As they say, good marketing always finds a reason to celebrate. This time, Fiat's marketing team is feeling festive about the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy and Gucci's 90th anniversary. As a result, the automaker has joined forces with Gucci for the creation of a new special edition version of the 500 mini that will be showcased at next week's Geneva Salon in a dedicated Gucci pop-up store within the Fiat stand.

The limited edition version of the 500 was customized by Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini in partnership with Fiat's Centro Stile. It will be available in two flavors, either in black with detailing in shiny chrome, and a two-tone black and white interior, or with a white exterior paint with satin chrome detailing, and ivory and black interior.

Both versions get 16-inch alloy wheels wrapped around 195/45 R16 tires with the hubcaps featuring the interlocking GG logo in the same color of the body of the car, plus the Italian fashion house's signature on the rear hatch and B-column, and Gucci’s signature green-red-green stripe, which runs along the entire perimeter of the car. In addition, the version equipped with the 100HP 1.4-liter engine comes with rear break callipers in Gucci green.

The Italian fashion house's stripe also appears inside on the seats, on the gear shift, the key-cover, the carpets, and on the seatbelts.

The new '500 by Gucci' will be initially be available from April 1st to June 30th exclusively by pre-order online at www.500bygucci.com, with pricing in Italy starting from €17,000 (equal to US$23,300). Regular sales will start in Europe in July, followed by the rest of the world at the end of 2011.

And for those buyers that would like complete the look with some personal goodies, Fiat has also collaborated with Gucci to create a special collection for the 500, including travel accessories, small leather goods, drivers, tracksuits, driver gloves, sunglasses and a watch, which will all be available in select Gucci stores and online at www.gucci.com from April 2011.