A fresh perspective on the car, reimagining the familiar and bringing fantasy to life. That’s what Fabrizio Giugiaro and Lapo Elkann set out to do when they decided to take one of the smallest and most affordable cars on the market and transform it into something surprising—a car capable of delivering excitement and fun. The result? Surprising. It’s evident in the Top. L and Top. J, the two unique interpretations of the new Fiat Topolino, the result of their collaboration.
In fact, more than a collaboration, it stems from a unique, long-standing friendship, in which the common thread is a love of cars and design, combined with a desire to experiment and finally create something together. This is, in fact, their first collaboration, in which Lapo and Fabrizio deliberately chose not to start with a powerful, exclusive, and unattainable car. Instead, they drew on their imagination and even on cars that don’t necessarily have an excessive amount of horsepower.
After all, it would be easy to customize a super-powerful car. But why not do it with a model that’s even more deeply embedded in the daily lives of many drivers? The Top. L and Top. J embody this idea: that even the simplest car can become highly desirable and unique. And we’re certain that the result is just the beginning of a journey that Fabrizio and Lapo intend to continue over time.
“This project stems first and foremost from the desire to have fun with design,” says Fabrizio Giugiaro. “I was fascinated by the idea of starting with a small, simple, and affordable car like the Topolino and seeing just how far we could push the boundaries, letting our emotions and creativity guide us. Lapo and I have always shared a very open-minded approach to cars: it doesn’t matter how big, powerful, or expensive they are. If there’s a strong idea behind it, any car can become special.”
This sentiment is shared by Lapo Elkann, who explains the desire that drove the collaboration. “Fabrizio and I had wanted to do something together for a long time. We’re united by friendship, a passion for cars, design, and motion—and above all, lateral thinking. We had fun transforming the Topolino, playing with colors, materials, and shapes. The names of the two cars are inspired by “Joy” for the Top. J and “Love” for the Top. L—two elements at the heart of creative and emotional thinking. The two cars are very different, but they share the same spirit: they’re free, irreverent, and authentic. For me, a car must convey emotions, regardless of its engine size, price, or speed. If it can make you smile even before you get in, then you’ve created something special.”
Speaking of the result. Let’s start with the Top. L, which has a healthy dose of irreverence in its DNA, reflected in its characteristics: low-slung, open, and stripped-down. But the model designed by Giugiaro and Elkann is perhaps also the most emotional and sporty soul of the project: a completely open two-seater, stripped of all that’s superfluous and transformed into a small speedster with a bold character. The inspiration comes from the world of the most iconic and rebellious sports cars, including James Dean’s legendary “Little Bastard.” To be clear, it’s not a literal reference, but rather a matter of attitude: that of a car capable of conveying emotion even before it moves. The interior is upholstered in aquamarine leather, accented with Alcantara inserts, while the body is finished in a refined shade of aquamarine with a matte finish. The result is a car that’s small in size but big in presence. The Top. L is sophisticated, unexpected, and has a personality that doesn’t need speed to get noticed. Simplicity at the helm, with a highly sporty attitude.
The Top. J, on the other hand, is this unconventional duo’s all-in move. Have you ever thought that four seats could fit into a Topolino less than three meters long? Well, the collaboration between Giugiaro and Elkann has achieved just that, giving us a completely new configuration designed to explore the limits of this car’s simplicity. With just a few targeted modifications, the Top. J manages to accommodate four people seated back-to-back, transforming the small Fiat into a convivial vehicle—one with a design meticulously crafted down to the smallest detail. Take the color scheme, for example: the blue and green draw inspiration from the 1950s Ferrari 166 MM that belonged to his grandfather, Gianni Agnelli, the lawyer. It is also intended as a tribute to Umberto Agnelli, who loved to personalize his cars with details in shades of blue and green.
This design language is a sort of signature style for Lapo, one that was already seen inside Garage Italia and now returns with Top J.—but on four wheels. Top J also does away with the traditional roof, but features a soft top that protects against the sun and rain without sacrificing that sense of freedom and lightness that permeates the entire design. Inside, deliberately unconventional materials once again break with convention: terry cloth and leather, in shades of blue and green, create a playful yet sophisticated atmosphere.
When will they be unveiled? Well, I’m really curious to see them up close. But we won’t have to wait much longer. The Top. L and Top. J will, in fact, be unveiled to the public for the first time tomorrow, September 11, 2026, at the Turin Auto Show at Fabrizio Giugiaro’s GFG STYLE booth.
