MS Design is the latest European automotive styling concern to tackle the Fiat 500, producing an aggressive motor racing racing inspired body treatment which it has dubbed the '500 Cup'. The Austrian design firm is the latest in a long line of outfits, including the legendary Castagna, German K&W Automotive and new firm Aznom, who are lining up to produce individual styling and tuning kits for the new Fiat 500, which was launched in July and already has amassed an 80,000 strong order book. The waiting list now stretches into next year and the little car is the favourite to scoop the prestigious Car of the Year 2007 award when it is announced in just over a month's time.

MS Design already develops and manufactures a range of styling products for more models from more than 20 automotive brands, including Ford, BMW, Vauxhall, Ford, Alfa Romeo, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Nissan, Volvo and Opel. "On the basis of Italian lifestyle and modern technology our designers expenditure-raved themselves," say MS Design about the 500 Cup. "The results can be seen. With the special series Fiat 500 Cup MS-Design makes an attractive offer for young and sportily adjusted drivers," its press release adds.

From the front, the MS Design Fiat 500 Cup version features a bigger new spoiler which flares outwards at either side, wrapping onto the wing section. Across the centre section of the base of the reworked spoiler a smaller cut-out thrusts itself outwards, which like the main spoiler area features a black plastic honeycomb finish. The jutting front lip of the spoiler wraps round and merges into the massive, racing-style wheel arches. The front wheel arches both incorporate a cosmetically styled air-intake with a honeycomb finish.
 

At the sides of the 500 Cup the bulbous wheel arches blend into a new jutting sill section which incorporates a small scalloped air intake. The wheel arches wrap into a new bumper/spoiler section at the rear, with further cosmetic air exits cut into each corner. A new roofline spoiler is incorporated at the top of the tailgate, while at the base of the rear window a huge, outrageous spoiler juts outwards, clearly identifying the MS Design kit.

The 500 Cup features new white-finished RVS 17-inch alloy wheels squeezed into the bulging wheel arches, thanks to a lowered suspension which uses Eibach shock absorbers. The styling makeover performed by MS Design is completed by a red stripe and 'Cup' decals down the flanks.

MS Design was founded in 1983 with just two employees. Over the intervening years it has grown to 240 employees, introducing new technology to develop lighter and stronger styling accessories, including bumpers and spoilers, and in 2002 it added a body/paint shop which allows special series cars to be converted in-house. Its styling kits are TÜV-tested to ensure that they are safe and sturdy. The MS Design company is also certified by ISO 9001, QS 9000 and VDA 6.1 standards. These standards guarantee absolute product safety and environmentally conscious production procedures for customers.