FIAT X1/9 Tributo – A Romantic Reinterpretation of Italian Versatility

Designed by Jungtaek Cho, IED Torino Graduate

The FIAT X1/9 Tributo reimagines one of Italy’s most beloved sports cars through a modern lens. Created by Jungtaek Cho, a transportation design graduate from IED Torino, the project celebrates Fiat’s heritage while embracing the evolving lifestyles of today’s drivers. It’s a study in how design can balance emotion, practicality, and individuality, the very essence of Italian motoring.

A Tribute to Heritage and Lifestyle

Rooted in the philosophy of La Dolce Vita, living beautifully and effortlessly, the X1/9 Tributo pays homage to Fiat’s iconic past. Drawing inspiration from the original X1/9, a lightweight and joyful mid-engine sports car, Cho’s reinterpretation channels the same free-spirited energy, updated for a world that values versatility and sustainability.

Design Concept: Between Emotion and Utility

The project began with a simple but powerful idea, the way the X1/9’s panels opened like a picnic box. This image of leisure and spontaneity became the foundation of the Tributo’s form language. Cho extended this notion through an unexpected influence, Crocs sandals, known for their lightness, modularity, and playful customization.

The result is a car that invites personalization. Its body integrates functional “add-on holes”, allowing owners to attach accessories such as lighting elements or roof racks, adapting the vehicle to different lifestyles.

Exterior: Lightness with an Iconic Touch

The X1/9 Tributo’s exterior design radiates calmness and fluidity. Its soft, continuous surfaces replace sharp edges, yet the classic wedge profile remains intact, a respectful nod to the original.

Front: The fascia incorporates a pattern inspired by Fiat’s historic Lingotto rooftop test track, merging heritage with function.Side: Transparent full-glass doors express openness, while the modular side panels enhance practicality and creative freedom.Rear: Perhaps the most charming detail, the “Picnic Box” trunk, detaches and converts into a portable picnic case. Once removed, the rear structure forms a bench, a perfect invitation to pause and enjoy the outdoors.

Customisation and Lifestyle Integration

Cho’s vision extends beyond aesthetics. The X1/9 Tributo allows users to shape their car to fit their world, minimalist for the urban dweller, accessorized for adventure, or enhanced with an Abarth performance kit for those chasing pure driving emotion.

This adaptability defines what Cho calls “romantic practicality”, a balance of beauty, emotion, and everyday usefulness that feels unmistakably Italian.

Conclusion

The FIAT X1/9 Tributo isn’t just a reinterpretation; it’s a manifesto for what future Fiat design could be, human, joyful, and deeply personal. By bridging nostalgia and modernity, Cho’s work reminds us that design, at its best, doesn’t only move people, it connects them to moments, memories, and meaning