[Cartoday]
What better thing is there to do with a Fiat van than lop off the roof and doors, and head for the beach?
With all of the crossovers and soft-roaders saturating the market, it seems that one obscure niche has been left out to pasture for a long time – the beach buggy.
Okay, so Fiat’s Portofino concept is not hewn from recycled surfboards and does not mount a beetle engine in its rump, but it does recall the days of Fiat’s coachbuilt beachcars of the 1960’s…with a hint of Mini Moke thrown in for good measure.
Built from a Fiat Fiorino Combi van, the Portofino offers alfresco seating for five-people and a degree of useable cargo space. The beach-friendly appearance of the Portofino dispenses with the doors and roof.
Inside, waterproof seat material will withstand the rigors of sea, sand and suncream, while a nautically-themed laminated wood floor (meant to emulate a boat deck and not your first apartment) makes cleaning marine detritus out of the cabin a bit easier.
The mooring rope drapes across the doors are a neat maritime touch, but you can’t help but picture two happy beach goers being garroted by them when the overly enthusiastic driver attempts to tackle a dune.
The car’s van-based origins are evident in the roll-hoop, which also helps boost the rigidity of this otherwise completely open vehicle – that’s right, there’s no roof cover whatsoever, that’s being saved for an upcoming version.
If you’re wondering where the cool box, parasol and menagerie of inflatable crocs will end up, a removable split rear seat allows such bulky items to be lugged to the beach.
The Fiorino Portofino has not been earmarked for production, but it will be on show at the Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf, Germany from August 29 to September 7.