and Stellantis CMO;
Ginevra Elkann, Chairwoman of the Pinacoteca Agnelli
and Bono, co-founder of (RED)
John Elkann, Chairman of Stellantis, stated: “Turin now has a new museum, focused on a true Italian icon like the Fiat 500, and a new garden open to all, offering a unique experience to our city’s inhabitants and visitors. The investments made in electric at Mirafiori and in the green transformation at Lingotto are a sign of Stellantis’ commitment: to confidently lead the change the automotive sector is undergoing, in order to offer everybody the benefits of sustainable and cutting-edge mobility”.
Olivier Francois, FIAT CEO and Stellantis CMO, stated: “Today, we begin a new chapter in the history of the Lingotto. It has always been a standard-bearer in Fiat’s history and it is right here that we’re planting the seeds of our future: Casa 500, the new museum dedicated to Fiat’s best-loved icon, and the new La Pista 500, the largest hanging garden in Europe. A new green space that is open to all. We’re also presenting the world premiere of the New (500)RED, the first (RED) car in the world.
Casa 500 isn’t just a conventional auto museum, it tells stories of culture and history, of Italy and Turin. And it’s also a journey that projects Fiat’s roots into the future. The 500 is not just technology, batteries, and shiny screens; it represents Italian design, the Dolce Vita, the Italian spirit. And that is exactly what we’ve put in our new museum.
La Pista 500 is the largest roof garden in Europe, the decision to put it on the roof of an early 20th century factory has a deeply symbolic value for us: a place that, a hundred years ago, was by definition a home of pollution, with a test track that was once secret and inaccessible, are now a garden that is opening to all the people of Turin. This underlines the fact that our goal is not only to market cars: our new journey is also about care and attention to climate, community, and culture.
Today, Bono and I also present the world premiere of the New (500)RED. The mission of this car is to protect both planet and people: it’s electric, to respect the environment and make a contribution to a more sustainable future. That mission is now going even further with (RED) on board. Together with (RED), we also want to combat pandemics, and this is the dual message we intend to convey to the world.”
Francois also added: “This month, I’m very proud to be celebrating my 10th anniversary at the helm of FIAT: 10 extremely challenging years. But we are celebrating with a great result: FIAT currently is the leading Stellantis brand in terms of volume sales, with 1 million vehicles already sold so far in 2021. This, plus the extra power and resources of Stellantis, allows us to look to the future with optimism. In fact, from 2022, FIAT will unveil at least one new model every year, and each one will also come in a full-electric version.”
Ginevra Elkann stated: “The Lingotto is a magical place, a symbol of the industrialisation of Italy that has changed with the times to respond to new needs. Years ago, when manufacturing ended, Renzo Piano’s project gave it a new mission and opened it up to the people of Turin, including dedicated spaces created for the Giovanni and Marella Agnelli Art Collection: a special treasure chest created to share the Agnelli’s passion for art with the city. Today, in this new beginning, Lingotto reconnects with its original identity: it celebrates the past and projects that heritage into a new vision of the future. Through the Pinacoteca, Casa 500 and La Pista 500, the huge hanging garden designed to host visiting works of art, the Lingotto shares an inclusive, sustainable vision of the future and a rich dialogue with the worlds of art and the environment”.
Bono, co-founder, (RED), stated: “This partnership with FIAT, Jeep and RAM is a powerful shot in the arm for (RED)’s fight against pandemics and the complacency that fuels them. It’s hard to believe that 15 years on from (RED)’s founding we are now fighting another tiny virus … but it’s even harder to see the virus of injustice that marked the AIDS pandemic is alive and well during COVID. Less than 5 percent of people in Africa are fully vaccinated, while vaccines are plentiful in Europe and America. We have to do more and fast to support the hundreds of millions of people who don’t yet have access to the vaccines, therapeutics or sufficient PPE. Because unless this pandemic is defeated everywhere, no one will be safe anywhere.”
He continued: “This is a real moment for (RED). We have one of the most iconic car companies in the world saying they want to help drive COVID-19 off the face of the planet, and with the New (500)RED they won’t even need petrol to do it. FIAT wants to be as green as they can while they’re going (RED) and that’s a reason to punch the air.”
Jennifer Lotito, (RED) President & Chief Operating Officer, stated: “This is (RED)’s 15th year and we couldn’t be prouder to launch such an exciting multi-year partnership. The global scale and creative energy this will bring to the fight against COVID and AIDS is exactly what’s needed to help us end their devastating impact on so many millions of people. We are deeply grateful to the many teams who have made this launch – and future impact – possible”.
Casa 500 – The future inspired by the roots. The past, present and future of 3 generations of the 500, through the culture of a country and the history of a city
Casa 500 is a new exhibition space forming part of the museum complex at the Pinacoteca Agnelli, chaired by Ginevra Elkann. An immersive itinerary covering over 700 m2, it plays on memories, emotions and dreams to trace the culture and history of a country and a city, intertwined with the history of the 500. Much more than an automobile museum, Casa 500 tells the future of the FIAT brand, starting from its roots; ones that are indeed the inspiration for the future. The common thread is the ‘metamorphosis’ of the FIAT 500 across its three generations, a model that has made history in the automotive industry and has always inspired new ways of thinking and living. An icon of our times whose evolution conveys the culture of a country and the history of its city.
Located on the 4th floor of the Pinacoteca Agnelli and directly overlooking the Lingotto track, Casa 500 is an open exhibition space, bathed in light and is connected to the track on all four sides by its large windows. Casa 500 is also a place where respect for the environment is the mantra that inspired the creation of all the spaces and materials, chosen for the installations that follow the principle summarized in the concept of “Reuse, Reduce, Recycle”: recycled wood for the tables, platforms and doors; panels that absorb the volatile components of the air; reused furniture or products with plastics recovered from the sea, like the rear seats in Seaqual® yarn; and eco-friendly, antibacterial paints. The Casa 500 exhibition is set out around a highly symbolic central tree, also made of recycled wood. A tree that represents the continuity of history, between the roots – the past – and the future. At the foot of the tree, the mask of the legendary 1957 Fiat 500 and a New (500)RED, the latest addition to the New 500 line-up.
The exhibition is divided into 8 themed areas.
These begin with Legacy, an immersive space of photos and videos, where visitors are taken back to the start of the journey, in 1957: the future is at hand and the world is there to be conquered aboard the three generations of the 500, created with the ingenuity and passion of visionary talents.
Next comes Made of Italy, not a collection of objects but an affirmation of style. Twelve industrial products that, like the 500, have established themselves courtesy of their Italian design that has combined beauty with practicality. A journey through time and creativity, objects from everyday life that have become icons in the collective unconscious, inspiring ways of thinking and living. In this space, they are divided into three areas: Boom, Ego and Ethical.
Boom looks back to the 1950s, celebrated by Fellini in his La dolce vita. The space tells of a country undergoing a complete transformation, one in search of new opportunities. Large companies are transforming, while smaller ones rely on flexibility and craftsmanship. And the resulting economic development is driven by Italian creativity.
With a leap forward of more than half a century, we come to the Ego area and the first decade of the new millennium. Means of communication are now in the ether, in the advent of the internet, cellphones, email, and digital images. The need for personalization is therefore strong, to affirm an individuality that remained latent.
Ethical is the section focused on the current decade: a period of great technological innovations, but also of the rediscovery of primary values such as solidarity and respect for the environment, called into question by conflicts, economic logic, climate upheavals and pandemics. 2021 is also the year of the Stellantis group, created to give new impetus to the automotive industry. And at its core, the FIAT brand continues to express absolute values of uniqueness and quality.
The Social relevance section covers the compelling story of the 500 as told in the three preceding areas: Boom, the post-war economic boom that drove mass consumption; Ego, the 2007 500, the big name of the new digital millennium courtesy of its endless customization options; Ethical, the future from 2020 onwards, with the full-electric New 500 taking everyone into the next era of mobility.
For fans of the history of communication is the unmissable Poster Collection area, with 12 posters and advertising depictions of the first 500, an icon of the democratization of cars in Italy. The images reproduced breathe the positive atmosphere of those years, with families in their free time and day-to-day lives. With many women at the wheel: the small car also becomes the symbol of women’s emancipation as well as a synonym for freedom and democratic mobility.
3 Generations is the section of comparison. Two invaluable time capsules that tell the visual story of the evolution of the 500 and its three incarnations. An evolution, of the three generations of the 500 that has always remained true to itself while never losing the charisma of modernity. The walls include a display of a cross-section of the bodywork of a real 1957 model. Alongside are certain components of the 2007 500: wheel rims, front and rear headlights, steering wheel, dashboard with infotainment and mirror.
Industrial components, parts of the unique 500, yet now immediately recognizable for their design, functionality and integration. Further along, the same components, but this time taken from the full-electric 2020 New 500: innovation, functionality, design and technology, all in character with the 500.
Two multimedia screens make up the Digital Counter. An interactive section with the journal of a contemporary icon: interviews, communications materials, events and awards, making the Fiat 500 an international star.
Last but not least, we come into the Foreseeing the Future section. In this area we retrace the history of the past, present and future, against the background of Lingotto, the face of which has radically changed several times. Originally a car factory, then inevitably with limited access, a factory where manual labor was the focus of its existence. Followed in the ’90s by the first big step, from an ‘inaccessible’ location that kept its industrial secrets to one of social get-togethers, a multifunctional commercial center. And now a further transformation, a green museum space focused on new sustainable mobility, open to the public and designed for the community.
Finally, Casa 500 hosts the temporary exhibition “Green Obsession” dedicated to the concept design of Stefano Boeri Architetti which has always turned towards the coexistence of living nature with the built environment and that inspired the vision of the city of the future in which the recent launch of the electric 500 was set. The exhibition consists of a video sequence of the Vertical Forest of Milan: an iconic building shown over the years and seasons, which has become a new model of sustainable architecture. The video is put side by side by four 1:50 scale models of buildings – now under construction – conceived by the practice around the world, following the Milanese prototype: from the Trudo Vertical Forest in Eindhoven, the first one to be realized in social housing and now completed, to the Wonderwoods complex in Utrecht, from the Tower of the Cedars in Lausanne to the Vertical Forest of Tirana. The installation dialogues with the unique and evocative context of the Lingotto and is part of the story of the union between innovation and continuity that the Casa 500 represents itself.
Casa 500 was designed by the team at Lab71 architetti, led by Massimiliano Gotti Porcinari.
La Pista 500, Sky Garden
Over 40,000 plants in the largest hanging garden in Europe
A succession of blooms and colors according to the seasons, plays of foliage, light and shadow, full and empty spaces, aromas infused into the air. The sumptuous roof garden of La Pista 500 is all this, created where the cars built in the Lingotto factory were once tested.
The garden is a great injection of nature into the city, an example of green architecture constructed in a building symbolic for Turin and its history, now open to all its citizens, as a getaway from the metropolis all around them. La Pista 500 has been created as a space for all.
But the La Pista 500 project also embarks on a new road of industrial archaeology, setting an example of naturalistic culture, bringing in the latest environmental values: from ecology and energy saving to the social component.
The work of the architect Benedetto Camerana – assisted in the botanical aspect by Cristiana Ruspa, a specialist from the Giardino Segreto firm – the project plays out along the entire 1.2 km ring, but does not satisfy itself with the mere creation of a sizable garden 28 meters up. Indeed, the location’s history is safeguarded and reworked: the track of yesteryear is now revived, exclusively for electric-powered vehicles, as well as bicycles and scooters. It is one of a kind.
Designed in themed areas just like Baroque gardens, this modern version proposes new spaces, each one different from the next: from meditation and yoga, a running track and fitness area, to infographics on the landscape and monuments of the city, and spaces for art shared with the Pinacoteca Agnelli. Currently on display in the latter is a preview of 9 large-scale sculptures by some of the greatest sculptors of the 20th century, as a taster for the temporary exhibition “The Maeght Foundation: a studio in the open air”, at the Pinacoteca Agnelli from October 15th.
As well as these zones, five themed areas, divided in turn by native botanical species: “hazelnut grove”, “educational and dye plants”, “kitchen garden”, “herbaceous borders” and “meditation”.
In a world rediscovering the value of nature, we must not leave behind what plants can do for people, starting from the ability to provide nourishment, or to assist in meditation as in the case of aromatic plants. The latter have been laid out specially by the Zegna Group, a partner of FIAT and a major manufacturing company that pays particular attention to protecting the environment. In 1993, it founded the Oasi Zegna, a natural park covering 100 km² in the Biella Alps
The garden in detail
The garden plays out as a modern, linear park, with 28 large islands covering just over 7,000 m2 of the total of 27,000. It hosts more than 40,000 specimens of 300 species and varieties of plant, selected along ecological criteria: some are taken from the Piedmont region and its neighboring areas, set out according to seasonal variations in color. These are mostly herbaceous perennials, plants that grow very fast and at a high yield. Just think of the Alpine pastures that spontaneously bloom into a profusion of flowers, textures and different volumes as soon as the snow melts.
To cultivate them, new concept techniques have been adopted to drastically reduce water consumption and the use of fertilizers; this decision was also dictated by sustainability criteria. Only a few months later, the garden is already inhabited by numerous species of butterflies and beetles: a real injection of biodiversity.
The hazelnut grove is given a themed area of its very own. Piedmont is rich in hazelnuts, deciduous shrubs with purple-red foliage, which grow quite quickly in all soils, even if dry, poor and calcareous. This frugal, noble plant produces the renowned gianduia cream, based on chocolate and indeed hazelnuts.
The educational area houses dyeing species. Once the only way to color fabric, natural dyes are now coming back into fashion for their ecological and creative properties. Each plant has its own relationship with the soil and light, resulting in original shades.
A gardening lesson from the kitchen garden: these species need well-drained soil with sand and crushed stone and only a little irrigation in summer. Once planted and the initial recovery period is complete, they become used to not being watered and grow increasingly more resistant to diseases and pests.
Among the herbaceous shrubs, the play of colors and volumes that follow in succession as the seasons change outshines even the blooms. In their own dedicated area, the rustle of the wind between the leaves and the geometries of the branches agitated by the air add an extra note of well-being.
Meditation is not just a matter of visual fulfillment, but one of inner harmony. On top of the unexpected nuances and multifaceted geometries formed by the branches and leaves between one breath of wind and another, the scent of aromatics also induces relaxation and puts people and nature in profound contact.
(500)RED Family – (RED)EFINE YOUR FUTURE AND SAVE LIVES
FIAT, Jeep and RAM have partnered with (RED), committing a minimum of $4 million, between 2021 and 2023, to support the critical work of the Global Fund in fighting pandemics, including AIDS and COVID-19. From today, it means every (FIAT)RED vehicle purchased from the (500)RED Family special series is the most ethical and meaningful yet.
(RED) was founded in 2006 to rally companies and people around the fight to end AIDS. Today, (RED) is fighting two pandemics, AIDS and COVID-19, and has generated nearly $700 million for the Global Fund. The money has helped more than 220 million people, and the money committed by FIAT, Jeep and RAM will fund more life-saving programs where they are most needed. By partnering with (RED), FIAT, Jeep and RAM are joining the fight against pandemics and giving its customers a way to join them too.
New (500)RED
The New (500)RED is the hero of the evening, created in collaboration between FIAT and (RED) with a shared message to care for the environment, for the planet and for its people.
From the belief that we can all play our part in the fight against pandemics and that each of us can therefore lead the change comes an unusual decision in the automotive landscape, to have the driver’s seat one color – red – with the other three passenger seats in black. A provocation, a message, an invitation: be ‘ready’ to sit in the driving seat of change. For those who prefer uniformity of color, the model is also available with the seats all black and the contrasting (500)RED logo, or all in red with a black logo.
FIAT aims to convey the (RED) message to the broadest possible audience, so the special series is now available across the entire 500 Family: the New (500)RED, (500)RED, (500X)RED and (500L)RED will therefore take on the color red as a hallmark, both outside (from the bodywork and logos to the mirror caps and design cues on the alloy wheels) and in (dashboard fascia, design cues on the floor mats, and the exclusive seats made using Seaqual® yarn, derived from plastics recovered from the oceans, with the FIAT signature and the (500)RED logo on the backrest). Red will not be the only color in the (RED) special series; the palette of body colors actually includes other specific shades for each model.
All models in the (500)RED Family are equipped with an air filter treated with a biocide substance highly effective (>99.9%) against viruses and bacteria, which can stop their reaerosolization inside the passenger compartment. In addition, the surfaces of some of the interior components that customers come into contact with the most, such as the steering wheel, seats and the inside of the trunk, have been subject to an antimicrobial treatment that is highly effective (up to 99.9% depending on the components) against viruses and bacteria, to make customers feel safer on board.
Each car in the (500)RED Family comes with a Welcome Kit, including a hand sanitizer dispenser and a specific key cover for a final touch of customization. In the same kit, New (500)RED customers will also find an exclusive letter signed by Olivier François and Bono, welcoming them to the (RED) community.
The New (500)RED also includes other hallmarks that make it immediately recognizable, starting with the 500 logo on the front and the FIAT logo on the tailgate, now red for the first time as a tribute to (RED). The dedicated badge at the base of the rear window and the 500 logo in the middle of the premium steering wheel with Soft Touch upholstery serve as further reminders of the partnership.
As well as the new and exclusive Red by (RED), the model also comes in Mineral Grey, Ice White and Onyx Black. Another atypical (RED) touch involves the accelerator pedal in red anodized aluminum, available in combination with the pairing of an interior with black passenger seats and the red driver’s seat.
The New (500)RED comes in two body variants: hatchback and convertible with black hood, and with two levels of range: one 70-kW (95-hp) e-motor with a range of up to 190 km (WLTP cycle); the other, 87 kW (118 hp) with a range of up to 320 km (WLTP cycle).
The (500)RED is based on the Dolcevita version and, together with the features shared by the entire (500)RED Family, has the (500)RED logo on both pillars. The (500)RED Hybrid is available in Pompeii Grey, Gelato White and Cinema Black, as well as Passione Red, of course.
This version is also embellished with chrome-plated design cues on the front grille, mustache and door handles, while in terms of infotainment, it comes with a 7” touchscreen radio with Apple CarPlay™, Android Auto™, and 15” or 16” alloy wheels.
Available in a hatchback version with panoramic glass roof and as a convertible with black hood, it is equipped with a 70-hp 1.0-liter Mild Hybrid engine.
The (500X)RED is based on the Cross version and is available both as a hatchback and in an open-air version with black Dolcevita soft top. The (500)RED logo appears on the front door pillars, to complement the design cues shared across the (RED) special series. As well as Passione Red, the color palette includes Moda Grey, Gelato White and Cinema Black, all with red design cues. The interiors feature an elegant dark shade and the black seats areembellished with red trim and red stitching on the armrest. Connectivity is guaranteed by the Uconnect system with a 7” touchscreen with built-in satnav, Apple CarPlay™, Android Auto™, and 19” alloy wheels. The specifications are completed with parking and dusk sensors, fog lamps and automatic air conditioning.
The car comes with two gasoline engines – 120-hp 1.0-liter and 150-hp 1.3-liter Firefly models – and two 95-hp 1.3-liter and 130-hp 1.6 Multijet diesel engines.
Last but not least, the (500L)RED takes the signature of this collaboration on its front door pillars. As well as Passione Red, the color palette includes Moda Grey, Gelato White and Cinema Black, all of which can also be ordered with an optional black roof. The wheels also come in two sizes – 16” and 17” – and the specifications are completed with automatic air conditioning, rain and dusk sensors, and cruise control with speed limiter. The car is available with Euro 6D-Final-compliant 95-hp 1.4-liter gasoline or 95-hp 1.3 turbodiesel Multijet engines.
(500 Iride)RED electric scooter
The (500)RED Family comes with one extra option, not a new feature or a design cue, but a complementary mobility system that also makes the last mile sustainable. Alongside the special series, the (500 Iride)RED is also available, made by Mopar. “500 Iride” – the name of which is inspired by the 500’s iconic round headlights – is a sustainable solution for commuters: designed to fit perfectly in the trunk of the 500, the electric scooter will provide for sustainable and comfortable mobility, even for the last stretch of the journey to the heart of the city.
The “500 Iride” electric scooter is foldable and weighs 15 kg, making it easy to carry anywhere. It has a range of up to 30 km, a top speed of 25 km/h and charges in just 4.5 hours, with the included home charger. Plus, the dedicated app can be used to view information and manage settings and sharing direct from your smartphone.
*top speed may vary from one country to another depending on local regulations.
“Planting the seeds of our future” – An event with a low environmental impact
In line with the entire project, even the launch event has been designed and produced with the lowest possible environment impact, as well as to meet sustainability criteria. In conjunction with Legambiente, Ecoevents has granted it certification as a “low-emissions sustainable event”, made possible by the commitment to comply with the “Reduce, Recycle, Reuse” criteria, selecting local and reused facilities and techniques, as well as the materials both related to communications of the event and those provided to the guests, printed on recycled media. But that’s not all. The materials were transported using electric vehicles, and the suppliers were selected based on proximity to the event venue.
Attention has also been paid to guest logistics, using Stellantis Group electric shuttles made available by Leasys. A shuttle service has also been provided from and to the airports by LeasysGO!, the environmentally sustainable and free-floating full-electric car sharing scheme specifically for the New 500, available in Turin, Milan and Rome. Last but not least, the event hotels were chosen for the certification of their amenities and services as being of a low environmental impact. A further, coherent and concrete step in contributing to a better future. Because each and every one of us can lead the change.
The (500)RED communications campaign
The communications campaign for the New (500)RED includes a video and a commercial. Entitled (RED)UCE, the video is an impressive, visually provocative advert that showcases everything the New (500)RED has to offer. Playing on the conceptual link with (RED)UCE, the video highlights the car’s social responsibility in terms of protecting the environment and combating pandemics.
It encourages potential customers to become part of the change, culminating in the tagline “Made for the Planet, Made for its People”. Devised by the Migrante agency, the video was made by the Buddy Film production company and was directed by Leonardo Ricagni.
Conversely, the commercial is based on the concept of care. When we think of the 500, we don’t tend to consider it a family car. Even so and more than any other car, the New (500)RED takes care of the family, the biggest one there is and the one we all belong to. In the words of the campaign claim: “Made for the planet. Made for its people.”
Exactly this is the concept expounded by the new clip, in a voice-over that asks: “How many people can such a small car carry?” The answer lies most of all in the visuals. Larger and larger numbers of people, of all kinds and from all around the world, are seen approaching the car as if every single one of them were about to get in. Metaphorically the whole world, for this car to take us all into a better future.
Devised by the Leo Burnett agency, the video was made by the Buddy Film production company and was directed by Federico Brugia.
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