Filipino car designer Wini Camacho reimagines the Fiat Topolino

Filipino Mercedes-Benz designer Wini Camacho goes freelance; reveals new design concept

After three decades of designing cars for Mercedes-Benz, Filipino designer Wini Camacho has started his own design practice. That's right, Camacho left Mercedes-Benz at the end of last year and is now working as a freelance designer.

In an era where cars are being overly-designed, Camacho wanted to start with something simple, fresh, and small. Say hello to the Topolino XS (Extra Small), Camacho's reinterpretation of the Fiat Topolino from the 1930s – 1950s.

The Topolino XS was designed with one thing in mind: to design the most lovable micro city car imaginable. This is a shift in Camacho's design direction, as he was accustomed to designing five-meter-long cars. For the Filipino designer, this project is a refreshing shift in scale since the Topolino XS is only two and a half meters long, which makes it “intentionally compact, approachable, and human in character,” says Camacho.

Following the “less is more” philosophy, the Topolino XS embraces minimalism and simplicity in equal measure. The result is a vehicle that features a seamless spherical form that's devoid of unnecessary sensory input.

Also worth mentioning are the headlights & taillights, which are not added components, but are instead recessed onto the body surface. This design input preserves the Topolino XS's spherical design.

The LED headlights & taillights are composed of hundreds of micro LEDs, which allows for customizable lighting signatures. It also has an optional all-weather trolley luggage that provides extra luggage space and is removable.

Adding to the vehicle's quirky looks is its 3-in-1 modular system that transforms the vehicle into three distinct personalities: a cute coupe, a roofless targa, and a stripped-back roadster. Combined with its compact dimensions of just 2.4 meters long and 1.4 meters wide, the Topolino XS is eye-catching from every direction. The Topolino XS is also available in two versions: the refined Puro and the high-performance Abarth finished in black.

Like the exterior, the cabin of the Topolino XS follows the theme of minimalism. It has a stationary central steering wheel hub that shows the digital display, horn, and safety functions of the car. The result is a clear, easy-to-reach position that's intended to create a calm, intuitive interface with reduced visual & functional clutter.

Last but not least, smart technology is seamlessly integrated into the Topolino XS thanks to a smart watch or mobile app. With it, users can remotely access certain functions, such as locking & unlocking the vehicle.

For now, the Topolino XS remains a design concept. However, we won't be surprised if Fiat or other automakers are interested in making Camacho's concept a reality.