Fiat is considering putting its quirky Multiplay concept into production as it looks to bring something different to the already saturated family-car segment. Unveiled earlier this month at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, the unconventional vehicle blends an SUV with a pickup truck while borrowing the practical-minded philosophy of the original Multipla.

Unlike many wild concepts that exist solely to grab attention at auto shows, this one has caught the attention of Fiat’s new leadership. Arnaud Belloni, the company’s new boss, considers the Multiplay an important project for the Italian brand. Speaking to Autocar, he described the concept as “fantastically important for us” and “absolutely meaningful,” making it clear that Fiat wants to explore a new approach to family transportation.

“I’m absolutely convinced we need a family car in the range,” Belloni said, pointing to the Multipla as the only name that resonated widely with European customers in this segment. The original, launched in 1998, became famous for its unconventional styling and clever packaging, squeezing six seats into a compact body.

Nearly 30 years later, the Multiplay keeps that same emphasis on versatility and gives it a modern twist, combining an MPV's passenger-friendly layout with an SUV's rugged look and flexibility. Rather than simply bringing back a traditional minivan, Fiat wants to reinterpret the formula with SUV-inspired styling.

Fiat design chief François Leboine sees the Multiplay as a possible “post-SUV” era, where buyers might seek alternatives to conventional crossovers without sacrificing visual appeal. The idea is to make an MPV attractive to customers who would otherwise gravitate toward an SUV.

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