A new British automotive design and engineering studio has made its public debut with an ambitious reworking of one of Italy’s most recognisable cars – the classic Fiat 500.
La Cinquecento unveiled its first prototype at Tutto Bene, presenting a highly bespoke, re-engineered interpretation of the diminutive Italian city car that combines the character and simplicity of the original with significantly upgraded performance, engineering and everyday usability.
Founded by Max Kindersley, the project has its roots in his family’s own Fiat 500 and a simple question: just how far could the little Italian icon be developed without losing the qualities that made it so appealing in the first place?
“I’ve always loved what the Fiat 500 represents,” said Kindersley. “It’s simple, light, full of character and makes people smile.
“The idea was never to change that. We wanted to take everything that makes the original so special and see how far we could develop it – to make it faster, sharper and better engineered, without losing the reason you wanted a 500 in the first place.”
Classic character, modern engineering
Based on a 1970s donor chassis, La Cinquecento’s first prototype uses a developed Fiat 126-derived two-cylinder engine equipped with a twin-spark ignition system.
Rather than chasing headline horsepower or outright top speed, the engineering programme has concentrated on improving response, torque and driver involvement.
The transformation goes considerably further than the engine. Bespoke or extensively reworked suspension, braking, steering, cooling and electrical systems have been developed as part of the project, with the aim of creating a Fiat 500 that feels more capable and usable while retaining the lightweight character of the original.
That philosophy extends to the exterior.
La Cinquecento has worked with Milan-based design studio BorromeodeSilva to give the car a more purposeful appearance without disguising its origins.
Widened wheelarches and side skirts give the 500 a broader stance, while rally-inspired auxiliary lighting adds a sporting edge. Despite the changes, the familiar proportions and instantly recognisable silhouette of the classic Fiat remain central to the design.
From family Fiat to new British automotive studio
There is also a particularly personal story behind La Cinquecento.
The project began with Kindersley’s family Fiat 500, which had spent around 25 years stored in a barn. What initially started as an attempt to return the car to the road gradually evolved into something considerably more ambitious.
That journey ultimately led to the creation of La Cinquecento – and, fittingly, the company’s first prototype is now being built in the same barn where the original family car had been stored.
Following the prototype’s public debut at Tutto Bene, the company plans to move towards a limited production run of individually numbered cars.
Each example will be developed closely with its owner, allowing customers to create a highly personalised interpretation rather than simply choosing from a conventional specification list.
Motoring Echo Verdict
Restomods of famous classics are hardly unusual, but the Fiat 500 presents an intriguing opportunity. Its charm has always come from simplicity, compact dimensions and personality rather than outright performance.
La Cinquecento appears to understand that distinction.
Instead of trying to turn the 500 into something it was never intended to be, the British studio is concentrating on sharpening the ingredients already there – better engineering, stronger performance and greater usability wrapped around one of the most distinctive small-car designs ever produced.
And with the entire business emerging from one family Fiat that spent 25 years sitting in a barn, La Cinquecento has a suitably characterful story behind it too.
The next chapter will be seeing how that philosophy translates from this first prototype into the individually commissioned cars destined for customers.
- You can visit to enquire for more information at the British Manufacturers website here: https://www.500.design/
