The Fiat Multipla is a compact MPV produced by Italian automaker Fiat from 1998 to 2010. Based on the Brava, the Multipla was shorter and wider than its rivals. It had two rows of three seats, where its competitors had two across front seating. The Honda FR-V, which shares the seating layout, was released in 2005. Sales commenced in Italy in November 1998. The Multipla was shorter than the three door Fiat Bravo on which it was based, while offering increased seating and cargo volume. In common with a number of other modern Fiats, the Multipla reused the name of an earlier vehicle, in this case the "Multipla" variant of the Fiat 600 produced during the 1950s and 1960s. The Multipla was marketed from 2008 to 2013, under license in China as the Zotye M300 Langyue, using CKD kits from Italy. Zotye marketed a total of 220 all electric versions of the M300.
Design
The exterior and interior design of the Multipla were displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York during its "Different Roads – Automobiles for the Next Century" exhibition in 1999. It won the Top GearCar of the Year, as well as the "Ugliest Car" in the same programme's awards. It was also voted Top Gear MagazineFamily Car of the Year for four years in a row, from 2001 to 2004. In July 2000, in the series finale of Clarkson's Car Years, it was awarded "Family Car of the Moment". Upon its subsequent restyling in March 2004, The Telegraph reported designers were "desperately sad that the new Multipla no longer resembles a psychotic cartoon duck," and "while passengers loved the adaptability of the clever interior, they were less keen on the sarcastic sneers and derisive laughter of their neighbours, friends and schoolmates; children can be cruel." Multipla sales began in Italy in January 1999, but most other markets had to wait another year before receiving imports. The Multipla sold well with Italian buyers, but sales elsewhere were less successful. The Multipla underwent a major facelift in June 2004, to shed its original styling for a more restrained look. This was under the intention of attracting more buyers, which made it arrive to critical acclaim. The Daily Telegraph placed it #2 on its list of the 100 Ugliest Cars in August 2008, saying "Derided for the blandness of its output during the 1980s and early 1990s, Fiat dared to start thinking outside the box. In this case, however, it simply added wheels to the box." The Multipla was also named the ugliest car of all time by readers of Car Throttle in January 2014. In February 2018, The Sunday Times named it on a list of ugliest cars, saying "The tragedy of the Multipla is that its Elephant Man esque exterior enclosed a genuinely clever and spacious interior, and it wasn’t bad to drive, either. It’s a shame, then, that you’d rather walk than be seen in it."
Engines
A 1.6 engine, that could be powered on either methane or standard petrol, was offered in certain markets.
In June 2004, when the Multipla received its facelift, these trim levels were later replaced with Dynamic, Dynamic Family, Dynamic Plus.
Inner room and flexibility
The new generation Multipla was praised by journalists at its launch for its flexibility. The Multipla’s three abreast seating configuration allows for adjustment of the front seats, and the removal and relocation of the rear seats into many formats. It also affords a big of luggage space, which can increase to of flat floor load space, with the rear three seats removed from the vehicle.
Zotye M300 (Chinese rebadged version)
From December 2008 to September 2010, Zotye Auto had assembled Multipla 2 from KD kits, in its factory in Changshan, and marketed it in China as Multiplan. In October 2010, Zotye started to build a version of Multipla 2, employing more locally made parts in order to reduce costs; the new version is called "Langyue" in China. There are 2 types: M300 and M300 EV which is electric.
