Italy Unveils World’s Slimmest Electric Car: The Ultra-Narrow Fiat Panda

A car that looks straight out of a cartoon or a quirky film has made headlines after being unveiled in Italy. The ultra-slim Fiat Panda, measuring only 19.6 inches (50cm) wide, is not just a novelty but a fully functional electric vehicle. Its comically squished proportions have sparked both fascination and skepticism across social media, yet the car stands as a testament to creative engineering, blending practical parking solutions with playful design.

Handcrafted Innovation: The Birth of the Slim Fiat Panda

The remarkable vehicle is the brainchild of Andrea Marazzi, a 30-year-old Italian mechanic with a flair for the unconventional. Marazzi handcrafted the car using original materials from a 1993 model Fiat Panda, meticulously narrowing it down to its current size. The car was presented at a festival in Pandino, a town southeast of Milan, in celebration of the Fiat Panda’s 45th anniversary.

Despite its cartoonish proportions, the car is road-worthy in the sense of driveability—albeit with significant limitations. It accommodates one driver seated in the front and a passenger in the back, provided they are small and slender enough to fit the tight space. The vehicle’s other specs are just as unique: it stands 57 inches (145cm) tall, measures 133 inches (340cm) in length, and weighs a mere 264 kilograms.

Mixed Social Media Reactions: Practicality or Plaything?

Since its unveiling, the ultra-slim Fiat Panda has generated a flurry of commentaries online. Some social media users have questioned its practicality and aesthetics, calling it “impractical,” “ugly,” and even “nuts.” Jokes abound, with one Reddit user likening the experience to a “Flintstones hatch” where passengers could use their feet to stabilize the car. Another humorously doubted its compatibility with American lifestyles, while some expressed claustrophobia at the thought of being inside such a compact space.

Safety concerns have also surfaced, with people questioning whether such a slim car could possibly meet modern health and safety regulations. Marazzi, however, addressed these doubts directly. In a video demonstration, he pushed the vehicle with considerable force to prove its stability, showing that contrary to popular belief, it would not simply tip over in a gentle breeze.

Features, Functionality, and the Future

Despite its slender frame, the tiny Fiat Panda retains key features found in traditional cars. It boasts four wheels, two rear-view mirrors, doors on both sides of the driver, and even a small passenger compartment at the rear. The rear seat is best suited for a very short, slender passenger—likely a child—due to space constraints. The car also includes a steering wheel, indicator lights, and a single front headlight for night driving. Notably absent are license plates, as its top speed of nine miles per hour (15 km/h) makes it unsuitable for standard road use.

Powering the car is a 24V electric battery and motor salvaged from an electric scooter, underlining its experimental nature. Marazzi is seeking recognition from Guinness World Records as the slimmest functioning vehicle ever created.

Industry observers like Gaurav Sood from Yanko Design have described the project as more of an “art installation than transport solution.” According to Sood, the narrow Fiat Panda “invites viewers to rethink proportions, functionality, and playfulness in mechanical design.” The car stands as a rolling experiment—blending engineering challenge, homage to the Fiat Panda, and public spectacle all in one.

Though unlikely to revolutionize everyday transportation, this ultra-slim electric car exemplifies how imagination and ingenuity can push the boundaries of automotive design.