Fiat Portofino Concept Adds Nautical Vibe, Subtracts Doors, Roof, Floor

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EDT

Fiat is hoping to recapture the spirit of the Fiat 500 Jolly beach cruiser with their Fiat Portofino Concept, set to debut at this year's Dusseldorf Caravan Salon. Based on the Fiorino van platform, the Portofino carries with it a nautical theme like the one found on the VW Caddy Topos Sail. In this case, getting nautical means swapping the floors out for wood and swapping out the seats with a natural fiber that goes through a special waterproofing process. There's not much of a roof and the doors have been replaced by pieces of rope, so we'd recommend the use of seatbelts.

The Italian carmaker claims the Portofino is purely a study, though they've apparently hinted they'd also make a covered version sometime in the future, which is something one likely wouldn't say if there were no plans to introduce a beach-friendly Fiat.

[FIAT via CarScoop]

Volkswagen Caddy Topos Sail Design Concept, For When You Can't Take Out Your Dinghy

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:20:00 EDT

Volkswagen is showing up in style to the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon with the Topos Caddy Sail Design Concept, a version of their Caddy commercial van converted to mimic the style and functionality of a sailboat. Rather than just adding some pinstripes and wood siding, the Topos Sail concept has a working wooden deck with aluminum rails. The deck bends to to make a convenient place to lay out and enjoy the sailing, but the most trick piece might actually be the wooden ladder built-into the glass that makes the roof accessible. A wooden deck roof is at least 1,000 times cooler than a gold-plated roof, and much classier. Press release below the jump.

The Caddy Topos Sail Design Concept - A Caddy With a Boat Deck!

MILTON KEYNES – August 27, 2008: Among the display of leisure vehicles and campers on the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles stand at Europe’s largest recreational vehicle show that starts in Düsseldorf, Germany this weekend will be an interesting Caddy Topos Sail design concept which takes its nautical theme to the extreme of having a wooden boat deck on its roof.

The Caddy Topos Sail design concept, based on the smallest model in the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle van range, uses design cues from classic yachts and has its multi-functional roof covered with wooden decking surrounded by aluminium roof rails.

The wooden sun deck on the roof is accessed via four matching wooden and aluminium steps in the Caddy’s tailgate, and to complete the design theme there are wooden inserts along the side of the vehicle and in the rear bumper.

Other highlights of the Volkswagen stand demonstrate its strong heritage in leisure vehicles with a celebration of 20 years of the California camper.

Volkswagen campers became popular almost as soon as the Transporter van was introduced in the 1950s, and the California model was introduced in 1988 when the third generation of the Volkswagen Transporter was in production.

With California conversions of the subsequent fourth generation of Transporter van and today’s latest fifth generation model, more than 80,000 have been sold, which must make it one of the most successful campers ever.

Today’s California was introduced in 2006 and is unique as it is now made by Volkswagen, who must be the only vehicle manufacturer to produce its own camper. It is built to the same high quality standards as the rest of the range, and sold with a full three year warranty.

The Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles stand can be found in Hall 16 at Dusseldorf Caravan Salon (www.caravan-salon.de), which is open to the public from 30 August to 7 September.

[Source: VW]

Jalopnik: dusseldorf caravan salon

Fiat Portofino Concept Adds Nautical Vibe, Subtracts Doors, Roof, Floor

Volkswagen Caddy Topos Sail Design Concept, For When You Can't Take Out Your Dinghy