Miguel Sánchez
For a few years now, social networks are encouraging dynamics present in the very definition of the human being. This being the case, virtual interactions tend to create increasingly compact and, incidentally, polarized groups. A worrying situation then, not in vain, in pursuit of belonging to a gang, a pack, multitude of individuals give in uncritically to fashions and collective behaviors where hatred of a third party acts as a unifying factor.
In an everyday setting, this is especially easy to see among teenage gangs. A whole hotbed of trauma and abuse for those who, in one way or another, do not fit into the most virulent one in the place. Likewise, in politics, history has left us a trail of blood in relation to this issue. Almost always, with national identities involved; necessarily constructed through a process of opposition to different peoples, languages or ethnicities.
That said, the sad thing is that, obviously to a much lesser degree, these highly irrational behaviors They also manifest themselves in areas as prosaic and dispensable as motorsports.. Because yes, here there are also fashions, clichés and common places with more form than substance; those types of arguments that, open wide on the analysis table, are not capable of withstanding the coldness of an objective analysis for even a moment.
With all this, the amount of criticism, ridicule and scribbling received by the 1998 Fiat Multipla has become one of the most ingrained habits among current motor fans. But what's logical about this? Does what, objectively, is a good car perfectly suited to its purpose really deserve this ridicule? On this side of the keyboard we believe not and, through a few brief lines, we will try to demonstrate not only the innocence of the Fiat Multipla but even its virtues.
FIAT MULTIPLA, THE CHALLENGE OF BEING A MOV AND COMPACT
When thinking about the concept of the minivan, the most common thing is to put the beginning of the concept in Lee Iacocca's office back in the seventies. Always attentive to the market, this manager sensed among American families the need for a larger, more modular and accessible vehicle than any of the recurring sedans. On this basis, the specifications addressed to the design team resulted in the so-called S platform of 1983.
Base for the Chrysler Voyager and the Dodge Caravan, this was the foundation on which the current minivan concept was based. Likewise, those commercial successes were echoed in Europe thanks to the Renault Espace of 1984; a perfect ally for large families and, in the end, the continental standard bearer of this segment to this day. In any case, and although Lee Iacocca's idea was truly revolutionary, the truth is that he suffered from too generous a length.
Obviously, this was not a problem in the suburban residential neighborhoods; so recurrent in the American urban planning model as well as obsessively copied by the managers of our real estate hit. However, it was among those who had to move through the winding centers of historic cities in Italy, France or even Spain. With all this, the real challenge for those who designed minivans was to make them on the platform of a compact vehicle.
At this point, and at least as far as Europe is concerned - Japan has always had a great line of work when it comes to creating small cars with great livability - perhaps the company that experimented the most with this was Renault. It's more, In 1991 he presented his Scenic Concept with solutions capable of putting the accessible and modular nature of the Espace on the basis of a clearly shorter vehicle.
However, this not only remained in the study phase but also did not know how to solve the problem of incorporating at least six real seats based on a compact model. A small failure that, inevitably, makes us focus on the other leading European company in terms of urban cars: Fiat.
And, not in vain, it had already made its first steps with the formula of a compact minivan back in 1956. Year in which it presented, based on the popular 600, the first version of the Multipla.
A prodigy in terms of habitability, being able to accommodate up to six passengers spread over three rows of seats under a body that is only three and a half meters long. Just what is required by many families and taxi drivers. which, until well into the sixties, made that first Multipla a common element in the historic centers of Italy.
PATH OF A NEW MULTIPLA
In any case, that design supervised by Dante Giacosa could barely survive time due to the position of its engine. Furthermore, neither the poor security provided to its first row of seats - totally exposed to a possible crash - nor having to give up the third row of seats if you wanted to carry luggage helped to keep it in the market. Of course, in one way or another the seed of the compact minivan was already sown at Fiat.
Thanks to this, in 1998 it was presented the new Multipla under a really striking aesthetic. First point in its favor because, in this increasingly homogeneous and conservative area, this Fiat dared to break the mold even under the risk of being poorly accepted. Furthermore, if we go from form to pure function we have to pay attention to the lateral line; which starts from its controversial front step to not only achieve an evident visual harmony, but also a very large glass surface.
But where is the brilliance of this family member? Well, as we have mentioned previously, it seemed impossible to incorporate at least six real seats within the size of a compact car. However, The new Multipla achieved this by widening its cabin until two rows with three seats each can be introduced. A quite original arrangement that, in fact, we can only find in other models as specific as the 2004 Honda FR-V.
BASED ON THE FIAT BRAVO AND BRAVA
One of the most important issues in any mass model is its necessary profitability. For this, the expenses related to development must be rather brief, maximizing as much as possible the use of pre-existing parts in the company. Something in which Fiat is an expert, with it being a common practice to present clearly differentiated models despite being based on the same platform.
Thus, the C1 had proven its worth since 1995 thanks to the Bravo, Brava and Marea. Base from which designer Roberto Giolito - current head of design at Fiat - devised the Multipla as a compact minivan measuring 3.994 millimeters long and 187 centimeters wide. Furthermore, in a complete display of habitability, the trunk capacity was 430 liters; expanded to 1.300 if the seats are folded down.
In short, without needing to go beyond the size of a C-segment car, the Multipla achieved six real seats with a large cargo space and obvious comfort. Isn't this enough to consider this a more than good design?
Likewise, the first engine offering - a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated gasoline with 103 HP and a turbodiesel with 105 HP - provided unexpected verve in a model with these characteristics. All this complemented with excellent poise thanks to its suspensions as well as the width of the axles; reasons to understand driving more vigorously than one might expect.
And seen through its performance, its habitability and even, why not, its striking design, the Fiat Multipla is a car perfectly suited to its purposes. If we add to that the fact that it is a kind of very ingenious compact minivan, we have a model that is not only good, but also worthy of appearing in the annals of motorsport as an innovative design to take into account. Beyond fashions that smell like a pack, an excellent car in many ways.
Images: Renault / Fiat
