GRAZIE GIORGIO

A legendary fashion designer has joined with an iconic Italian carmaker to produce the Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani – and the price tag reflects the stylish collaboration, says Sean O'Grady

- Sean O'Grady

According to Fiat: "Never before have two global icons of Italian design, style, skill, ingenuity and success come together to create an 'instant classic."

Impressive as this latest, of many, variations on the successful Fiat 500 theme is with the 500e Giorgio Armani Collector’s Edition, I can’t believe that the little car exceeds, say, Sophia Loren modelling one of Armani’s sensational outfits.

Indeed, Fiat has previously collaborated with two other “icons” to knock out a 500 special — the Fiat 500 by Gucci Edition (2011) and the Fiat 500 Riva (2016). There was also a pretty funky Fiat Panda Alessi (2006). There may be other examples. So maybe not “never before”, and “never better” would just be rude. Almost routine, you might add. Maybe one day they’ll produce the Fiat 600e Giorgia Meloni. I’ll leave it at that.

Another reason for researching these past special editions is to assess their investment potential. I regret to say that, thus far, they don’t seem to go for much more than their unspecial peers, with the partial exception of the Panda Alessi.