There’s something cheeky about mini cars that grabs attention. The MINI Cooper and Fiat Topolino are very good examples of compact hatchbacks carrying the aura of a supercar. The small size of a four-wheeler is more valued in modern times, where roads are flush with vehicles, and the maneuverability of a mini car promises so much value.
Now, designer Wini Camacho takes the Topolino as his canvas to graduate into a versatile mini car dubbed Topolino XS that morphs shape depending on the rider’s intent. It can be a roofless targa on a bright sunny afternoon, a coupe for a ride to the party in the evening, or a roadster for late-night skirmishes on the freeway. The versatile three-in-one system of the modular concept vehicle nevertheless preserves the minimalist appeal and simplistic design approach.
Designer:
Wini retains the basic DNA of the mini hatchback while exploring the elements like the balanced out front and back section for a more flowy design. All this while making the overall footprint of the electric vehicle smaller and compact at 2.4 meters long and 1.4 meters wide, even though the Topolino itself is quite compact. The headlights on the XS modification have a more human-like character to them – they actually do look like a real pair of eyes with the circular dots encapsulated by the white LED beams. Tailights on the rear are made up of hundreds of little LEDs that the rider can customize to their liking.
On the inside, the driving dynamics take a huge leap with the central steering wheel hub for more centralized control of the instruments and safety features. This doesn’t affect the driver’s style of driving in any way, as the vehicle is already quite small to make much of a difference. If it were a Dodge Viper, Rolls-Royce Phantom, or Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, this would not have been an optimal strategy. The display elements with the Topolino XS are kept to a minimum in line with the less-is-more wireframe.
To spice up things for the prospective riders, the designer imagines the XS in two variants: PURO and ABARATH. While the PURO stays close to the roots with respectable performance figures and a rear carry-on luggage accessory for daily driving, the ABARATH is more of a beast with its bumped-up performance rating for adrenaline-pumping weekends. The looks also take a more aggressive positioning for the ABARATH in glossy black skin paired with the contrasty red wheel rims.
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