The Fiat Cinquecento (Type 170) (, ) is a front engine front-wheel-drive, four passenger, three door hatchback city car, manufactured and marketed by Fiat from 1991 to 1998 over a single generation. It was manufactured at Fiat Auto Poland, which had manufactured its predecessor the Fiat 126. Production of the Cinquecento ended in 1998 with the introduction of the Fiat Seicento. Design The origins of the Cinquecento trace to the early 1980s, with focused research projects of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche in Rome, studying a super-economical vehicle – from which a series of prototypes evolved, with abbreviations X1/72 to X1/79. In parallel, FSM, not yet under FIAT's ownership, was studying the BOSMAL, a small car project that would culminate in the concept Beskid 106. Acquisition of FSM by the Italian automotive group led to the abandonment of this prototype in favor of a car that incorporated some of the concepts of the X1/7 series of previous years (until 1993 the cars produced in Poland were marketed as FSM rather than FIAT models). Notably, Patrick Le Quément, Renault's chief designer, sought similar inspiration from the BOSMAL study, resulting in the first generation Renault Twingo. Launched in December 1991 to replace the Fiat 126, the Cinquecento was designed by Ermanno Cressoni in collaboration with Antonio Piovano; the interior was designed by Claudio Mottino and Giuseppe Bertolusso. The Cinquecento featured independent suspension front and in the rear, front disc brakes, side impact beams, crumple zone and galvanized body panels. Steering was unassisted rack and pinion. Options included central locking, power windows, sunroof, full-length retractable canvas roof, split rear seat, headlight range adjustment, and air conditioning. The right hand drive version for the British market was launched in June 1993, as one of the few city cars marketed in the UK. Engines The Cinquecento was initially available with two engine choices, with the 1.1 L FIRE or "sporting" joining the lineup later. Although the 704 cc engine was mounted longitudinally, the bigger units were fitted transversely, making the little Fiat one of the few cars in the world available with both configurations at the same time. 704 cc The smallest engine, intended for sale in Poland only, was a 704 cc OHV two cylinder unit, delivering or with catalyst. Cinquecento inherited this unit from the 126p BIS, an evolution of the 126p which was cancelled when the Cinquecento production started. In order to