Lazzarini Design Wants to Build Ferrari-Powered Fiat 500

By Marcus Slater - June 25, 2012

Ferrari power in Fiat footprint. That’s the dream of Lazzarini Design, in this concept of a Fiat 500 with the V8 of a 458 Italia stuffed into the trunk. It’s equal parts awesome and insanity, kind of like a fever dream but with a definite italitan flair. The thing is, they’re not content with leaving this crazy combo as ink on paper, they want to make it real. I think everyone wants to see it become real.

The teeny-car big engine combo isn’t exactly new, but swapping Ferrari motors into other cars is actually pretty rare. Swapping them into cars the size of the Fiat 500, is ridiculous. Lazzarini has done the research though and say that it could be done with some modifications. First the motor would be de-tuned to 550hp, which apparently is the maximum the chassis for the 500 can handle. In order to get the engine to fit, the wheel base would have to be stretched by nearly a foot in the rear, and by about 8 inches up front. We imagine those slightly pudgier proportions would be matched by similarly thick tires. And suspension. And probably every other component of the car designed to make it go and stop.

Lazzarini has the design all laid out, all they need is the money to make it happen. $550,000 is all it’ll take to make the Lazzarini 550 Italia a reality. We can dream can’t we?