Pininfarina Plagiarism

I started a “Guess That Car” thread over at the Car & Driver Backfires forums – basically a car picture is posted and the users have to guess the make and model. Every time one of these quadruplets appears I never know which one of the Pininfarina designs I’m looking at. Sure they’re pretty, but talk about milking something for all it’s worth.  At least the Alfa Romeo 1900 has a little variation up front. The Peugeot 404 convertible and Fiat 1600 convertible are near clones of each other, especially the later models with the grille mounted driving lights.  They even share chrome bodyside detailling that ends midway through the doors.

Flavia Flav

We’ve been hearing for a while now of Fiat’s plans to have a Chrysler 300 based Lancia. I thought that sounded a little sketchy originally, and today Fiat's made it's plans crystal clear as it released some shots of the upcoming car, which will take the Thema nameplate.

Where before I assumed that the chassis, engine and other bits would be used in a Lancia, it now seems that basically the only thing changed is the emblem in the grille, on the trunk and in the rims.
More alarming is that the 300 based Thema is not the only badge-engineered Lancia in the works… The Flavia nameplate has been resurrected in the form of the Chrysler Sebring 200, and even the Grand Voyager can now be had with a Lancia badge on the hood The latter has been named – imaginatively – the Grand Voyager. Which I’m guessing is Italian for “blasphemy”.

One can only guess as what the Italian public will think of these new products, given that 40-50 years ago the company was known for sporty, distinctive cars with a rich rally heritage. Although that being said the brand had been pretty much diluted to the point of being Fiat’s Mercury anyhow. Still – I was hoping for at least a facelift.

Fenice Milano Strikes Again

A little late on the draw here, but Fenice Milano has decided to tackle a much less expensive car than it's last. But this gold plated Fiat 500 they call the Bianca is no less extravagant (or tacky). Hopefully we don't see these around when Fiat 500s start appearing at Chrysler showrooms next year.

Fiat Ecobasic

Concept cars seem to offer an endless supply of fugly - going back through the years there's almost too many to choose from. I present to you the Fiat Ecobasic from 2004, an unfortunate concept that seems to draw some of it's looks from the Multipla. But where the Multipla had various beedy headlights poking out all over the front end, the Ecobasic has a gigantic light bar inspired by 1980's era Mercurys.

Fiat MultiFug

Sure the Fiat Multipla is very space efficient. And has lots of window space. But what's with the front end that looks like 2 ugly cars stacked on top of each other? And the multi-shape taillights?

Fiat Doblo

European car makers all seem to offer passenger versions of their cargo vans, which all look pretty similar. Bulging rooflines that are usually stepped, and a truck like front (but in much smaller proportions then American vans/trucks). Although they're all kinda ugly, only the Doblo gets my rating of fugly.