Fiat introduced the X1/9 in 1972 (1974 for North America). Styled by the Italian design house Bertone, the X1/9 was a two seat sports car with a mid mounted inline four engine. In breaking with Fiat tradition at the time, the X1/9 was named after its prototype code. with X1 meaning passenger car, and 9 meaning ninth car produced under the naming system. Fiat production of the X1/9 ended in 1982, but Bertone continued to sell and market the model until 1989.