The Fiat Multipla (Type 186) is a six-seater car produced by Italian automaker Fiat from 1998 to 2010. Based on the Bravo/Brava, the Multipla was shorter and wider than its rivals. It had two rows of three seats, where its compact MPV competitors had two across front seating. The Multipla is shorter than the three-door Bravo/Brava on which it was based, while offering increased seating and cargo volume. Sales commenced in Italy in November 1998.

Fiat Multipla
Overview
Manufacturer	Fiat
Also called	Zotye Multiplan (China) Zotye M300 Langyue (China) Zotye M300EV (China) Zotye E300 (China)
Production	1998–2010 2008–2013 (China)
Assembly	Italy: Turin (Mirafiori plant); Milan (Arese plant, CNG version) China: Changshan County, Quzhou (Zotye Auto)
Designer	Roberto Giolito and Peter Davis (Interiors) at Centro Stile Fiat
Body and chassis
Class	Compact MPV
Body style	5-door estate car[1]
Platform	Fiat C1
Related	Fiat Bravo/Brava Fiat Marea Zotye Multipla (second generation)[2]
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L 16V petrol I4 1.6 L 16V LPG/petrol I4 1.6 L 16V CNG I4 1.6 L 16V CNG/petrol I4 1.9 L JTD diesel I4 1.9 L Multijet diesel I4
Transmission	5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,666 mm (105.0 in)[3]
Length	3,994 mm (157.2 in) 4,080 mm (160.6 in) (facelift)
Width	1,871 mm (73.7 in)
Height	1,670 mm (65.7 in)
Kerb weight	1,300–1,490 kg (2,866–3,285 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Fiat 600 Multipla
Successor	Fiat 500L

In common with a number of other modern Fiats, the Multipla reused the name of an earlier vehicle, in this case the "Multipla" variant of the Fiat 600 produced during the 1950s and 1960s.

The Multipla was assembled and marketed in China from 2008 to 2013 under license by Zotye Auto as the Zotye M300 Langyue, using knock-down kits from Italy. Zotye also sold a total of 220 all-electric versions of the M300.

Design

The exterior and interior design of the Multipla were displayed at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York during its "Different Roads – Automobiles for the Next Century" exhibition in 1999.[4]

It won the Top Gear Car of the Year (2000), as well as the "More beautiful Car in the world" in the same programme's awards. It was also voted Top Gear Magazine's Family Car of the Year for four years in a row, from 2001 to 2004. In July 2000, in the series finale of Clarkson's Car Years, it was awarded "Family Car of the Moment".

Multipla sales began in Italy in November 1998, with most other markets receiving it a year later. The Multipla sold well with Italian buyers, but sales elsewhere were less successful.

The Multipla underwent a major facelift in March 2004, in an attempt to shed its original styling for a more restrained look. This was under the intention of attracting more buyers, and failed to garner critical acclaim.[1][5] Upon the subsequent restyling, The Telegraph reported designers were "desperately sad that the new Multipla no longer resembles a psychotic cartoon duck," and "while passengers loved the adaptability of the clever interior, they were less keen on the sarcastic sneers and derisive laughter of their neighbours, friends and schoolmates; children can be cruel."[6]

The Daily Telegraph placed it #2 on its list of the 100 Ugliest Cars in August 2008, saying "Derided for the blandness of its output during the 1980s and early 1990s, Fiat dared to start thinking outside the box. In this case, however, it simply added wheels to the box."[7] The Multipla was also named the ugliest car of all time by readers of Car Throttle in January 2014.[8] In February 2018, The Sunday Times named it on a list of ugliest cars, saying "The tragedy of the Multipla is that its Elephant Man esque exterior enclosed a genuinely clever and spacious interior, and it wasn’t bad to drive, either. It’s a shame, then, that you’d rather walk than be seen in it."[9]

Engines

A 1.6 engine, that could be powered on either methane or standard petrol, was offered in certain markets.[10]

Trim levels

United Kingdom

• Multipla SX: basic model available with petrol or diesel engines.
• Multipla ELX: added Air Conditioning, Twin Electric Sunroofs, alloy wheels and electric rear windows, as well as special wipe clean, brightly coloured seats.

In June 2004, when the Multipla received its facelift, these trim levels were later replaced with Dynamic, Dynamic Family, Dynamic Plus.

Practicality

The new generation Multipla was praised by journalists at its launch for its flexibility. The Multipla’s three abreast seating configuration allows for adjustment of the front seats, and the removal and relocation of the rear seats into many formats. It also affords a big 430 litres (15 cu ft) of luggage space, which can increase to 1,900 litres (67 cu ft) of flat floor load space, with the rear three seats removed from the vehicle.

Zotye M300

From December 2008 to September 2010, Zotye Auto had assembled Multipla 2 from KD kits, in its factory in Changshan, and marketed it in China as Multiplan. In October 2010, Zotye started to build a version of Multipla 2, employing more locally made parts in order to reduce costs; the new version is called "Langyue" in China.[11] There are 2 types: M300 (Engine powered) and M300 EV (see below) which is electric.

• 
  Zotye M300 (front view)
• 
  Zotye M300 EV (E300) taxi (rear view)
• 
  Zotye M300 EV (E300) battery swap

Vilebrequin 1000tipla

In 2020, Pierre Chabrier and Silvain Levy, two french YouTubers from channel Vilebrequin [fr], announced the project to upgrade a current Fiat Multipla JTD into a 1,000 hp (1,014 PS) super car. They launched a crownfunding campaign to finance the project, that projected to achieve €50.000. Instead, the fund skyrocketed to over a million euros. In 2022, the Multipla project, renamed 1000tipla (thousand being pronounced mille in French, creating the contraction milletipla) was revealed at the 2022 Paris Motor Show.[12] In October 2022, retired Formula 1 World champion Ari Vatanen showed interest into driving the 1000tipla.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fiat Multipla (1998).

• Fiat Multipla Official United Kingdom Site
• Fiat Multipla Owner's Manual (1st generation)

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