02 Mar 05
Designed by MA students from the IED (Instituto Europeo di Design), Turin, the X1/99 is a proposal for a spiritual successor to the Bertone-designed wedge-shaped Fiat X/19. Fiat sponsored and oversaw the project, and it's said to be under serious consideration for production. It would be feasible, too: it is built on a Punto supermini platform, which allows for a four-seater layout and has a two-piece folding hard-top roof developed with help from Webasto. It would give Fiat a rival to the likes of the Vauxhall Tigra and Peugeot 206 CC - as well as a replacement for the pretty but aged Barchetta.
Original X/19 enthusiasts aren't keen on the idea, however, and are making their feelings known on the net. They argue that, for the car to be a true X/19 successor, it must be mid-engined and have a removable targa roof.
