Alfa back to the US with Chrysler?

[dcalfa]

Fiat Models Drive Chrysler - WSJ.com
Fiat Models Drive Chrysler

CEO Marchionne Will Gamble on European Products to Keep Car Maker Afloat

By KATE LINEBAUGH and NEAL E. BOUDETTE
Four months after exiting a U.S.-funded bankruptcy reorganization, Chrysler Group LLC is about to unveil a product roadmap that relies heavily on vehicles from Italian partner Fiat SpA while abandoning many of the U.S. car maker's own models.
The plan, due to be revealed Nov. 4, involves the reintroduction of Fiat's premium, sporty Alfa Romeo brand to the U.S. starting in 2012, according to people briefed on the plans. Chrysler also will introduce the 500, Fiat's tiny car that is popular in Europe, to Americans, though it won't attach the Fiat name to it.

The company meantime is preparing to phase out many of the company's current models, particularly Dodge cars.

Fiat and Chrysler are working to create several new vehicles with Fiat technology for the U.S. market, including a midsize Chrysler-brand sedan slated to be released in 2012, according to these people.

The sweeping changes, due to play out over the next two to three years, represents a big gamble for Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne, who has staked his reputation on the turnaround. Mr. Marchionne, who successfully revamped Fiat, appears to be creating a vehicle lineup that stays true to Chrysler's blue-collar muscle car and pickup truck roots while adding European-styled vehicles to attract a new, more white-collar customer...

Mr. Marchionne aims to introduce the Fiat 500 subcompact to the U.S. in 2011 as the first offering from the Italian auto maker, according to a person familiar with the company's thinking. The 500 will be the only Fiat model to come to the U.S. and will be marketed as the 500.

The Alfa Romeo products will be launched in 2012 with the MiTo subcompact hatchback, followed by a midsize sedan in early 2013 and the Alfa Milano, according to this person. These vehicles will be made in North America.

[david999]

I guess we will have to wait until November 4 to find out what the plans really are.

[Nicola]

Domani, Manana, завтра, morgen, demain, αύριο, amanhã
I want ngày nay.

[AlfaVeloce]

Free Beer tomorrow.

[Anfanuts]

I'll be there. Still waiting . . . .

[paulbinct]

waiting for the beer, the Alfas or both (maybe together?). I am waiting first for the official Chrysler/Fiat plan for the future to be released 11/4/09 - I would like to be able to read the full WSJ article published today about it, but am not a subscriber so do not have access to it.

[Anfanuts]

Check your e-mail.

Brief extract: "The plan, due to be revealed Nov. 4, involves the return of Fiat's premium, sporty Alfa Romeo brand to the U.S. starting in 2012, according to people briefed on the plans. Chrysler also will introduce to Americans the 500, Fiat's tiny car that is popular in Europe. Fiat and Chrysler also are working on several new vehicles with Fiat technology for the U.S., including a midsize Chrysler sedan slated to be released in 2012, according to these people. Meantime, Chrysler is preparing to phase out many current models, including a number of Dodge cars, the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan and several Jeeps."

This is a particularly sad commentary and an indictment of US industry and business. Sad, sad, sad . . . "Fiat has said repeatedly it won't inject any money into the U.S. company despite receiving a 20% ownership stake under its bankruptcy reorganization. Instead, Fiat is contributing technology and management expertise."


PS: the WSJ Online version has 165 comments at this writing. There seems to be some interest, probably more in Chrysler and the UAW and the bailout (more than the cars and lineup) considering the source. I'm getting another cup of coffee to digest it all.

[Anfanuts]

Yup, all the comments are about wasted taxpayeer stimulus money, politics as usual, and the cherished UAW. Typical post: "Fix It Again Tony! Is this the best anyone can do? Please shoot Chrysler in the head and end it all..please!" And more . . . "I was just thinking the other day, "What this country needs right now- other than more ACORN community organizers - is to import a lot of cars from Italy." . . . and so on . . .

PS: And here's a real shot in the back . . ." . . . The Alpha might be great in Europe. But it's a real delicate machine, not made for bumpy roads, and N American driving conditions are really very different. I remember the last Alpha's sold here - real rust buckets." Was he talkin' about them Alpha Romeros??

NOTE - these, now 174, comments may mark a very sinister and dark side of this merger. That is, some/many American's disgust with anything tainted by so-called bailout money and especially that going to foreign manufacturing. Add this into the calculus . . and we enthusiasts are just drooling over the cars . . .

You can make comments here: www.chryslerlistens.com

[Aghevli]

Plans leaked early apparently. We still need a proper convertible and coupe.

REPORT: The Not-So-All-New Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep And Alfa Lineup! - chrysler fiat - Jalopnik

[paulbinct]

If accurate I agree with all the drops except probably the Grand Caravan - the other vehicles are old, or sell very few or are just basic ****boxes that deserve to die. The GC still sells well and even though it is the same as the T&C it would seem to still result in a sales hit. Depends on how it is done. As to the adds, lets hope so, but when? I would love to augment my VW Passat as the family car with a Fiat 500 for me (assuming the Passat lasts long enough).

[Arna]

The report says that "basically, Fiat's grooming Alfa Romeo to replace Chrysler." I remember writing the below quote a few pages back...and I'm glad there might be some truth to my speculation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arna Anyone here remember when GM bought out all the trolley car divisions in southern California and ran them into the ground so that consumers in Los Angeles would be forced to buy more commuter cars? I think that Fiat should abandon Chrysler altogether, run the company into dust, and use its dealer network to sell their cars (Alfa, Fiat, and maybe Lancia) full throttle. They got Chrysler on the cheap and the dealer network/factories that Fiat has access to are worth more than the whole fleet of Chrysler products. It would be like doing what Chrysler did for Alfa Romeo distribution in the early 1990s, except on a larger scale this time.

[MrAlfa]

On the one hand I'm sorry to read about these changes to Chrysler and their product line-up; another American manufacturer and car line is gone. On the other hand let's face it; Chrysler has been producing cheap trash for decades - poor designs, noisy motors and cheap interiors. My best pal owned a '68 Plymouth Roadrunner. It was a s**tbox. The PT Cruiser is junk, I rented one one time. That "car" was terrible and I swore to never risk my life in one ever again. I'm amazed people bought these s**tboxes at all. The 300 can be a good looking car when it's blinged out but the Sebring and Charger are ugly as hell.

Chrysler's incompetence has finally caught up with them. The only direction Fiat can take Chrysler is up. And if the Italians finally do learn how to sell and service cars to Americans Alfa just might be a success.

My wife and I started driving Alfas back in the '80s after the '86 Buick we bought new turned out to be the biggest piece of mechanical junk we ever had the misfortune of having a payment book for. To be sure, we'd take a spin down to a Chrysler...er Fiat showroom to check out the new Alfa Romeos.

[paulbinct]

Here is the NYT take on the topic

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/bu....html?_r=1&hpw

Headlined as lineup will include SUV and subcompact (the SUV being an Alfa-badged one, ouch, and the subcompact being the 500, great). The SUV would be based on the Grand Cherokee, double ouch! I can live with that (would not buy it but could live with it) IF it allows other Alfas to come in.

[Alfajay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulbinct I would like to be able to read the full WSJ article published today about it, but am not a subscriber so do not have access to it.

[Anfanuts]

There are some 222 comments on the WSJ article. Much is the usual political sparing but there is some insightful content also on Fiat's dilemma. Here is a LINK, but you may need a subscription to get in (I have one).