Fiat supplied the design inspiration for Luigi in Pixar’s Cars.
Luigi is a small yellow 1959 Fiat 500 who owns Luigi’s Casa Della Tires in Radiator Springs. His Italian identity is reflected in his name, accent, enthusiasm for Ferrari, and pride in tire-changing expertise. The compact Fiat shape distinguishes him from the larger American cars surrounding him.
Luigi’s admiration for Ferrari is an important character detail, and a Ferrari 458 Italia appears as a notable customer and guest in the Cars world. That connection can lead to the mistaken answer that Luigi himself is a Ferrari. He is not: Luigi is based on the Fiat 500, while Guido, his assistant, is a small forklift. The 1959 Fiat 500 belongs to the classic Nuova 500 generation that became an emblematic Italian city car.