Marchionne Reveals Future North American Product
Plans for Chrysler, Fiat, Alfa-Romeo
The Chrysler Group’s turnaround since emerging from bankruptcy in 2009 has been nothing short of remarkable. The first step of the triage process was to apply massive improvements to the current product lineup in the form of much-improved interior design and materials, and new and improved power trains. The Dodge Dart compact is the first complete product from the Fiat-Chrysler marriage, and the first of many to come. In a summary extract from an upcoming feature in its July issue, Automobile magazine shares a few tantalizing tidbits about the company’s future product plans.
Many of the details have already been discussed or rumored, but some surprises include the discontinuation of the Dodge Durango in favor of a revived Jeep Grand Wagoneer, which will carry on the role of a three-row SUV in the company’s lineup, as well as the end of the line for the Dodge Avenger sedan, in favor of a next-generation Chrysler 200. To round out the product offerings in the combined corporate Chrysler Group showrooms, Chrysler will also get a 100 hatchback model close in size to the Dodge Dart, likely also sharing a platform with the Alfa-Romeo Giulietta.
Much to the delight of compact enthusiasts everywhere, we also get confirmation of an SRT4 version of the new Dart compact sedan, and the surprise announcement of a possible SRT6 version of the Journey midsize crossover. The Fiat 500 family will grow exponentially with the addition of the L crossover model, as well as an 500 XL seven-seat model, the 500 X Fouristrada, a platform mate of the forthcoming Jeep Jeepster, as well as a 500 Zagato, a coupe model based on the concept car shown at the 2011 Geneva show.
Finally, we get a confirmation of the full-fledged return of Alfa Romeo to the U.S. market in calendar 2013, with six models. Among the highlights for the new Alfa line is a new MiTo, this time as a four-door model, the 4C Coupe and Spyder, a crossover related to the aforementioned fiat 500 X and Jeepster, a next-generation Giulietta, a Giulia sedan and sportwagon, and the recently-announced Spider to be co-developed with Mazda. Maserati will also get an SUV based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which may not be called the Kubang, as well as a sedan smaller than the Quattroporte, reportedly named the Maseratina.
Not (yet) revealed in the extract was the rumor of a revived Barracuda under the SRT brand, as we reported in our April Issue. The extract claims the Challenger will carry on in 2014, still sharing a platform with the 300 and Charger, as does the current Challenger. This opens up the possibility of the Challenger and Barracuda being sold concurrently, giving Chrysler two muscle cars among its offerings, a larger coupe cruiser in the form of the Challenger, and a presumably smaller, more performance-focused Barracuda, which is rumored to carry a 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V-8, among its engine offerings. |
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