Chrysler and Fiat's newest agreement, which involves Fiat buying a 35 percent stake in Chrysler is going to lead to seven new fiat based cars making their way to the US.
According to unnamed sources four of the vehicles will be sold under the Chrysler brand and three will either be Alfa Romeos or Fiats. The official plan that will be announced on April 30th involves four Fiat platforms, a minicar, a subcompact, a compact and a mid-sized sedan. Chrysler's plants in the US are being tasked with producing the vehicles. Chrysler's Toluca, Mexico plant, which currently builds the soon to be killed PT Cruiser is going to produce the Fiat 500.
According to the Automotive News, under the plan its expected that Chrysler dealers will get two minicars, the Fiat 500 and a Dodge or Chrysler branded vehicle based on the Fiat Panda.
The subcompact segment will see the introduction of the Alfa Romeo MiTo and another Chrysler or Dodge branded vehicle.
A new compact car based Fiat’s C-Evo platform will likely replace the Dodge Caliber.
Lastly a replacement for the under performing Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger will be based on a stretched version of the C-Evo platform.
In case you are wondering what Fiat is going to get out of this deal, besides entry into the North American market, Fiat is going to sell the Dodge Journey and Dakota pickup in South America. In addition Fiat is going to use Chrysler's new Phoenix V6 engine in its own products.
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Fiat 500 May Make it to the U.S. in 2010...Thanks to Chrysler
Comments (14)
Meh, can't be worse than Chrysler's current cars.
Posted by gm0n3y | January 26, 2009 12:08 PM
Posted on January 26, 2009 12:08
This car (picture) is what the VW Polo should of been. Good luck to Chrysler; if you can't beat them, buy them!
At least Chrysler may have an instant line of cars with good history. Now what is the new company called: Fiysler or Chryat??
Bring in on! lol, except that ugly Fiat 500 - throw it away.
Posted by sparky | January 26, 2009 1:02 PM
Posted on January 26, 2009 13:02
This seems like a definite win for Chrysler. If they can stay afloat until this deal materializes, then I must admit Chrysler may be poised for a turnaround. Chrysler's small car offerings are merely adequate while the competition has surpassed them in every measurable factor. If (and a big if at that) Cerebus is serious about the long term viability of Chrysler, then the addition of Fiat's smaller platforms will do wonders for Chrysler's image (this is not the Fiat of old, but rather very competent, reliable, platforms that Europe has had the privilege of driving
Posted by longdxcommuter | January 26, 2009 1:56 PM
Posted on January 26, 2009 13:56
Given Renault was able to save Nissan, I don't really see any reason why this couldn't be very successful. Fiat, in fact, is stronger than Renault was at the time.
Posted by Satoshi | January 26, 2009 7:28 PM
Posted on January 26, 2009 19:28
Moreover, Fiat's cars are currently drastically more competitive than the Mitsubishi's that all of Chrysler's small to mid-size cars are based on.
Posted by Satoshi | January 26, 2009 7:35 PM
Posted on January 26, 2009 19:35
I wonder if all the 80s Alfa Romeos will go up in value. They are pratically worthless right now and yet they are great cars.
Posted by Cashmoney | January 27, 2009 2:00 AM
Posted on January 27, 2009 02:00
Please bring back Alfa !!!
Posted by Mark Ross | January 27, 2009 8:00 AM
Posted on January 27, 2009 08:00
This is great news! I rode in / drove a number of alfa romeo's while I was living in southern France and absolutely fell in love with them...but that was 8 years ago, I hope the same quality and attention to the driver is still prevalent today within Fiat.
Posted by Hero of Canton | January 27, 2009 10:59 AM
Posted on January 27, 2009 10:59
@ Hero of Canton,
You know they'll be dumbed down in handling dynamics and quality for the US market, especially since they're going to be built here and in Mexico.
Posted by Noya | January 27, 2009 12:34 PM
Posted on January 27, 2009 12:34
I certainly would not mind a return to the US market of the Alfa Romeo's spider... fun good looking car....
Posted by joe | January 27, 2009 2:33 PM
Posted on January 27, 2009 14:33
Have fiat gone mad ... partner chrysler!!! ... why cant they do it on their own? ... ? I bet the chrysler management is just laughing
Posted by Stig | January 27, 2009 6:58 PM
Posted on January 27, 2009 18:58
More news boding well for the US pocket rocket market.
And It's about time... one more excursion of gas prices over $3.50 and the US car market will be permanently skewed away from the Huge POS SUV dominated market it was in the past and toward the more European small car dominated market.
Posted by Dave K | January 28, 2009 6:14 AM
Posted on January 28, 2009 06:14
Maybe this will balance out the bloat that Chryler's last partner infused into the portfolio.
Posted by bubba551 | January 28, 2009 1:14 PM
Posted on January 28, 2009 13:14
There is one thing I would like to see with this adoption of Fiat. An unchanged Fiat 500 from the Europe version to the US market. This 500 has received really good reviews.
Posted by Steven | March 8, 2009 3:17 PM
Posted on March 8, 2009 15:17