Italian Mechanic Transforms 1993 Fiat Panda into World's Narrowest Car

At first glance, it looks like a botched Photoshop image, but the ultra-narrow vehicle on the screen is indeed hitting the road. Andrea Marzi, a 30-year-old Italian mechanic, has converted a 1993 Fiat Panda into a single-seater electric vehicle just 50.20 centimeters wide, shattering a world record.

The Engineering Behind the Ultra-Narrow Fiat

The bizarre creation, dubbed the "Flat Fiat," features a single seat and measures a mere 50.20 cm (19.7 inches) in width. Guinness World Records recently officially certified it as the narrowest drivable car in the world.

"What started as a silly idea in my family's scrapyard turned into an extraordinary engineering feat," said Andrea Marzi.

Although the car looks as though it was crushed from both sides, it is a fully functioning vehicle maintaining four wheels, allowing Marzi to actually drive it. The original Fiat Panda was manufactured with a width of approximately 1.46 meters. To achieve the desired result, Marzi took a drastic step: he removed a substantial portion of the vehicle's center, then welded the remaining parts back together to create an exceptionally narrow body.

Performance and Guinness Recognition

The "Flat Fiat" is equipped with a single seat, a single front headlight, and an electric motor. Key technical specifications include:

• Maximum speed of approximately 15 km/h (9.3 mph)

• Reported driving range of about 25 km per charge

• Total weight of approximately 264 kg

The tiny proportions are not just for visual effect: Marzi explained that the vehicle's battery is positioned at the bottom, helping to maintain a low and stable center of gravity. The trials and measurements took place in Bagnolo Cremasco, Italy, in late June. While it has captured global attention at car shows, the micro-car is not street-legal and is restricted to exhibitions and demonstrations.