Fiat's new 500 city car will accompany a vintage Itala on a 16,000 trip to mark the 100th anniversary of its victory in the 1907 Beijing to Paris race.
The trip this time will be run backwards and start from Paris on July 20, to then end on September 20 in the Chinese capital's central Tiananmen Square.
The 500 will be part of a caravan accompanying the classic Itala including the orange trucks of Italy s Overland World Truck Expedition.
The Paris-Beijing run has been organized by the Italian Automobile Club (ACI) and will be covered by Italian national broadcaster RAI.
Organizers explained that Paris was chosen as the start rather than the finish because of the changes in the geopolitical situation over the past 100 years.
Whereas Paris in 1907 was one of the world's great cultural capitals, in 2007 China has emerged as a major power thanks to its incredible economic expansion.
Included in the Overland convoy will be trucks from Fiat's Iveco subsidiary including the new Trakker, the 4x4 Eurocargo, the 4x4 Daily, the Torpedo and Massif.
The original 7433cc 35/45hp Itala which won the 1907 race was driven by Count Scipione Borghese and journalist Luigi Barzini.
Itala produced cars in Turin from 1904 to 1934 and was later sold to Fiat.
