QOTD: Take the Helm at Fiat Chrysler - What Models Get the Electrified Treatment?

As we told you yesterday, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne is spooked. He can’t count on diesel engines for fuel economy gains anymore — at least, not for long. With governments big and small braying for lower emissions and cracking down on the use of diesel vehicles, FCA’s future lineup requires a gas-sipping solution.

And so, after sitting on the fence for years, the Auburn Hills automaker (which still carries a big, albeit shrinking, debt) has given in. It’ll pour money into electrifying its lineup. In five years, 50-percent of its models should boast some form of electric propulsion, Marchionne claims.

As we’ve learned from the past, FCA’s product promises — and especially its timelines — carry a big grain of salt. But let’s say the company sticks to its goal. And, because this question can go any way the author chooses, you’re replacing Marchionne at the helm.

We already know FCA plans to make Maserati 100-percent electrified, a la Volvo. So, that takes care of a chunk of the company lineup, though far less than 50 percent. It’s up to you to decide what models, from which brands, need an electric boost to carry them into the future.

There’s no shortage of options. A 48-volt mild hybrid system — a solution increasingly favored by German automakers — is reportedly in the works at FCA, though we’ll believe it when we see it. A system like this delivers a not-astounding fuel economy increase, but can do so across a broad product range, and works well in larger vehicles — a segment FCA, like GM and Ford, counts on for revenue.

Still, that’s not the only option. Full-on hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and Chevrolet Volt-like extended-range electric vehicles all offer increasing amounts of gas-free driving, but at a cost. Given its finances, FCA needs an economical solution. Not every model can go the hybrid route. Where does a newly minted CEO go first? Should all crossovers get an available battery and electric drive motor to combat very capable offerings from Japan, or is fiddling with the Dodge Journey not worth it? Should a newer, global model like the second-generation Jeep Compass receive the hybrid love?

And what of the rest of the Jeep lineup? Is it worth it to follow through on tentative plans and drop a hybrid system into the Wrangler? What about Dodge’s rear-drive passenger cars, slated to borrow the Alfa Romeo Giulia’s platform? Acura does some very interesting things with a gasoline engine and bevy of electric motors these days — could the Charger and Challenger see a horsepower boost that also rids the models of their “dinosaur” status? Or is such a thought sacrilege?

Maybe, with the death of the Viper, FCA needs to return to the two-seat supercar fold with an electrified halo car. It’s all up to you, Best and Brightest. There’s regulators and oh-so-green city councils breathing down your neck. FCA’s your baby now. What do you do?

[Image: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]