Enthusiasts of the original Fiat X1/9 are petitioning to keep Fiat from promoting its X1/99 concept as the "spiritual sucessor to the X1/9." Their objection is the new car's use of the front-engined Fiat Punto platform, not a mid-engined configuration as in the original (pictured), with its more even front/rear weight distribution and commensurate better handling performance. Check out their demands (no, we do not believe they're armed) after the jump.
1: If ANY successor to the X1/9, spiritual or actual, is to EVER be produced, IT MUST BE MID-ENGINED and have handling performance AT LEAST EQUAL to the original.
2: ANY successor to the X1/9, while expected to be modern and unique in appearance, absolutely MUST still include at least enough distinct design elements and/or subtle styling cues from the original that the new car is recognizable TO ENTHUSIASTS as having evolved from the X1/9.
Read the rest here.
Worldwide Fiat Enthusiasts Opposing Front-Engine X1/9 Successor [via Xweb Discussion Forum]
Related:
Turin Design Students Create Fiat X1/99 Concept [internal]