Now How Much Would You Pay? $62,000 for a Charger Edition

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Unnamed Global Insight analysts are shooting their mouths off to Autocar, peddling their unique brand of humor as inside information on Chrysler-Fiat product plans. The big punchline? A forthcoming Alfa-Romeo 169 will be lovingly assembled in Brampton, Ontario, on a Dodge Charger platform. And what, you might ask, is the asking price for this hypothetical bella macchina? A cool $62 grand. And that’s US dollars, mind you. Which would be a steal of a deal if it looks like a four-door 8C Competizione and rocks the 8C’s Ferrari-sourced engine. But that’s the Bob Lutz of “ifs.” Hard to believe and impossible to ignore. Let’s hope this is all simply a joke that occurred to the Global Insight guys over a weekend of heavy drinking. Otherwise, we’d also have to believe that the Cinquecento (Chryco’s great Italian hope) will peak at 25k units sold per year in 2015. For comparison, BMW’s MINI sold over 54k units last year (and projecting increases), per Automotive News [sub]. Fiat is refusing comment.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Robert Schwartz Robert Schwartz on Jun 16, 2009

    Ed: Thanks for the h/t. I figure the Charger/300 platform is kind of a cut rate E class, so the project might make sense. But, I don't see how they can get it done in less than 30 months. Can they cling to life that long? Maybe they figure that BO has to fund them through 2012. As for motors, the Maserati V8 would be sweet, but the Hemi might be cheaper and quicker to market (they have the mounting points solved).

  • Djn Djn on Jun 16, 2009

    @Robert Schwartz I imagine the Alfa engineers could do great things with the platform. Look at what they achieved with the 9000/thema/164. I wouldn't expect the Hemi motor, pushrod v8? no way in a Alfa.

  • Windswords Windswords on Jun 16, 2009

    ajla: "I think it’s a good platform despite its age." Yes it is. But the 300/Charger won't be used for the Alfa 169. The 169 will based off the NEW 300/Charger platform that is coming out in 2011. That's why the new Alfa is being planned for the same time frame. I know, I know. Chrysler is supposed to be a dead company with no new products in sight. It's uh, uh, all a dream. Yea, that's it! Just a dream. Like the new V6 that will power these new (oops, fictional) cars.

  • Moedaman Moedaman on Jun 16, 2009
    Sergio Marchionne, a fan of component sharing, entered talks with Daimler in October 2007. Daimler wanted a partner who specialised in small cars to develop a new platform that would be used as a base for the next generation of Mercedes-Benz and Smart small cars. In return, Fiat would gain access to Mercedes’ rear wheel drive platforms. For a while it looked almost certain that a deal was going to go through, with the 169 to be based on the next generation Mercedes E-class. However in December 2007, after almost two months of negotiations, the talks broke down. Daimler stated ‘differences of opinion’ as the main reason for the failure to come to an agreement. Daimler probably wanted new Fiat platforms in exchange for last gen Daimler platforms. Daimler wouldn't share new tech with Chrysler, why did Marchionne think he could work out a deal with them?
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