alfy28

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9090218....ructuring-plan



Chrysler has placed extraordinary reliance on its partnership with Fiat to bring itself back to profitability. The company plans to use as many as nine models from Fiat's lineup, up from the previouly reported seven. Details of Chrysler's stateside introduction of the Italian company's brands were introduced in their viability plan.

The viability plan, a detailed outline of Chrysler's reorganization, was a required element of the bailout loan agreement between the company and the U.S. government. Chrysler LLC already received $4 billion in federal loans, and they have requested an additional $5 billion.

Chrysler desperately needs compact vehicles, and gas sippers in their lineup. To accomplish this. they plan to bring the Fiat 500, Fiat Punto, and Alfa Romeo MiTo across the Atlantic. Other all-new vehicles getting interest include the Alfa Romeo Milano and Alfa Romeo Giulia as possible replacements for the 147 and 159 models. Additionally, the company will source an Alfa crossover, possibly based on the Kamal concept. A production unit of the Kamal is due in 2010.


Chrysler also plans to bring out a compact five-passenger hatchback, mid- to full-size model based on Fiat's lengthy C-Evo platform, and a model based on the large D-Evo platform.

Also being sourced from Fiat is the FIRE petrol engine line, including a 1.1-liter naturally aspirated unit and a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine. The Italian company's FAMB petrol, a 1.8-liter direct-injection turbocharged model. A similar unit is planned for the new Alfa Romeo 159, which will get about 200 hp. A better-tuned unit may provide up to 240 hp to the MiTo GTA.

Fiat is rumored to get around 25% of Chrysler LLC, and access to the Chrysler World Gas Engine and Phoenix V6 petrol engine. While these plans look like they could help, Chrysler still has not sealed the deal with Fiat. Fiat may be waiting to see if Chrysler gets the additional government funding before agreeing to the plan.

Icemark

Yeah, that sounds like it's good for the US economy and a good use of bail out finds.. bringing over Italian cars to sell instead of building the car here in the USA.

JRichter

A report I read said Fiat plans on eventually manufacturing the 500 in the US for the one's sold in North America. That probably means Mexico.

Icemark

Well GM and Chrysler for years have been building a good portion of their cars and trucks in Canada and Mexico... instead of the USA.

zoom44

yeah i still dotn get how Chrysler selling Fiats will help the US auto worker.

On the up side i just watched Top Gear with Clarkson testing the 500 Abarth



He really liked it and it seemed from watching him thrash it around to be a pretty impressive little car

"Abarth, the high-performance wing of Fiat, got to finally unveil its hotted up version of the 500 hatch at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. The 500 Abarth esseesse (that's "SS" in Italian) takes Fiat's throwback three-door and adds a road-hugging ground effects kit with a new lower front fascia, Abarth-spec 17-inch white wheels, a lowered sport suspension and, most importantly, a turbocharged 1.4L four-cylinder producing 160 hp and a peak torque rating of 170 lb-ft in "sport mode". We thought Abarth would fit the 500 esseesse with a six-speed transmission, but the specs reveal that it will be one cog short with a five-speed manual. Still, Abarth claims it will claw its way to 62 mph in 7.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 131 mph. Performance specs aside, we bet drag racing and runs to the rev limiter aren't half as much fun in the 500 esseesse as simply dashing down a twisty mountain pass."

BlueEyes

I like how chrysler named their V6 the Phoenix. Wishful thinking?

m477

Can they please bring over some of the designers from Italy? Seriously, every new Chrysler in the past 5 years or so looks like a complete turd... haven't they noticed every successful small car for the past decade has relied on being stylish to sell well? Whereas small dodge/chrysler vehicles look like ugly pickup trucks... seriously, who the hell would buy that crap? It's like the worst of both worlds.

JRichter

Agreed. Dodge Caliber comes to mind, lol.

Alfa's and Fiats probably wouldn't do much for US autoworker jobs at first but I sure would like to see some of these great looking cars make it over here. US autoworker jobs could be created when US automakers sell more desirable cars along the lines of European/Japanese ones but I think some of them have already gotten the message. The 500 is a perfect rival for Mini which sells very well here. US automakers seeing these slick little designed cars selling well over here should slowly push them into making similar type cars eventually and ween the Americans from the bigger-truck-like-is-better/small-is-cheap thinking I still see so often. Sure there is always a need for big family vehicles/trucks as America is big, expansive, rural, rugged but that's no reason the US automakers shouldn't offer a good variety. It's sad when these companies still rely on foreign car makers to make a small rebadged car for them after all these years.

JRichter

Exactly.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

chrysler getting a dual clutch transmission will definitely help their sport sales...

zoom44

but they arent going to have asports car!

dos

How dare you say Chrysler look like turds!! The styling is straight from the 80's, the golden age of cars.