Design Blog

Maria Paola Stola manages the special edition of the Fiat 500 Diabolika.

During one of my transits in Italy at the end of July I had the pleasure to participate in an interesting encounter with the designer Maria Paola Stola (the clever and beautiful wife of Alfredo Stola, founder of Studiotorino) at the Salt laboratory. There I got to know, appreciate and touch with my own hands the Diabolika (before it even came out): the captivating personalization of the new Fiat 500 – presented officially on September 12^th as a part of the Torino World Design Capital – unexpected union between the famous comic book of the Giussani sisters and one of the timeless Fiat myths, recently re-launched and splendidly renewed. More details below the cut.

Digital Printing Automotive Leather (DPAL) on the front seats

A limited edition that distinguishes itself by the sensual mat black of the body, embellished with red details – typical of Studiotorino – and by the magnetic, or should I say diabolic, scowl of the character engraved on the special Pirelli tyres. On the inside, the unmistakably sinister and intriguing atmospheres created ad hoc by Astorina (the lucky editor of Diabolik) are reproduced on the high quality and extremely resistant leather of the seats: it is an original application of digital stamping on the automotive leather that gives the result a distinguished finish. Considering the different experimentations personally conducted by Maria Paola in collaboration with Mycrom, the none too few troubles associated with color branding and the rejects due to the natural imperfections of leather, this Diabolika turned out pretty fabulous indeed.

naturali della pelle stessa. Only 50 units of this irresistible little gem (and not just for the Diabolik fans!) will be produced, with a final price that is still to be determined. It will be displayed for the international audience during the Motor Show in Paris in October.