Attention FIAT AUTO S.p.A. CEO, Executive Directors and Management,

The WORLDWIDE community of Italian Automobile Enthusiasts, loyal FIAT Enthusiasts, and especially FIAT - BERTONE X1/9 Enthusiasts, are collectively SHOCKED and DISAPPOINTED at the possibility that FIAT might consider producing a Front Engine X1/9 successor.

Due to the display of the Istituto Europeo di Design Torino (IED) FIAT X1/99 Concept at the 2005 Geneva Auto Show, the possibility has arisen for FIAT to SERIOUSLY CONSIDER production of any car inspired by the beloved original X1/9, whether a direct evolution of the original or something which simply recalls the X1/9 in name or shape.

The Global Enthusiast community is VERY EXCITED about the chance for a modern evolution of the X1/9, or something similar, to be produced. WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE FIAT TO CONSIDER PRODUCING ANY SUCH CAR.

HOWEVER, Enthusiasts are aware that the X1/99 Concept is based on the 199 PUNTO, which is a FRONT ENGINE platform. The X1/99 is claimed to be a spiritual successor to the X1/9. THIS STATEMENT HAS DEEPLY OFFENDED AND UPSET MANY LOYAL ENTHUSIASTS who firmly believe that the TRUE spirit of the original X1/9 revolves irrevocably around its MID-ENGINE arrangement and the spectacular performance and handling agility this arrangement creates.

To claim that ANY FRONT ENGINE CAR could be a LEGITIMATE successor to the X1/9 is absolutely UNACCEPTABLE to the global Enthusiast community!

WE STRONGLY URGE FIAT AUTO S.p.A. TO CONSIDER OUR DESIRES:

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.

3: If ANY car inspired by the X1/9 is EVER produced WITH A MID-ENGINE arrangement, it should bear the name X1/9 if possible, or some derivative, such as X1/99 for example, or any similar name which clearly indicates a link to the original.

4: ANY car EVER produced WITH A FRONT ENGINE arrangement (such as the IED Concept on a front engine platform for example) ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT bear ANY name that infers a connection, relationship or spiritual heritage of any form to the X1/9, but should instead bear a completely independent name which implies NO connection at all (the IED Concept, if produced, could be named Punto TF for example).

5: It would be PREFERABLE for FIAT to WAIT, before producing any such car, until such a time that the car could reasonably be produced TO SUIT THE ABOVE CRITERIA, far more so than it would be to move forward with producing a car sooner, but in some other fashion, configuration or spirit which, in the collective opinion of Enthusiasts, does NOT do justice to the claimed heritage of, inspiration by or descent from the original. GIVE THE CAR THE TRUE X1/9 SPIRIT, STYLE AND CONFIGURATION THAT IT DESERVES!

WE PASSIONATELY AND SINCERELY HOPE THAT FIAT AUTO S.p.A. WILL HEAR THESE DESIRES, VOICED BY THE GLOBAL ENTHUSIAST COMMUNITY, AND WILL ACT UPON THEM ACCORDINGLY.

( More information regarding this petition, and related information and Enthusiasts opinions, may be found at http://www.network54.com/Forum/387192 )