The Fiat Vuscia, which was debuted at the 1996 Turin Motor Show, was a design created by I.DE.A. (Institute of Development in Automotive Engineering). Based on a Fiat Brava platform, the Vuscia was designed to be a low-volume vehicle that would occupy a particular niche in the market. Quite what this niche was supposed to be isn't clear. Sporty MPV, perhaps?
To create a distinctive new shape for the Vuscia, which would offer more significantly more space than the Brava, the chassis was extended by 200 mm (7.9 inches). Unlike most MPVs of the time, the Vuscia had a rather sinister and powerful shape accentuated by the slit-like headlights and broad shoulder line.
Access to the 6-seat interior was via a credit-card-sized card that slid into slots where the door handles would normally be found. The roof panel of the Fiat Vuscia concept featured solar cells used to power a number of fans to keep the interior cool when parked in bright sunlight.
Many of Brava's components would have been retained to keep the costs down if it were to have entered production.
