For the longest time FIAT was talking about this venture as being an attempt to bring Alfa Romeo back to the states--and while fiats didn't terribly very well here before, Alfas still have their fans. There's a chance the compact could be the 147 (if that's still current, I don't keep up as I should).

Chrysler needs more than just compacts too. They need a proper family midsize--nobody wants their current offering. 6 recalls on 2008 dodge avengers last year, and their cosmetic changes to the sebring made a previously decently selling car quite undesirable. Alfa 159 maybe, or is more of a luxury thing (I honestly have no clue where all these models are aimed).

the 500 is the only model we know for sure is going to be offered, because a number are already here, and have been in promo shots/vids for some time. But I wonder a bit about engines. If I had to guess, it would be offered only in 100hp initially, with the 131hp turbo following some time later. Anything under 100hp is not going to sell terribly well here, I wouldn't think.

Well I can't wait until they release the cars in the States, at least it will be something different, thus the Italian's won't make super-massive cars like the American's with their un-economical Ford E350's and Chrysler and the blatantly copied Bentley in the form of Chrysler 300.

At least it might be the first supermini in the USA. Although I've seen a new style Mini Cooper in the States, so BMW obviously market those things made just down the road over there, too :S

The Mito is guaranteed to be sold in the States, and that gives the group a sporty three door to complement the Bravo and Linea; and I would expect the revised 149 and the soon to arrive Milano as well. They will all have the new 1.8 engines, with Multiair, in various states of tune. The Multiair 1.4 will also make it, certainly for the Fiats, possibly for the low end Mito too.

I would expect the 500 to get the new 110 twin turbo with Multiair, and a CC with the same engine, and an Abarth with about 150bhp. Unless of course they need to get this car to market very soon, in which case I'd expect the standard 1.4 and the current Abarth.

Bloomberg said today that it will be two years before Fiat has models ready for US production, but given that the Bravo took only eighteen months from the drawing board to production I'd expect this time span to be reduced, and anyway, there isn't that much time.

I've been reading up a lot on this Chrysler mess over at their blog, and other places. The bankruptcy should take 30-60 days, after which FIAT will be given 20% of the company. They will increase their share in the following ways:

• 5 percent for bringing a 40 mpg vehicle platform to Chrysler to be produced in the U.S.
• 5 percent for providing a fuel-efficient engine family to be produced in the U.S. for use in Chrysler vehicles
• 5 percent for providing Chrysler access to its vast global distribution network to facilitate the export of Chrysler vehicles.

Fiat cannot become a majority owner until after all U.S. government loans have been completely repaid.

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Really that seems fair. FIAT getting access to one of the largest car markets in the world for the price of a few crutches for Chrysler. Until the bankruptcy has completed, manufacturing has been stopped, and line workers laid off.

I doubt anybody but me is as interested as I am in all this (since I don't see too many other americans around yet) but should anybody need extra toilet reading, here's some links I've been checking:
http://www.chryslerrestructuring.com/ (bankruptcy legalese)
http://blog.chryslerllc.com/ (general Chrysler blog)
http://www.financialpost.com/news-sectors/story.html?id=1549841 (statement by FIAT about merger)
http://www.leftlanenews.com/nardelli-fiat-500-to-come-to-us.html (confirms US 500, includes info on mexican 500)

hopefully this will go much better than that mess with daimler where Chrysler got a bunch of lousy outdated tech, and was basically run into the ground. Maybe the difference this time is that FIAT needs Chrysler to stay alive--if only for it's distrobution network in the US.

I'm pretty thrilled. I've been watching that Abarth 500 top gear review for months now. Looks like a real hoot. Especially on the narrow streets we have here in New Orleans. I think the 500 will sell okay, but will mostly wind up as a niche car for urban drivers. I say niche, because it's aimed at fans of 'small but not cheap.' The Mini isn't overly popular, but makes a fine living here and I'd expect the same for the FIAT.

There has to be at least one other model, and I think it will be the Alfa Milano, which is new, possibly with another body. But what would be the point of an 'American' car with an expensive to design body when there is a large constituency of people wanting smaller European cars?

It will be interesting to see how this pans out, but there is no point in Fiat having outlets in the States unless they have a range of cars to sell in them.

The 500 is a niche product in Europe too, with the majority of small car sales going to little four door cars, including the Panda on which it is based.

I hope you get your 500 soon.

Saw this on BBC news this morning. Didnt say much, just a few second bulliten.

y2dom said:

Saw this on BBC news this morning. Didnt say much, just a few second bulliten.

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:yeahthat:
looks like they could be buying Vauxhall/Opel too

BBC; Fiat could buy Vauxhall and Opel

Well Vauxhall and Opel are owned by GM which also happens to own Chrysler. So in effect, they'd be buying out the majority of General Motors. Where do FIAT make all their money to do this?!

Oh yeah.....and how long has Chrysler been part of GM then?

PuntoSS said:

Well Vauxhall and Opel are owned by GM which also happens to own Chrysler. So in effect, they'd be buying out the majority of General Motors. Where do FIAT make all their money to do this?!

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GM owning Chrysler???

No Chrysler were owned by Daimler (pulling out now) and Cerberus Capital Management. Soon to be owned by US Govt, Chrysler mgt and Fiat.

Fiat buying Opel / Vauxhall is seperate deal:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/UKNews1/idUKTRE54307B20090504

yeah i am watching this now. It would make them the second largest car manufacturer in the world

Here's details of what engines/platforms/cars are coming to the US....

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=147427

Engines mentioned are a 1.4l petrol with multiair, and a 3.0 v6 diesel.

Platforms are the ones from the 500/Panda, GP/Mito, and the "C-Evo" which seems to be Alfa's performance version of the Bravo platform to be used in the Milano.

Cars mentioned are the 500, the "Jeep" Panda, the Grande Punto, Alfa Mito & Alfa Milano. A "Evo sedan" is also mentioned, but it's unclear to what that refers.

Thanks for the details--don't know how it's flown under my radar *l*

Jeep Panda?

That's an attention grabber and a move I really wasn't expecting. I've seen the Panda 4x4 in action, and it seemed a really capable little offroad vehicle, but I think 'subcompact' may be too big of a leap for any of Jeep's current fans.

Still, Americans used to buy a lot of really compact SUV's (Chevy/Geo Trackers, Sidekicks, RAV4's before they got bigger) so they may be going after some fresh new customers by bringing back a segment which is a little neglected and also one that Chrysler's never been a part of before.

It's probably a little more bold than I'd play it though. At least for the opening lineup. Kind of along the same lines as throwing a land rover badge on it and marketing it to the UK--there's a certain image or heritage that surrounds Jeep. I guess if for whatever reason, the worst happens and they don't sell at all, all anybody's out is the money it costs to ship them to mexico.

I wonder if the C-EVO platform isn't the Lancia Delta (elongated Bravo) one. In which case they'll probably get a Bravoesque car with good rear legroom.

Lots of Americans want the Brera, but until it gets lightened, and some better engines, it looks like they'll have to wait.

The responses on Autoblog to an admittedly mucked-about Panda Cross were ones of almost universal horror. But they mustn't try to sell it as a Jeep: it's a Fiat.

Better engines?

2.4 200bhp multijet :yum:

Ulpian said:

I wonder if the C-EVO platform isn't the Lancia Delta (elongated Bravo) one. In which case they'll probably get a Bravoesque car with good rear legroom.

Lots of Americans want the Brera, but until it gets lightened, and some better engines, it looks like they'll have to wait.

The responses on Autoblog to an admittedly mucked-about Panda Cross were ones of almost universal horror. But they mustn't try to sell it as a Jeep: it's a Fiat.

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They will cross promote vehilces under several names. Speaking of names, we won't buy Pandas as the name suggests it is built in China (is it?) and Grand Punto sounds just as sellable as Grand Vitare, hey we'll bring back Volare and Ricardo Montelban from their respective graves. Better to number them. That's why the 500 will sell better than Punto.

Ah, you just wait. Spirito di Punto is coming your way

Gran-dee Pun-tO

The responses on Autoblog to an admittedly mucked-about Panda Cross were ones of almost universal horror. But they mustn't try to sell it as a Jeep: it's a Fiat.

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Like the rest of the country, I'm still not sold on 'Jeep Panda,' and the thought of it crawling through Jeep's Rubicon Trail test course is a bit humorous. Surely though, Chrysler isn't stupid enough to sell a new product without running the name/branding past a few focus groups.

What wouldn't be a bad brand is Plymouth. The 'Plymouth Panda' would sell a lot better and not produce the same gut reaction in the population here. I guess I could clarify that 'Plymouth' was Chrysler's budget line, which was retired a few years ago. (don't know how international it was) Plymouth consisted of rebadged Dodge compacts, but were sold at Chrysler dealers to round out their lot, since Chrysler branded cars are generally larger.

The 'Plymouth Panda' sounds like a funky little SUV to buy teenage daughters so they have something to strap their surfboards to.
Kind of where Suzuki's Sidekick or Samurai used to be.

Reaperman said:

Like the rest of the country, I'm still not sold on 'Jeep Panda,' and the thought of it crawling through Jeep's Rubicon Trail test course is a bit humorous.

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I can't find the videos of panda 4x4s doing crazy s**t on you tube...sure someone else can..definitely seen them doing stuff thats pretty much unbelieveable although TBF a jeep badge would not suit it.

I think re-badging would be a bad thing. Everyone knows they're Fiats, and as such they should be sold as such. Free from the baggage that the other names come with. If they offer decent warranty that should get people over the rust worry.

Check out the grin on this guys face... a happy german!