Fiat has big plans for Chrysler

And yet despite a flurry of immediate activity, much of the new product is years away

Nov 07, 2009

Special to the Star

After months of speculation, Italian automaker Fiat outlined this week its new five-year product plan for the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands it acquired last June.

And with the Chrysler Group's October U.S. sales down 30 per cent, the plans certainly have a sense of urgency.

Fundamentally, Chrysler will align its engineering organization with Fiat, making the most of common platforms. "The fate of the Fiat car business and Chrysler are now inextricably intertwined," said Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne.

In addition to ongoing model refreshes, the already announced new Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Durango seven-seater and Jeep Grand Cherokee will still be launched over the next 12 months while in late 2010, the first Fiat to go on sale here will be a North American version of the 500 city car (reviewed today on page W29), with a convertible in 2011 and the sporty Abarth 500 to follow the year after that.

Over the next three years, though, the current Chrysler product portfolio will be rationalized until new Fiat-based replacements start arriving in 2012.

Between the end of 2010 and 2012, the Chrysler PT Cruiser, Jeep Patriot, Compass and Commander, Dodge Dakota, Caliber and Viper will stop being produced (although an unnamed Fiat-based sports car will be added in 2012).

By 2012-13, Chrysler and Dodge will offer all-new subcompacts, a compact to replace the Caliber, and sedans to replace the Avenger and Sebring.

The announcement had little good news for enthusiasts hoping for the return of Fiat's Alfa Romeo brand to Canada.

"Unless Alfa comes over here and makes a really good argument (of how Alfa serves Chrysler's interests), Alfa is going to have a tough time," said Marchionne.

Whether Chrysler's sales can rebound enough to generate revenue to make all these new products a reality, only time will tell.

Lightweight Boxster Spyder

Inspired by legendary Porsches like the 1953 550 Spyder – the automaker's first sports car developed specifically for racing – and weighing only 1,275 kg, the new Boxster Spyder will be the lightest Porsche available when it goes on sale next February for $72,900.

Externally, a new lightweight manual soft top, low side windows and a twin-pontoon, single-piece rear decklid distinguish the Spyder from the regular Boxster, while the 3.4-litre flat-six from the Boxster S has been tweaked for an additional 10 hp, now rated for the Spyder at 320 hp.

Inside, climate control and a radio are optional, and the two seats feature a carbon-fibre shell and larger side bolsters. Fabric door pulls, like in the 911 GT3 RS, replace traditional door handles.

Equipped with a double-clutch gearbox and the Sports Chrono Package with launch control, Porsche says the new Spyder scoots from naught to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds; fuel consumption is 9.3 L/100 km on the New European Driving Cycle, while top speed is 267 km/h – with the roof open.

The Boxster Spyder will debut at next month's Los Angeles Auto Show.

Toyota to focus on longevity

Awash in a sea of bad news – sales drops, patent infringement lawsuits and that whole floormat recall thing – Toyota has come out swinging in an attempt to revive its North American sales as well as its battered image.

First, Toyota president Akio Toyoda has unveiled a new corporate strategy.

It calls for a review (and possibly a trim) of its Tundra full-size pickup lineup, the elimination of expensive mid-life product refreshes to focus on "bigger" launches and more hybrids (possibly with Prius badges).

It wants to give its U.S. engineers more say in product development and to focus more on quality versus quantity.

Specifically, Toyota will try to build more "longevity" into its current lineup.

That means addressing issues such as excessive rust and corrosion and introducing new "fail-safe functions" designed to minimize the possibility of "tragic accidents," Atsushi Niimi, executive vice-president for North America and global manufacturing, told Automotive News.

We'd put floormats that don't get caught up with the accelerator pedal at the top of that list.

In a separate announcement, Toyota tried to drum up some interest in upcoming models including an all-new Sienna minivan (set to debut at next month's Los Angeles auto show) and a new Camry, among others.

Toronto Star