Italian coachbuilder creates transport for plutocrats with a conscience

Italian cars rarely have a reputation for subtlety, but the Milan coachbuilder Castagna Milano has taken things just that bit further and built a Fiat 500 stretch limo, to celebrate the junior Italian’s arrival on the American market.

The limo boosts the diminutive city car’s proportions from a titchy 3.5 meters in length, to a whopping 5.32 meters and an increase in wheelbase by 1.8 meters, to 4.1 meters. The vehicle’s height is also slightly raised to 1.58 meters and one can imagine that parking in town won’t be quite as easy as for the original.

Available in three different versions: LimoSun, LimoCity (main picture, above) and LimoPresidential, they’re built on request. Depending on the version chosen, customers can enjoy opened or paneled sides, a circular sofa, a drinks cabinet, electric doors and more. Hoards of screaming hen party guests are optional.

Under the bonnet the limo features two electric motors, which enable it to reach a claimed top speed of 100mph, with a range of up-to 160 miles on a full charge.

Castagna Milano is famous for its eye-catching concept creations and is no stranger to the Fiat super-mini, having previously developed a number of 500-based specials, including one that was owned by Colonel Gaddafi (more on this bizarre creation here).

Customers across the Atlantic are also currently awaiting the launch of a mass-produced electric Fiat 500EV expected to go on sale soon. This model benefits from a high-power electric powertrain module, and an advanced lithium ion battery and control unit.

Fiat merged with American firm Chrysler last summer and has been focusing its efforts on the US market. Despite, or maybe because of, an advertising campaign featuring Jennifer Lopez, sales of the Fiat 500 have not take off Stateside, something the brand could be hoping to overcome with the electric version.

“The alliance with Fiat presented new opportunities to merge Chrysler Group engineering knowledge with new platforms,” said Senior Vice President of Engineering at Chrysler Scott Kunselman.

“It is a small, lightweight platform perfect for integrating electric-vehicle technology.”