Fiat 500 Riva is the yachties' bambino

Fiat is building a limited number of a new 500 variant – the Fiat 500 Riva – for fans of Italy's famous Riva boats.

Designed by Officina Italiana Design, the styling studio responsible for the look of Riva vessels, the 500 Riva recalls a maritime theme with its various styling cues and details, including an exclusive colour, Blu Sera – complemented by the aquamarine double pinstripes.

The 500 Riva was commissioned by Fiat, and the principals of Officinia Italiana Design, Sergio Beretta and Mauro Micheli, were keen to get on board with the project.

"We’re not new to working outside the nautical sector," the two men explained in a joint statement.

"When we do, we always see such projects as an excellent opportunity to look at things from a different perspective. We also find it very stimulating to interact with experts – the intellectual exchange is instant, in fact.

"The 500 and the Aquariva, the model the car is twinned with in terms of livery as well as other factors, are both icons that hark back to the 1950s. They’re a testament to a pivotal time in the history of Italian excellence on the international stage.

"This particular combination allowed us to play with colours and details. We worked on creating quality, striking detailing but didn’t go overboard. We used mahogany in the car’s interior where there would usually be plastic. We trimmed back on excess steel and worked on light-dark contrasts.

"On the bodywork, two thin pinstripes in aquamarine, a historic Riva colour, pick out the profile like the waterline on a boat. Essentially, we didn’t want to distort the 500’s classic lines but we did want to respect its design and the Riva brand."

The styling studio is better equipped to design boats, but it has worked on an automotive project in the past – the Ferrari Scaglietti concept in 2008.

Unfortunately for local sailing enthusiasts, the prospect of the 500 Riva finding a berth in Australia looks remote, with FCA Australia telling motoring.com.au that "there's no immediate plan to introduce the Fiat 500 Riva into the Australian line-up."

And anyway, unlike the old Niki 650 – a rebadged Fiat 126 sold here back in the 1990s – the 500 Riva would be too nice to leave down at the docks while the Captain and Tenille are out partying on the water.