Bailout Watch 452: ChryCo/Fiat's U.S. Six Pack?
Published: March 23rd, 2009
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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
More by Robert Farago
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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.
Fiat is simply looking for an entrance back into the US market.