The Fiat Multipla Is Back—And It’s A Pickup, A Minivan, And An SUV

The Multiplay concept has a sliding rear section that transforms the body from SUV to truck in no time.

Photo by: Fiat

By: Iulian Dnistran

Oct 12, at 3:21am ET

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Fiat is bringing back the Multipla’s heritage with a new concept.
The Multiplay uses a clever sliding rear section that turns the family car from a ruggedized minivan into a pickup truck.
There’s also a dedicated seat for pets and an integrated bike rack.

The Fiat Multipla is back—well, sort of. The new Multiplay concept banks on the nameplate’s rich history and turns the versatility knob up to 11.

The first-generation Multipla from the 1950s made headlines and was loved across Italy for its ability to seat six people in a body that was less than 138 inches (3.5 meters) long. (Safety wasn’t really a thing back then.)

Then, the second-generation came along in 1998 and played the family car card just right, even though its styling wasn’t exactly to everyone’s taste. And now, the Multiplay adds another layer of versatility to the Multipla recipe with a modular body that shows what could be possible if Fiat kicked its compact-car prowess into high gear.

The rear part of the concept slides in and out, transforming the SUV-like minivan into a more practical pickup truck. The idea is simple: why buy two or three cars when you can get one that fulfills your family’s needs just right?

In minivan form, the Multiplay has a 6+1 seating configuration, with six places for kids and adults and a modular “Petsenger seat” that can act as a dedicated space for a pet or a mounting point for a child car seat. The turquoise base has an outer section that can be detached and used as a leash, and there’s a folding bowl in a little door compartment.

When the roof is extended, there’s not a lot of cargo space, but the rear section can accommodate two children and even an adult in great comfort.

Photo by: Fiat

In pickup form, one of the backrests of the rear seats slides forward and becomes a backrest for the modular “Petsenger” base, and the interior becomes a four-seater. But wait, there’s more. When the car is parked, the front passenger seat can swivel toward the rear, and the dashboard becomes the backrest for a lounge-like chair. The panoramic glass roof and generously sized side windows make for a really airy cabin, and Fiat reckons that the Multiplay would make for a great place to relax after a long day—or after dropping off the kids at school.

With the roof slid forward, there’s plenty of room for camping gear or even a pair of bikes in the bed, with the integrated roof spoiler acting as a bike rack.

It’s a lovable little thing, and its paint scheme certainly helps. Fiat went with a watermelon-inspired look that evokes the Italian summer and its spirit of togetherness. The bright green exterior looks like the fruit’s rind, while the red-and-pink interior evokes the watermelon’s juicy pulp.

Photo by: Fiat

Up front, Fiat says the horizontal dashboard strip is inspired by the Mediterranean horizon, where the sky and sea seem to merge. Integrated into the dash is a hidden display that is invisible when the car is switched off, emphasizing the concept’s back-to-basics ethos.

On the outside, the Multiplay draws some inspiration from the last Multipla, with a horizontal pixelated LED light bar under the windshield and rounded daytime running lights in the massive bumper.

Fiat didn’t say a word about what powers the Multiplay, but if it were ever to go into production, it would certainly be an EV. The short overhangs and long wheelbase make for the perfect electric platform, with little to no room for a gas engine under the short nose.

Citroen went one step further

2003 Citroen C3 Pluriel

Photo by: Citroën

Fiat’s idea is quite clever, but it’s not the first in the car industry. In the 2000s, Citroen, which is now under the same umbrella as Fiat, sold a modular car to the public.

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The 2003 C3 Pluriel was a small two-door city car that could be used as a hatchback, a convertible, and a roadster pickup. The roof rails could be removed, though there was no place to put them inside the car, and the rear backrests could fold, making for a very practical vehicle. In theory, at least.

The Pluriel’s intricate roof was plagued with reliability problems and water ingress issues, and people who ended up buying one mostly kept its roof rails in place and used the car as a cabriolet by opening and closing the fabric half-roof.