Fiat Multiplay transforms from family car to pickup in just a few moves
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Fiat unveiled the 4.45-metre-long Multiplay concept at the Paris Motor Show, combining features of an MPV, an SUV and a pickup. Its biggest trick is a movable rear section that turns a family car designed for seven into a four-seater with an open load bed. The Italians are once again proving that creating a practical car does not necessarily require yet another enormous SUV.
A movable rear section changes the car’s purpose
The Multiplay’s most intriguing feature is a structure developed by Fiat called Metamorfosi. The rear body module, built around the car’s C-pillar, moves longitudinally on dedicated guides, allowing the vehicle’s purpose to be changed in just a few moves.
In its normal configuration, the Multiplay seats six occupants and offers one additional multipurpose seat. When the owner needs more cargo space rather than passenger seats, the rear module moves forwards and the car becomes a four-seat pickup.
The open load bed can be used to transport bicycles, sports equipment or larger items. The rear spoiler also serves several purposes: it can be rotated to become a bicycle rack that holds two bikes.
According to official information released by Fiat on 11 October, the Multiplay is not a precursor to a specific production model, but a test platform whose features could find their way into the brand’s future family cars.
A cabin that even adapts to the family pet
The Multiplay’s interior follows the space-saving principles of the historic Fiat Multipla. As early as 1956, the Fiat 600 Multipla accommodated six people despite being just 3.5 metres long. The Multipla unveiled in 1998 also offered six seats, but arranged them in two rows.
The new concept goes further. Its Petsenger module can serve as a mounting point for a child safety seat, a pet seat, a small table or a storage compartment. A removable section of the seat cushion can even become a dog lead, while a collapsible drinking bowl fits inside the door.
When the car is parked, the front seat turns into a lounger called Sunseat. The dashboard takes over the role of the backrest, allowing the passenger to relax beneath the panoramic roof.
Fiat has not gone overboard with digital features either. The screen integrated into the dashboard disappears from view when the car is switched off, keeping the cabin as simple as possible.
The materials are dominated by textiles made using 3D knitting technology, which reduces material waste during production. Fiat uses waterproof coverings on surfaces intended for children and pets.
Could the Multiplay reach European roads?
At 4450 mm long, the Multiplay sits in Europe’s compact family car class. By comparison, the current Dacia Jogger is approximately 4.55 metres long, but Fiat aims to offer considerably greater versatility in a shorter body.
However, the movable body module raises several engineering questions. In production, such a structure would need to maintain body rigidity, watertightness and crash safety in both positions. Moving components would also probably make the car more expensive to manufacture.
Fiat has not disclosed the Multiplay’s powertrain, battery capacity, power output or range. There are also no figures for the load bed’s dimensions or payload capacity. It is therefore too early to compare its practical capabilities with those of conventional pickups.
In the European market, the Multiplay concept could nevertheless appeal to buyers who need a compact family car for everyday use but occasionally want to carry larger items. Buying a traditional pickup for this kind of use would often be unjustified.
The Multiplay’s strength lies in a simple idea: the ways a car can be used could change with its owner’s needs. Whether this clever structure can meet the cost and safety requirements of mass production is a considerably more complex question.
