What happens if you give a cute little hatch to one of the world's most iconic design studios and say "Just do it"?
You get the Fiat 500 Coupé Zagato concept, that's what, and you put it on display at the Geneva motor show.
This is not the first time this particular "marriage" has happened - Zagato did an even more radical special on an original Fiat 500 Topolino chassis for the 1950 Geneva show, and that's where it got the inspiration for the 2011 500 Coupé Zagato.
The designer has emphasised the silhouette of the Fiat 500 - already similar to a coupé - lowering the roof and giving it the characteristic Zagato "double hump", making the car into a classic 2+2 while retaining the dimensions of the basic model: 3.55m long, 1.63m wide and 1.49m high on a 2.3m wheelbase.
The concept is a runner - all Zagato show cars are - powered by Fiat's new, turbocharged 77kW TwinAir engine. Zagato says it's ideal for compact, sporty cars because of its high specific output (91kW/litre) and torque (155Nm at only 2500rpm) - yet emits only 95g/km of CO2.
The "500 Coupé Zagato" is aimed at a young, dynamic, mostly male target market but also appeals to the ladies with interesting combinations of colours and materials. The show car is finished in Pop Yellow, a three-layer paint that tends to white under oblique lighting to emphasise the contours of the car, while giving it a pop image, full of energy and brimming with personality.
The same styling extends to the inside: the seats, inspired by the traditional sporty diamond stitching, are upholstered in a mix of hi-tech fabric and yellow chamois leather with black natural leather trim. The steering wheel is also leather-covered, with yellow stitching.
The fascia surround matches the exterior colour, but finished in polished "eco-chrome" to make it even more eye-catching, and the roof lining is made of a dark fabric with a transparent single-filament yarn that gives it a delicate shine.
The finishing touches are polished chrome exterior trim, 17" "chrome shadow" rims with synthetic inserts and 205/40 rubber, and drilled brake discs.
Zagato says it has remained true to Fiat's car philosophy with this show special: original styling with advanced, accessible technology and intelligent solutions to make driving fun.
For instance, just like the production 500, the Coupé Zagato has a multimedia port so the driver can access the internet and satellite navigation via a latest-generation smartphone.