Surf's up for Fiat

Fiat's Beach Cruiser concept car will make its first public appearance at this weekend's Vans US Open of Surfing.

The annual event, which runs until July 28 and is universally viewed as one of the most important action sports events on the world surf calendar, typically attracts over 400 leading surf and skate athletes. However, this year's event in Huntington Beach, California will also put the spotlight on Fiat's one-of-a-kind water-sports-mobile, the Fiat 500c Beach Cruiser.

Based on the standard 500 but longer at both ends, the car is meant to represent the picture in the classic teenage daydream of escaping school and chasing waves with friends behind the wheel of their own surf mobile.

As such the car makes more than one doff of the hat to classic 1960s and 70s beach buggy designs: the solid, red-wall wheels, use of teak wood and matte charcoal grey paint and of course, the dancing hula girl on the dashboard. Under the hood the car gets a slightly larger cold-air intake and special exhaust to increase power and beef up sound in equal measure.

In terms of aesthetics, the car looks at once special and unique, but also totally obtainable. As its designer, Adam Hubers says:'I just tried to make it so that anyone interested in modifying their FIAT 500, they can feel like, 'Oh, I can do this as well'.'

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