With minor styling changes, it was launched in 1998 as the Daewoo Matiz, which became a massive commercial hit worldwide.
The body was crafted from aluminum and used recyclable materials like treated paper and natural fibers for the interior.
It was powered 490cc twin-cylinder turbo diesel engine (approx. 8 hp) paired with two 7 kW electric motors mounted directly in the rear wheels.
Top speed of 100 km/h and an electric-only range of roughly 50 km.
Despite its charm, Fiat discarded the project due to high production costs for the hybrid system and aluminum body.
Giugiaro later pitched the design to Daewoo, who was looking for a new city car to replace the Tico. Daewoo adapted the Lucciola’s distinctive round-headlight look into a five-door production model, which launched in 1998 as the Daewoo Matiz and sold over 2.5 million units in its first decade.
