Biga

To mark the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America, as part of Genoa's celebrations, Giorgetto Giugiaro decided to start work on the Columbus, a "sailing ship for dry land," a seven-seater MPV VAN.

Also in 1992, Giugiaro contrasted the solemn but equalizing proposal of the Columbus with a thorough, well thought-out investigation into the smart city car, a minimalist model as a public/private means of transport for use in urban centers where traffic regulations apply.

With the Biga, released at Turin in 1992, Giugiaro plunged himself extremely skillfully and with "goliardic" freshness into researching a city car with electric traction, reduced to the essential and fitted with a hybrid engine, which could be rented and operated using an electronic card.

The Biga made its mark, not only as a vehicle for the city but also as a vehicle of the city (managed directly by the city council or outsourced to another partner). The small cube (2.3 meters long, 1.5 meters wide, and 1.8 meters tall) had a pre-painted stainless steel body that was extremely resistant to corrosion, very lightweight, and easy to assemble, repair, and recycle.

A large door at the rear provided access to the passenger compartment, which could comfortably accommodate four/five people including the driver. The passengers were seated facing each other: one or two on the seat behind the driver and the rest on the bench on the right-hand side, with a folding seat to accommodate wheelchairs and prams.

More than three decades have passed, and just some of the innovative ideas offered by this concept car have been taken up by current car sharing vehicles.