It’s really true, Alfa will be back in the US. Huh. This also means that the Chrysler dealers remaining will have about, two too many brands now. GM gets rid of brands while Chrysler just keeps bringing more to the party!

^^^Sad truth though is Chrysler is about perfect on brands right now – if they were good cars that’s another story, but how it’s setup – minus the Sebring/Avenger and Caliber Trio – you’ve got a premium brand, a volume brand and a off-road SUV brand. That’s all you need.

JakeK66, the Chrysler nameplate might actually be dropped by Fiat, according to what LLN reported a few days ago. I can’t see that happening, but who knows.

Bring us the MiTo!

Maybe so Jake, but while GM is talking about speeding up the decision making process Fiat/Chrysler have apparently already made their decisions and are executing on them. And I don’t think there’s going to be an issue with the extra brands. According to an earlier article it sounds like each one will be quite independent of the other in terms of product. One thing for sure, if you go into a Chrysler showroom in a few years and it’s been a while since your last visit things are going to look very different.

So does this mean no 200C? Or will the Sebring hold on like a Lexus ES350 to the 200C’s IS350? Roughly the same size but very different market targets.

The Chrysler brand won’t go, as they have mentioned in the article that there will be a next generation Sebring, plus, developement of the 2011 Chrysler 300 is too far along and they won’t cancel the best selling model in the portfolio.

No Blakkarr – The Sebring name will just be changed to 200C – they won’t make more than one midsize sedan and it will definately be FWD. I doubt any of those names (Sebring/Caliber/Journey) will be spared, save maybe the Liberty.

Can someone explain why it takes approximately 2 years to get existing Fiat products over here in the US? I understand crash testing requirements etc etc…but 2 years? Seems like a long time to do not much.

Please feel free to enlighten me…

Since they are building them in the US – they have to retool the plants to make these models. In all reality two years is pretty fast given all they have to do to make it US-friendly and design the Hornet.

I think if I were a Chrysler dealer, I would be happy right now, JohnnyC, so I see what you are saying. I just hope these cars are reliable because even some small reliability problems, quirks, or whatever could drag this entire thing down. They are on a short leash with people around here, so I think they have to get it right the first time or they will fail.

whatever they do, if they try to rebadge the wrangler as a fiat i will personally invade italy

No Jeep Panda, or Large SUV from Alfa… Really. It won’t happen.

Alfa’s are gonna be built on Jeep Liberty platorms in Toledo, Ohio, by Klinger’s grandkids.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=news/local&id=6872538

I feel sorry for FIAT 500. Being destined to assemble in Mexico sort of guarantees sub par quality to a great design.

I DON’T WANT A DAMN ALFA SUV! And the “Jeep” Panda should remain as a Fiat, over here.
Here is my dream new-Chrysler line-up.
Dodge: Volume brand. Competes with: Chevy, Ford, Honda, Toyota, Nissan.
Hornet-Build on the 500 platform, but make it cheaper than the 500 and different engines but NO SRT version if the Abarth 500 comes here.
Charger-Keep it the way it is but please offer a manual trans because the SRT8 charger is great but no manual?
Challenger-Pretty much fine the way it is.
Grand Caravan-It still sells so why change it?
Ram-Perfect right now.
Chrysler: Uber luxury brand. Competes with Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Lamborghini (if they build the Estoque), Maybach, etc. Main engine will be a new version of the Hemi (maybe supercharged_
200C-Try shortening the LX platform a bit so it’ll compete head-to-head with the Porsche Panamera, Aston Martin Rapide.
Imperial-Fine the way it is but wayyyyyy more luxurious and bigger.
Jeep: Off-road brand, except for the Compass, Patriot, they are fine.
Fiat: Two cars are just enough.
500-Fine as it is.
Panda-Bring it over.
Alfa Romeo: More luxurious.
Giulia (159 replacement)-heard it will have a Maserati sourced platform and that’s what it should be. GTA version as well.
Brera- fine the way it is, make a new GTA version. Spider will be the vert version.
MiTo-Perfect the way it is.
Milano (147 replacement)-Perfect as well.
Spider Sprint- shortened Giulia.
Boy, what a long list.

When I saw the preview of this article, I was hoping to come out of it salivating for new models… the key model I was interested in was the Alfa..

Then they said a rude three letter word….SUV…

Come join the party they said…..Make some sales they said……

Chrysler: Uber luxury brand ….what ?! FIAT has Maserati Quattroporte for that, way easier to turn that into a Maybach or Panamera competitor than to risk it with Chrysler. it may work in the US , but you saw what happened when manufacturers focused only on US sales.

Looks like Fiat already has the perfect vehicle on which to base the Hornet:

http://www.fiat.com/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/FIAT_COM/showroom/showroom.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0608884580.1245458779@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccchadehiflkhgmcefecejgdfkhdfjk.0&modelKey=300

Okaaaaay, yup, not looking too good at this point… No sir…

No More Oil for Toyota, don’t forget the bet;-) [^^..money down against your claim..^^] While it may only be figurative (I know, all your ‘real’ money went to bail out GM:-)))… still… Don’t make a fool out of me man lol:-)) Just sayin’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuAVgWJ28Hw&feature=fvw

DB9;-))

Path, 2 years is a pretty short time. Sure you can test them somewhat quickly but they need to have major revisions like 2.5 mph bumpers. US specific testing like offset barriers that will take major structural revisions to pass.

Borat proves he’s a complete idiort ignorant to anything related to building automobiles.

Whether a car is assembled in the US, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Japan, or anywhere else has NO difference.

The difference between a crap car and a great car is in the engineering, and the quality of parts from the suppliers. A German built VW is just as crappy as a Mexican built VW! Some of the best cars in the world are built in Canada… but not because Canadian assembly line workers are so great, it’s because those cars are extremely well engineered!!! (Crown Vic, Impala, Charger, etc.)

Borat..sorry to say mexican workforce is very good, trained and more educated than many MANY of your average american worker…plus I’m sure they’re not thinking about planning the next strike all the time…

There are some fine VW made in Mexico, I think thet Olds307 has some idea, although we used to own a canadian-built equinox and well..it wasn’t as sturdy as other cars we’ve had, but a fine SUV after all, and I agree that it could’ve been due to poor design rather than manufacture, I agree that canadian cars are very good.

I’m sad to say that the only thing sub-par is your nickname…I’m sure you’re identical to that ignorant f_ck.

@ olds307 “… and the quality of parts from the suppliers.” – duh !

Cancel the Jeep Panda and use that platform for probably a next gen PT Cruiser or sell it the way it is.

@ save saab right on and im with f50 no panda please!

Olds307, Crown Vic, Impala, Charger, etc…Some of the best cars in the world? Not sure.
F50, they don’t need to cancel Jeepanda. Cause there isn’t any.

When 159 was presented there were complains that the car was handling heavier than a sporty Alfa should. The Italians listened and reduced it about 100 lbs.
The Mito is goning to have a GTA sport edition.
The new 147 (149 or Milano) will also have a GTA edition.
Decisions of the previous years and future (not hypothetical) projects are clearly suggesting that Alfa Romeo returns back to it’s roots.
How does a GrandCheerokee-based SUV fits in the picture? Well.. It doesn’t.

Fiat on the same side is focused at SMALL SIZED cars for the last 5 years, at least, and there is no indication of any new car on any category above.
The target for Lancia (Fiats luxury brand) is an icrease in sales through REASONABLE PRICED cars based on small Fiats.
Recently rejuvenated Abarth, which is AFFORTABLE sport editions of small cars.
So Fiat is back to it’s roots too doing what they now best building affortable good looking small cars…
How is a jeepanda justified then? Americans don’t like, either need tiny city cars. Europeans who appreciate jeep only for it’s character and authenticity won’t buy it either. Who do they build it for. Well… They won’t.

I honeslty don’t understand why LLN published those speculations! They are completely out of reality.

This is all exciting stuff actually.

I doubt you’ll be seeing Alfa dealers anytime soon. Way too much $$$ to establish such a dealer network.

Think it’s awesome for AMERICANS to produce Alfas.

Who is asking for a next-generation Sebring? Hertz?

Is Fiat following in Chrysler’s footsteps by just looking at crossovers and SUVs? Where are the cars? The only real “car” that they mention as a true Chrysler/Dodge nameplate is the Hornet. If they don’t get to cars, I don’t think they’ll do as well as Fiat was hoping.

Now that they might be built in the US, I don’t want a MiTO anymore.