The Fiats are coming: Up to seven Fiat vehicles for North America
01/26/2009, 1:43 PM
By Andrew Ganz
Products from the planned Chrysler-Fiat alliance announced last week are coming into view. North America would likely get seven Fiat-engineered models sold under the Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat and Alfa Romeo brands. The domestic-badged vehicles would likely be built in North American assembly plants and sold through Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealers.
The plan includes building vehicles on four Fiat platforms ranging from the microcar to midsize segments. Automotive News reports that both Fiat and Chrysler hope to hammer out the last details by the end of April.
Chrysler will start with retooling its Toluca, Mexico, factory, which will have assembly floor space when the PT Cruiser goes out of production later this year. The factory also builds the Dodge Journey, but that vehicle will stay in production for the foreseeable future.
In the minicar segment, Fiat will supply the 500 – likely built in Mexico – as well as a five-door hatchback based on the next-generation Panda. The five-door hatchback will be sold as a Chrysler or a Dodge and, if the current Panda (pictured) is any indication, the vehicle would compete strongly against the Ford Fiesta.
In the subcompact segment, North America should get the Alfa Romeo MiTo premium subcompact – which would compete against the Volksagen GTI and Audi A3 – as well as a Chrysler or Dodge-branded vehicle probably based off of the same platform but built in North America.
The C-segment, or compact segment, would see a Dodge Caliber replacement built on Fiat’s C-Evo platform. The upcoming Alfa Romeo 149 would also be sold in North America.
In the midsized segment, a stretched version of the compact segment architecture would underpin a Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger replacement that would spawn a plug-in hybrid variant. The Chrysler 200C show car exhibited in Detroit could form the basis for the midsize sedan’s style.
The agreement between Fiat and Chrysler should be signed by March 31 if everything goes as planned.
In exchange for the platforms, Fiat would receive the Journey crossover and a version of the Dodge Dakota to sell in emerging markets, according to Automotive News. Fiat would also likely gain access to Chrysler’s upcoming, modern “Phoenix” V6 engine family.
Distribution for Alfa Romeo is still unclear. It’s likely that the 159 and Brera would make their way over to North America at the same time as the MiTo and 149, but the likelihood of Alfa Romeos being sold through existing Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep dealers seems in doubt. To compete with established German, Japanese and Swedish brands, Alfa Romeo will need a sales and marketing force equipped to contend with premium car buyers.
01/26, 1:48 PM
posted by:
Struggle
Fix It Again Paco?
01/26, 1:54 PM
posted by:
Borat
As much as I would love to see FIAT on our side of the pond again, I really not looking forward for it to be screwed together in Mexico. It haven’t worked well for VW and Nissan. All their cars build south of the border are of piss poor quality. This will not elevate neither FIAT nor Chrysler in public eye and will be delay of inevitable: death of Chrysler. Why those involved prefer Chinese water torture to honorable harakiri is beyond me.
01/26, 1:59 PM
posted by:
anti-believer
LOLMAO @ Struggle.
Sorry but this isn’t going to save Chrysler not one bit. None of those Fiats rebadged as Chrysler/Dodge are going to sell.
01/26, 2:04 PM
posted by:
CADDY-V
If any of them look like the one in the picture I can tell you keep them out of the U.S.
Chrysler managment couldn’t have smiled when they saw that car
01/26, 2:23 PM
posted by:
TomF
That orange car in the picture is the 2015 Viper.
01/26, 2:26 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
I wanna see the 1998 Fiat Multipla on US shores NOW!
01/26, 2:27 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Well at least the dwarfs will be happy knowing there’s a model for each of them though I think Snow White would still prefer her prince show up in a white Charger.
01/26, 2:38 PM
posted by:
CADDY-V
TomF that’s fu**ing funny, but probably true.
01/26, 2:38 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
i have 2 questions! how much/cheap will they be? and, will the panda 4×4 come here?
01/26, 3:09 PM
posted by:
CarCzarCdn
What they should do, is create a new Top Hat for that model based on the Hornet Concept. They’ve been shopping for someone to supply the underpinnings for that vehicle for a while and this might just be the answer.
01/26, 3:14 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
As History will tell us, European companies (sans VW and the luxury brands) have all failed in the US market (I’m thinking Mercur-Citroen-Alfa the first time-MG-Yugo-new Saturn lineup-Renault-ect). Look for failure again, but at least it’s going to keep some of these plants running for now, that’s a great sign. Who knows though? With them being produced here, it may not have that exchange rate problem that the other companies faced, so pricves would be able to stay reasonably cheap.
01/26, 3:38 PM
posted by:
nickkop
this is the lifeline chrysler just may have needed. stop making those big ugly boats that are excuses for cars and SUV’s with horrible fuel economy, and take the advice from your new european cousin, the much needed improved styling, quality, (desirability), economy and practicality will naturally result in a revival for this auto group.
01/26, 3:44 PM
posted by:
nickkop
this may mean quite a mean comeback for the SRT-4, but i wonder what will come of the rest of the SRT line ? chrysler may need to come up with a nice line of smaller displacement direct injection, 4, 6 and maybe even 8 cylinder motors… how about a 2.5 D.I. turbo V6 or a 3.5 – 3.7 SMALL D.I. (turbo!?) V8 HEMI (may be the only way to avoid its probable / inevitable cease of existence)
01/26, 6:08 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
O horrible, o horrible, most horrible….
01/26, 6:39 PM
posted by:
NRG
That is one ugly looking car. Who is going to buy that econobox? Fiat could have designed something a little better. Now the 500 Abarth might be worth looking at.
01/26, 7:28 PM
posted by:
g93
thats a freakin ugly car…i wonder if any ferraris will make it over here
01/26, 7:41 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
Does anyone else see the other news in this? If they are right, then the whole idea that Chrysler would get rid of the Chrysler nameplate is over, it was once reported that all new models would be branded Dodges.
And that orange model is the last generation, not the one we’d see.
01/26, 8:26 PM
posted by:
gogogodzilla
Sweet!
The Alfa Romeo MiTo is coming to the states.
Happy Day, oh Happy day!
01/26, 10:37 PM
posted by:
g93
yeah im excited for the Mito
01/27, 9:26 AM
posted by:
Dangerous1
As wonderful as the Alfa MiTo is, American’s just won’t accept it. Unfortunately, Americans only want large, comfortable gas guzzling vehicles with familiar nameplates. If they can’t afford a new American land barge they will buy a used one. For the drivers that demand economy and reliability, they buy Toyotas and Hondas.
How many American – European hybrids have been successful in the USA? FIat / Alfa Romeo brands have been largely forgotten here and those who remember them think of poor quality, buzzy little cars when they think of Fiat and Alfa Romeo conjures up visions of “The Graduate” and some exotic that’s beautiful with poor reliability.
Merkur XR4Ti & Scorpio, Renault Alliance, Encore & Medallion, Eagle Premier, Saturn Aura, Astra & VUE,
Ford Fiesta to name a few were / are all failures and I’m afraid that the Chrysler / Fiat alliance may be also.
01/27, 11:30 AM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
Dangerous1, you’re wrong. The MINI is the closest thing the US has to the MiTo, and they can’t keep them on the lot even in this economic climate. The Volkswagen GTI is also selling well. Americans do want small luxury from Europe; it will just depend on how the marketing is handled. if they put the Alfas at an Alfa-branded dealership, and don’t try to stick them on the corner of a Chrysler lot, it will work — the same way that BMW often puts MINIs in their own bespoke dealer rather than mix them with the bimmers.
01/27, 8:37 PM
posted by:
Gundy
HA! TomF just hit a homerun. I love these odd little vehicles. There is definitely room in the US for Chrysler-Fiats made in Mexico and Canada (”North America”).
01/26, 2:10 PM
posted by:
AarOOOOn
Sorry folks, but smaller cars are the future. Get your Hemi while you can, because it is going the way of the dinosaur. I’m looking forward to the Italian offerings, though like many, I’m not too keen on the “Hecho in Mexico” cars. If I’m going to be driving a European car, let it be made in Europe. And don’t put an ugly crosshair grill on a Fiat and call it a Dodge. The Mito GTA looks fun as hell to drive. Get some quality econo cars and hot hatches over here before I just play it safe and get a GTI.