Bailout Watch 452: ChryCo/Fiat's U.S. Six Pack?

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

Automotive News [sub] provides “tantalizing hints” (source?) about which six vehicles “could be” built in Chrysler factories and sold in Chrysler dealerships under their Italian brand names. At the U.S. taxpayer’s expense. [NB: Count the above Panda Jeep twice for two different engine permutations (1.2 and 1.4-liter) in the new Chrysler tradition.]

• Fiat 500 minicar: Big hit, retro hatch, possible Mini [ED: MINI] fighter


• Alfa Romeo MiTo: Stylish 3-door hatchback


• Alfa Romeo Milano: Compact sedan, will replace current Alfa 147


• Alfa Romeo Giulia: Sleek mid-size sedan, will replace current Alfa Romeo 159


• Alfa Romeo compact SUV: Compact utility vehicle hinges on Alfa Romeo’s re-entry into U.S.



Robert Farago
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  • Joeaverage Joeaverage on Mar 24, 2009

    Hey I think the Fiat/Chrysler marriage could really work. Look up the Fiat product line at Fiat UK. Now do the same with the Chrysler USA lineup. Their products compliment each other well. Both have quirky styling, both need the kind of products that the other sells. Do I really think it COULD work. No. I don't think Americans are going to line up to buy quirky compacts from Italy. We are primarily a herd of sheeple and we typically lineup behind 4-5 brands and not even all of the products in those brands. Do I want it to work? Absolutely. I'd appreciate more variety on the American roads. More clever small cars showing that a 5,000 lb 4WD SUV is not always required. We too often choose the wrong "tool" for our commuter/grocery shopping duties. We just don't embrace quirky very well here. We mostly embrace what our friends, neighbors and relatives embrace. Anything too different than a mighty truck or SUV (even for powerpuff duty) is a POS automatically. My concern about buying a Chrysler or Fiat would as usual be about how good the product was holding up at 150K miles, not duing initial quality surveys when the factory was still providing a warranty.

  • Tyler Armstrong Tyler Armstrong on Nov 11, 2010

    Fiat is simply looking for an entrance back into the US market.

  • MaintenanceCosts It's going to have to go downmarket a bit not to step on the Land Cruiser's toes.
  • Lorenzo Since EVs don't come in for oil changes, their owners don't have their tires rotated regularly, something the dealers would have done. That's the biggest reason they need to buy a new set of tires sooner, not that EVs wear out tires appreciably faster.
  • THX1136 Always liked the Mustang though I've never owned one. I remember my 13 yo self grabbing some Ford literature that Oct which included the brochure for the Mustang. Using my youthful imagination I traced the 'centerfold' photo of the car AND extending the roof line back to turn it into a small wagon version. At the time I thought it would be a cool variant to offer. What was I thinking?!
  • GregLocock That's a bodge, not a solution. Your diff now has bits of broken off metal floating around in it.
  • The Oracle Well, we’re 3-4 years in with the Telluride and right around the time the long term durability issues start to really take hold. This is sad.
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