You can never have too much Italian flair – at least that’s the view of Fiat as the car maker teams up with fellow Italian style icon in the shape of luxury boat builder Riva.

As a result, the company has announced the launch of the new Fiat 500 Riva which is decked out in similar fashion to the famous speed boats which have graced the waters around the globe for more than 60 years.

The limited edition 500 Riva comes with a special Sera Blue paint job similar to that used on Riva’s current Aquariva Super speed boat which can sell for as much as half a million pounds.

There are unique touches inside the car too with a dashboard trimmed in a finish akin to that of the fine veneer of the Riva boats and an aquamarine display on the instrument panel.

The convertible Fiat 500 Riva also gets a new blue soft top while the hatchback has a panoramic glass roof as standard. In addition to the unique colour, the mirror caps on the 500 Riva have a chrome finish, along with the handles and the bonnet trim.

And just in case you should forget it is a special edition model, Riva logos abound inside and out, while the dashboard is finished in hand-painted mahogany with a maple inlay.

The door sills and gear knob are carved from a solid piece of mahogany, while the seats are trimmed in exclusive ivory leather created by Italian high-end furniture designers Poltrona Frau.

Even the floor mats have been specially designed with ivory hems and contrasting Sera Blue stitching – as is the boot mat that also features a wood insert with Riva lettering.

Fiat says the 500 Riva will be available in the UK at the end of August with 1.2-litre 69bhp, TwinAir 85bhp and TwinAir 105bhp engine options.

The current 500 range is priced from £11,050 and for now Fiat is keeping pretty tight-lipped about the cost of the Riva models, but to add a little more exclusivity, the first 500 cars will have a numbered limited edition badge which can be personalised by the buyer.