Ask The Best And Brightest: Can This Product Plan Keep Fiat-Chrysler Going?

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

According to Automotive News [sub]’s latest breakdown of Chrysler-Fiat’s product plans, a lot has changed since the big Five Year Plan product cadence guide was released in late 2009 [ PDF here]. The Chrysler brand’s C-segment offering appears to have been pushed back a year, its 2014MY B-segment car is AWOL and there’s no sign of a planned MY2014 “Midsized Crossover” or T&C. Planned MY2013 “Major Modifications” for Ram Light Duty, Heavy Duty and Chassis Cab are also nowhere in sight, although the “under consideration” MY2012 minivan-based pickup is back on, likely for MY2014. A MY2012 Challenger refresh is also off, according to these plans. And what’s taking up the slack? Alfa Romeos, and lots of them. Sergio and company didn’t mention Alfas during the seven hours of PowerPoint presentations back in late ’09, but it’s clear that his priority is on bringing Alfa’s 5-door subcompact MiTo, Giulietta compact, Giulia midsizer and Compact CUV to the US. Which means the cupboard will be largely bare over the next year, and thereafter another rush of products will launch across all six mass-market brands. Chrysler’s sales are growing at the moment, but can this plan maintain the momentum? The folks in Auburn Hills certainly hope so…


Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Obruni Obruni on Aug 09, 2011

    so Dodge is getting a compact based on a Fiat. is that Fiat the Bravo? if the T-Jet engine carries over, it should be competitive with the Focus.

  • Obruni Obruni on Aug 09, 2011

    also, I don't see a Wrangler diesel listed up there. boooooooooo

    • Pete Zaitcev Pete Zaitcev on Aug 09, 2011

      The problem with diesel enthusiasts is that they talk loudly on the Internet, but when it's time to buy, they only buy a little bit of the cheapest garbage like decontented Jettas. How much do you think diesel Wrangler is going to cost? With a 50-state diesel, too? I bought my Wrangler with cash. I would have considered diesel, mostly because of improved range (2D fuel tank is rather small), but I need a 50-state diesel, no piss tank, and above all the reliability and dependability. I take this thing 50, 70 miles from the nearest human settlement, far outside of range of cellphones and tow trucks.

  • Getacargetacheck Getacargetacheck on Aug 09, 2011

    I would be very surprised if Chrysler put off introducing a new minivan until MY2015. Automotive News could be wrong.

  • Vcficus Vcficus on Aug 09, 2011

    In their (limited) defense I don't see the Dodge C-segment (PF) listed; it's "due" to launch in Jan 2012 in Belvidere off of the Alfa Guilia platform and end up replacing a lot of the iffy Jeep platforms too on spin offs. I say "due" because it's at least 6 months behind... I hear stories of repeated delays due to styling changes but I can't imagine who has the clout to do that at Chrysler. ;-0 Same is true of their Liberty replacement in Toledo... 3 to 6 months late.

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