- Fabrizio Giugiaro and Lapo Elkann unveiled two custom Fiat Topolinos.
- The Top. L is a speedster, and the Top. J has two extra rearward-facing seats.
- These are Lapo Elkann’s first automotive projects since he left Garage Italia.
The Fiat Topolino is the smallest and cheapest offering from the Italian brand, designed as a twin to the Citroen Ami. The L6e light quadricycle classification comes with weight and performance limitations, but it didn’t stop seasoned automotive designer Fabrizio Giugiaro and Italian entrepreneur Lapo Elkann from using it as a base for their latest project.
The two men are close friends and wanted to create something together for a long time. Instead of building an exotic supercar or an expensive restomod, their first project was to “take one of the smallest and most accessible cars on the road and turn it into something surprising – something capable of delivering emotion and fun.”
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The result is a pair of Topolino-based concepts created by GFG Style, the design studio founded by Giorgetto and Fabrizio Giugiaro after leaving Italdesign. The Top. L (Love) is a roofless speedster, and the Top. J (Joy) is a four-seater with a fabric top.
A Tiny Speedster With A Big Attitude
Top. L by GFG Style
The Top. L swaps the roof and greenhouse of the Topolino for a short wraparound windshield. Instead of doors, the concept is fitted with Wicker Ropes, which are available as an option on the roadgoing Topolino Dolcevita.
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Other highlights include redesigned LED headlights reminiscent of the Fiat 500, vintage-style multi-spoke chrome wheels, and a Matte Aquamarine exterior finish combined with matching leather and Alcantara upholstery. According to GFG Style, the attitude of the Top. L was inspired by James Dean’s iconic Porsche 550 Spyder nicknamed “Little Bastard”.
A Four-Seater Version With An Asterisk
Top. J by GFG Style
Next is the Top. J, designed to accommodate four people in an unconventional configuration. The cargo area has been retrofitted with a rearward-facing bench, leaving the legs of the rear passengers hanging over the rear bumper. The additional seats mean that the Top. J doesn’t comply with the L6e regulations, and could only be registered in the higher L7e segment.
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The model features a cloth canopy for sun protection and tube doors for an open-air driving experience, skipping the windows entirely.
The blue and green livery is inspired by the Ferrari 166 MM driven by Avvocato Gianni Agnelli in the ’50s, while matching the preferences of Umberto Agnelli and Lapo Elkann’s signature colors from his time at Garage Italia. The same theme continues inside the cabin, with blue and green shades for the terry cloth and leather upholstery.
No Changes Under The Skin
The concepts retain the underpinnings of the Topolino. The factory setup includes a single electric motor producing 8 hp (6 kW) and a 5.5 kWh battery for a claimed 47 miles (75 km) of range. While the little Fiat won’t set any speed records, Lapo and Fabrizio claim that “passion for cars has nothing to do with horsepower.”
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Lapo Elkann said: “Fabrizio and I had wanted to create something together for a long time. We share a friendship, a passion for cars, design and motion, and above all a lateral way of thinking. We had fun transforming the Topolino, playing with colors, materials and volumes.”
The company didn’t announce any production plans, but Fabrizio Giugiaro and Lapo Elkann confirmed their intention to continue their collaboration with more projects in the future.
Not The First Special Topolinos
GFG Style is not the first company to redesign the EV. Back in 2024, Italian firms Castagna Milano and Carrozzeria Garavini took on the same challenge, resulting in a pair of coachbuilt specials available for sale in limited numbers as pricey conversions.
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Fiat has also capitalized on customization options for the Topolino by unveiling the Sport and Vilebrequin variants alongside the mechanically-related Multiplina four-seater concept earlier this year. Furthermore, there are rumors about a potential Abarth-branded version of the EV, although any upgrades will be focused on styling.
