While specs and performance are important, cars also exist at the intersection of culture and fashion. Yoshifumi "YOPPI" Egawa, a central figure in Tokyo's street culture, evaluated the Fiat 500, clad in a vibrant Sicilian Orange, from a cultural perspective.

"Wow, the instrument panel is orange, the same color as the body, and the seats are navy. This color combination is a sense that seems to exist, but is actually quite rare, isn't it?"

Yoshifumi "YOPPI" Egawa, a central figure in Tokyo's street culture scene, said this as he got into the Fiat 500. He was a pioneer of professional skateboarding in the early days of the sport, and now leads street fashion as the director of the fashion brand "Ombre Niño" and designer for "PLUS by XLARGE."

Seated in the driver's seat and surveying the interior, YOPPI commented on the design of the exterior and interior.

"I've been influenced by the minimalist design of products like those by Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, so I like this design. It gives the impression of being simple and unadorned, yet knowing how to look stylish."

As he said this, YOPPI started the Fiat 500's 1.2-liter inline-4 engine.

Although it was YOPPI's first time driving a Fiat, he drove the Fiat 500 as if he had been with it for years. He occasionally shifted gears using the paddle shifters and turned the steering wheel with agility.

When asked if he was driving it so naturally, he replied, "Because I'm completely Italian (laughs)."

"When I went to Italy to buy bicycles, I was struck by how much of an island nation Japan is. In Japan, track cycling and Tour de France-style road racing are separate genres, aren't they? But there, they're all under the umbrella of 'bicycles,' and there's a sense of love for the entire cycling culture. They'd put handlebars used only for track bikes on road bike frames and enjoy them freely, which I really liked. That's one of the reasons I came to love Italy, starting with its design. I also really like the Italian way of driving. Even when driving in the city, they're not just boredly commuting; they're enjoying the drive."

Indeed, the Fiat 500, which allows you to enjoy its exterior and interior design, color scheme, steering feel, acceleration, and engine sound with all five senses, is a car that is quintessentially Italian. And YOPPI, who also works as a DJ, laughed and said, "I like driving while listening to music, and with the Fiat 500, perhaps exotic world music might surprisingly fit well."