FIAT and Chrysler

[dbev]

FIAT GROUP, CHRYSLER LLC and CERBERUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT L.P. ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR A GLOBAL STRATEGIC ALLIANCE

Fiat S.p.A., Chrysler LLC (Chrysler) and Cerberus Capital Management L.P., the private investment majority owner of Chrysler LLC, announced today they have signed a non-binding term sheet to establish a global strategic alliance.

The alliance, to be a key element of Chrysler’s viability plan, would provide Chrysler with access to competitive, fuel-efficient vehicle platforms, powertrain, and components to be produced at Chrysler manufacturing sites. Fiat would also provide distribution capabilities in key growth markets, as well as substantial cost savings opportunities. In addition, Fiat would provide management services supporting Chrysler’s submission of a viability plan to the U.S. Treasury as required. Fiat has been very successful in executing its own restructuring over the past several years. The alliance would also allow Fiat Group and Chrysler to take advantage of each other’s distribution networks and to optimize fully their respective manufacturing footprint and global supplier base.

The proposed alliance would be consistent with the terms and conditions of the U.S. Treasury financing to Chrysler. Per the U.S. Treasury loan agreement, each constituent will be asked to contribute to Chrysler’s restructuring effort including: lenders, employees, the UAW, dealers, suppliers and Chrysler Financial. Such steps would greatly contribute to Chrysler’s long term viability plan. Completion of the alliance is subject to due diligence and regulatory approvals, including the U.S. Treasury.

As a consideration for Fiat Group’s contribution to the alliance of strategic assets, to include: product and platform sharing, including A and B segment (city and small) segment vehicles, to expand Chrysler’s current product portfolio; technology sharing, including fuel efficient and environmentally friendly powertrain technologies; and access to additional markets, including distribution for Chrysler vehicles in markets outside of North America, Fiat would receive an initial 35 percent equity interest in Chrysler. The alliance does not contemplate that Fiat would make a cash investment in Chrysler or commit to funding Chrysler in the future.

“This initiative represents a key milestone in the rapidly changing landscape of the automotive sector and confirms Fiat and Chrysler commitment and determination to continue to play a significant role in this global process. The agreement will offer both companies opportunities to gain access to most relevant automotive markets with innovative and environmentally friendly product offering, a field in which Fiat is a recognized world leader while benefitting from additional cost synergies. The deal follows a number of targeted alliances and partnerships signed by the Fiat Group with leading carmakers and automotive suppliers over the last five years aimed at supporting the growth and volume aspirations of the partners involved,” the CEO of Fiat Group, Sergio Marchionne said.

“A Chrysler/Fiat partnership is a great fit as it creates the potential for a powerful, new global competitor, offering Chrysler a number of strategic benefits, including access to products that complement our current portfolio; a distribution network outside North America; and cost savings in design, engineering, manufacturing, purchasing and sales and marketing,” said Bob Nardelli, Chairman and CEO of Chrysler LLC. “This transaction will enable Chrysler to offer a broader competitive line-up of vehicles for our dealers and customers that meet emissions and fuel efficiency standards, while adhering to conditions of the Government Loan. The partnership would also provide a return on investment for the American taxpayer by securing the long-term viability of Chrysler brands in the marketplace, sustaining future product and technology development for our country and building renewed consumer confidence, while preserving American jobs.”

“This is great news for the UAW Chrysler team and we look forward to supporting and working with them to ensure Chrysler’s long term viability,” said Ron Gettelfinger, President United Auto Workers (UAW).

“We’re on board with this important strategic initiative as it will help preserve the long-term viability of our great company, its brands and of course UAW-Chrysler jobs,” said General Holiefield, Vice President, United Auto Workers (UAW).

Turin, Auburn Hills, MI, January 20, 2009

* °°° *** °°° ***

About Chrysler LLC
Chrysler LLC, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., produces Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and Mopar® brand vehicles and products. Total sales worldwide in 2008 were 2 million vehicles. Outside of North America, 2008 was the second-best sales year in the last decade and the third-best ever for Chrysler International. Chrysler LLC’s product lineup features some of the world’s most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300 and Town & Country, Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee and Dodge Challenger and Ram. In the fall of 2008, Chrysler introduced three advanced electric-drive vehicle prototypes – the Dodge EV, Jeep EV and Chrysler EV. One is targeted to be produced in 2010 for consumers in North American markets, and European markets after 2010.

About Fiat Group
Founded in 1899, Fiat is an automotive-focused industrial group, serving customers in more than 190 countries around the world. With some 185,000 employees, 114 R&D centers and 178 plants worldwide, the Fiat Group designs, manufactures and sells passenger cars (Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Abarth, Maserati and Ferrari), agricultural and construction equipment (CNH Case New Holland), trucks and industrial vehicles (Iveco), and automotive components (FPT Powertrain Technologies, Magneti Marelli, Teksid, and Comau).

[Silcc69]

Fiat=Fix It Again Tony!

[Willie Escalade]

As long as they don't fuck with the Viper, 300, Charger, Challenger, and the Ram pickups, I'm cool with it.

[banana]

the brother of the fiat vice-president and co-owner, is one of us, a ts lover :D

[ef9hatchman]

He can google shitty car companies 0_0

[phobun]

A marriage between two losers is rarely successful.

[fitz207]

He can google shitty car companies 0_0
American cars aren't shitty, their companies just poorly managed these days. My restored original 66 Stang is over 40 years old and has never broken down after 20 plus years of hard driving. My girlfriends BMW SUV (parked next to the stang in the pics below) has given her more problems than any American car i've owned. It's all about basic maintenance.

[DL_NL]

No, it's about the decline of quality. Please compare modern US cars to that BMW.

Good idea, this co-operation. Chrysler is bust, Fiat is in between two episodes of going bust. Let's flog some cars to the US they don't want.

[fitz207]

No, it's about the decline of quality. Please compare modern US cars to that BMW.

Good idea, this co-operation. Chrysler is bust, Fiat is in between two episodes of going bust. Let's flog some cars to the US they don't want.
Yes a decline in quality do to poor management. German cars are not very reliable at all. Just because they're sophisticated doesn't mean they're reliable.

[T Oracle]

Yes a decline in quality do to poor management. German cars are not very reliable at all. Just because they're sophisticated doesn't mean they're reliable.

The German cars I've owned have been ultra-reliable but not particularly well-specified (sophisticated?) for price paid.

[Silcc69]

Most American cars these days get better gas mileage than there foreign counterparts. Nice Stang Fitz but I have a thang for old skool Chevy's

[fitz207]

Most American cars these days get better gas mileage than there foreign counterparts. Nice Stang Fitz but I have a thang for old skool Chevy's
That's cool. My brother is Chevy man. When growing up our father owned Chevy cars and Ford Trucks. You should like my brothers 72' Chevelle.

[hippifried]

No, it's about the decline of quality. Please compare modern US cars to that BMW.

Oh. You mean that Beamer that's been sitting in the shop for the last month?

[OEMEnemyNum1]

BMW's electronics have had a recent history of problems. Too complex for what it achieved. 7 CAN controllers for the car is a bit excessive. I don't think the driver seat module needs that complex of a communication system.


Not saying that American cars are any better. I don't know how many TIPM's on Dodge Rams I've had to fix.

A little alliance is probably overall a good thing, I just have seen what happens when you get too many hands in the mix. Whenever I've had to work on design teams it takes a lot longer with more people involved. If you can get a very motivated small team, that has the skill, then you end up with a rock-solid product. I'm sure the same applies to mechanical design, but I'm referring to embedded electronics mainly.

[dan_drade]

In my opinion American cars are far supirior to German cars. And I am a guy that owns a Porsche. Its not that porsches are bad, but they are way over engineered. If you have ever worked on a German car, you would know that. I even have holes in the walls of my garage and a few dents in my garage door from flying wrenches. LOL The simplest repairs require many special tools and takes forever to complete. You should also replace a lot of other stuff since you have it all apart. Sometimes it drives me crazy working on this thing, and I wonder why I even bought it. I got it back in the ninties and paid too much for it and it is worth too little now. But the good thing about it is that it is blazing fast. But there are many other American cars that are just as fast.

Back to the topic here. I hope that the partnership works out ok. They say that Fiat has some little high mileage car that Chrysler wants to sell, or something like that, as well as having more sales access worldwide. It would be nice if American car companies could just stand on their own two feet. Its really a tradgedy that Ford, Chrysler and GM are having a tough time making cars that can compete with the rest of the world.

[misfit]

Both of those cars are badass fitz but that 66 does it for me. Nice job

[brickcitybrother]

As long as they don't fuck with the Viper, 300, Charger, Challenger, and the Ram pickups, I'm cool with it.

Good news... Viper will be around for the next cycle. However, the 300, Charger, Challenger, and the Ram pickups are either being phased out to substantially slimmed down.

[fitz207]

Both of those cars are badass fitz but that 66 does it for me. Nice job
Thanks man. But the Chevelle is my brothers.

[ef9hatchman]

He can google shitty car companies 0_0
American cars aren't shitty, their companies just poorly managed these days. My restored original 66 Stang is over 40 years old and has never broken down after 20 plus years of hard driving. My girlfriends BMW SUV (parked next to the stang in the pics below) has given her more problems than any American car i've owned. It's all about basic maintenance.Chrysler is currently a POS
back in 90-99 they were ok, I only say that because my first car was a GSX eclipse.95 and then got a Talon same car basically DSM-Diamond star Motors (mitsu,chrysler,Eagle)

[dbev]

FIAT, with the new CEO Sergio Marchionne, has done great things and I hope that this alliance will decrease substantially the mileage and CO2 emission of US vehicles.

FIAT also has a good know how on CNG and LPG fuelled cars.

CNG cars click here (http://www.fiat.it/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/FIAT_ITALIA/search/searchbyneed.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1798485637.12327 59033@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccccadegfjdkdejcefecejgdfkhdfjj.0&com.broadvision.session.new=Yes&campo2=8&campo3=&campo1=&Failed_Reason=Session+not+found&Failed_Page=%2fFIAT_ITALIA%2fsearch%2fsearchbyneed .jsp)

LPG cars click here (http://www.fiat.it/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/FIAT_ITALIA/search/searchbyneed.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1798485637.12327 59033@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccccadegfjdkdejcefecejgdfkhdfjj.0&com.broadvision.session.new=Yes&campo2=8&campo3=&campo1=&Failed_Reason=Session+not+found&Failed_Page=%2fFIAT_ITALIA%2fsearch%2fsearchbyneed .jsp)

CNG commercial vehicles here (http://www.fiatprofessional.it/cgi-bin/lcv.dll/LCV_ITALIA/showroom/showroomModel.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1871567697.1232 759163@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadegfkfkflmcefecejgdfkhdfjl.0&contentOID=1074014285), here (http://www.fiatprofessional.it/cgi-bin/lcv.dll/LCV_ITALIA/showroom/showroomModel.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1871567697.1232 759163@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadegfkfkflmcefecejgdfkhdfjl.0&contentOID=1074015773) and here (http://www.fiatprofessional.it/cgi-bin/lcv.dll/LCV_ITALIA/showroom/showroomModel.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1871567697.1232 759163@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadegfkfkflmcefecejgdfkhdfjl.0&contentOID=1074058340). This one (http://www.fiatprofessional.it/cgi-bin/lcv.dll/LCV_ITALIA/showroom/showroomModel.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1871567697.1232 759163@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadegfkfkflmcefecejgdfkhdfjl.0&modelKey=250|003) is coming soon with CNG engine.

[ef9hatchman]

FIAT, with the new CEO Sergio Marchionne, has done great things and I hope that this alliance will decrease substantially the mileage and CO2 emission of US vehicles.

FIAT also has a good know how on CNG and LPG fuelled cars.

CNG cars click here (http://www.fiat.it/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/FIAT_ITALIA/search/searchbyneed.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1798485637.12327 59033@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccccadegfjdkdejcefecejgdfkhdfjj.0&com.broadvision.session.new=Yes&campo2=8&campo3=&campo1=&Failed_Reason=Session+not+found&Failed_Page=%2fFIAT_ITALIA%2fsearch%2fsearchbyneed .jsp)

LPG cars click here (http://www.fiat.it/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/FIAT_ITALIA/search/searchbyneed.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1798485637.12327 59033@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccccadegfjdkdejcefecejgdfkhdfjj.0&com.broadvision.session.new=Yes&campo2=8&campo3=&campo1=&Failed_Reason=Session+not+found&Failed_Page=%2fFIAT_ITALIA%2fsearch%2fsearchbyneed .jsp)

CNG commercial vehicles here (http://www.fiatprofessional.it/cgi-bin/lcv.dll/LCV_ITALIA/showroom/showroomModel.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1871567697.1232 759163@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadegfkfkflmcefecejgdfkhdfjl.0&contentOID=1074014285), here (http://www.fiatprofessional.it/cgi-bin/lcv.dll/LCV_ITALIA/showroom/showroomModel.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1871567697.1232 759163@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadegfkfkflmcefecejgdfkhdfjl.0&contentOID=1074015773) and here (http://www.fiatprofessional.it/cgi-bin/lcv.dll/LCV_ITALIA/showroom/showroomModel.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1871567697.1232 759163@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadegfkfkflmcefecejgdfkhdfjl.0&contentOID=1074058340). This one (http://www.fiatprofessional.it/cgi-bin/lcv.dll/LCV_ITALIA/showroom/showroomModel.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1871567697.1232 759163@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadegfkfkflmcefecejgdfkhdfjl.0&modelKey=250|003) is coming soon with CNG engine.You know nothing about smog....Not all states have a smog program. The 5 gases in which California tests are, Nox,CO,CO2,O2< and HC
Nox is created by heat after 2500 degrees F.
HC-Hydrocarbons Fuel.
Nox-Oxides of Nitrogens
O2-Oxygen
CO-CarbonMonoxide
Co2-carbon dioxide
Nox is the biggest thing we have a problem controlling. Because it increases with Heat.
Honda/Acura has to be one of the best Companies the way the combustion occurs is amazing Everyone who talks trash on hondas that are in the smog game Also Admire how they designed the motors.

[Silcc69]

Most American cars these days get better gas mileage than there foreign counterparts. Nice Stang Fitz but I have a thang for old skool Chevy's
That's cool. My brother is Chevy man. When growing up our father owned Chevy cars and Ford Trucks. You should like my brothers 72' Chevelle.


:shock:

That is the most beautiful site i have seen before.

[SarahG]

No, it's about the decline of quality. Please compare modern US cars to that BMW.

Good idea, this co-operation. Chrysler is bust, Fiat is in between two episodes of going bust. Let's flog some cars to the US they don't want.
Yes a decline in quality do to poor management. German cars are not very reliable at all. Just because they're sophisticated doesn't mean they're reliable.

German cars are pretty reliable when comparing them to say, some of the stuff the British have passed off as cars in the last 40 years. You couldn't pay me to own an older jag...

[SarahG]

Chrysler is currently a POS
back in 90-99 they were ok, I only say that because my first car was a GSX eclipse.95 and then got a Talon same car basically DSM-Diamond star Motors (mitsu,chrysler,Eagle)

You know what shows how much of a fraud some of the consumer report magazines are? Compare their coverage of the 1st generation mitsu eclipse with their coverage of the Dodge version. Same exact car in every way but what logos & names they put on it... yet they liked the one and hated the other.

[dbev]

I forgot to mention that FIAT also wants to sell in the USA:

Lancia (http://www.lancia.com/cgi-bin/lancia.dll/LANCIA_COM/home.jsp)

and

Alfa Romeo (http://www.alfaromeo.com/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/NEWALFA_COM/controller/home.aspx?language=1)

Two very informative web-sites:

http://www.italiaspeed.com/

http://www.carsfromitaly.net/

Senior management in the design departments at Fiat and Chrysler will begin meeting together within days to start deciding which vehicles and technology from the Italian firm's range will be adapted for the North American market. On Tuesday the two companies announced an alliance that will result in Fiat taking a 35 percent stake in Chrysler LLC with the option of adding a further 20 percent.

“This week and the months following we will meet with the design studios at Fiat and figure out” what vehicles from the Fiat stable will be adapted to the U.S. market, Ralph Gilles, Chrysler's Vice President of Design told reporters at the Automotive News World Congress.

Gilles, reported Automotive News, said Fiat is very strong in the smaller A-, B- and C-segments so vehicles that size “make sense for Chrysler.” Fiat Group’s specialist brands, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Maserati brands are not planned to be part of the alliance.

“There may be situations where we can bring their vehicles in as is and there will be great opportunities to do products based on the Fiat DNA,” he said. “When you look at our portfolio, it is somewhat truck heavy, very practical vehicles, SUVs, four-wheel-drive. Great for this climate, but maybe not the overall solution that we need. So they come in and complement us.” Directly re-badging some Fiat vehicles is also an option being studied added AN. “There are some natural fits where it may make sense, but right now we are in a very broad investigation mode. We are looking at all the opportunities,” he said.

The A-segment Fiat 500 may well be imported to North America or manufactured in a Chrysler factory as part of the new alliance. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has often said that he would like to sell the Car of the Year 2008 winner in North America if it could be built locally, and this idea now becomes a real possibility “The Fiat 500 has taken Europe by storm, they can’t make it fast enough,” AN reported Gilles as saying, adding that he and his wife had already tried the car, which has been styled in-house as a modern successor to the original Italian icon. “It is such a fun package. I think Americans, given the chance, will fall in love with this thing,” he said.

Gilles said the all options to collaborate were open between the two companies. “There is a lot of collaboration going on. The guys are really enthusiastic," he told AN. "They want to see what we got, and I want to see what they got. That is pretty much where it is right now,” he said. “The passion inside Fiat is amazing. I mean, from their Formula One cars, the Alfa Romeo lines, the new 500, you can see that design is a real big deal over there. The Italians are known for design. I am pretty enthused by it,” he said.

[dbev]

You may soon be seeing these cars on your streets.

ALFA ROMEO MITO (http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2008/alfa_romeo/introduction.html)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2008/alfa_romeo/gallery/101.jpg

FIAT 500 ABARTH 1.4 16V TURBO T-JET (135 BHP) (http://www.italiaspeed.com/2008/cars/abarth/07/500_abarth/detail.html)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/2008/cars/abarth/07/500_abarth/gallery_1/101.jpg

LANCIA DELTA (http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2008/lancia/delta/introduction.html)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2008/lancia/delta/gallery/118.jpg

FIAT GRANDE PUNTO Natural Power (CNG) (http://www.italiaspeed.com/2008/cars/fiat/10/grande_punto_natural_power/gallery/gallery.html)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/2008/cars/fiat/10/grande_punto_natural_power/gallery/106.jpg

FIAT BRAVO (http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2007/fiat/bravo/introduction.html)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2007/fiat/bravo/gallery/103.jpg

NUOVA FIAT CROMA (http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2005/fiat/croma/index.html)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2007/fiat/nuova_croma/gallery/104.jpg

NEW LANCIA MUSA (http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2007/lancia/new_musa/introduction.html)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2007/lancia/new_musa/gallery/106.jpg

GRANDE PUNTO ABARTH 1.4 TURBO (155 HP) (http://www.italiaspeed.com/2007/cars/other/abarth/09/grande_punto_abarth/products.html)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/2007/cars/other/abarth/09/grande_punto_abarth/gallery_road/101.jpg

FIAT 500 (http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2007/fiat/500/introduction.html)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2007/fiat/500/gallery_road/101.jpg

NUOVA LANCIA YPSILON (http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2006/lancia/nuova_ypsilon/introduction.html)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2006/lancia/nuova_ypsilon/gallery/109.jpg

FIAT PANDA (http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2006/fiat/panda/introduction.html)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2006/fiat/panda/101.jpg

ALFA SPIDER (http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2006/alfa_romeo/spider/introduction.html)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2006/alfa_romeo/spider/gallery_1/101.jpg

FIAT MULTIPLA (http://www.italiaspeed.com/2006/cars/fiat/03/multipla_my2006/2803.html)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/2006/cars/fiat/03/multipla_my2006/101.jpg (http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/new_models_2004/multipla/index.html)

ALFA 159 SPORTWAGON (http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2006/alfa_romeo/159_sportwagon/introduction.html)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2006/alfa_romeo/159_sportwagon/gallery_2/101.jpg

FIAT SEDICI (http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2005/fiat/sedici/indroduction.html)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2005/fiat/sedici/gallery/102.jpg

ALFA ROMEO BRERA (http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2005/alfa_romeo/brera/introduction.html)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2005/alfa_romeo/brera/gallery/125.jpg

ALFA ROMEO 159 (http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2005/alfa_romeo/alfa_159/index.html)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2005/alfa_romeo/alfa_159/gallery/101.jpg

FIAT GRANDE PUNTO (http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2005/fiat/grande_punto/intro.html)
http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2005/fiat/grande_punto/gallery/117.jpg

[dbev]

And the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione (http://www.carsfromitaly.net/alfaromeo/index.html) is already there:

http://www.italiaspeed.com/2008/cars/alfa_romeo/11/8c_glickenhaus/2711.html




The first Alfa 8C Competizione destined for the United States market has recently arrived in Connecticut. The handover ceremony took place at the Miller Motorcars dealership where the car was picked up by James Glickenhaus, a very well known car collector whose collection included the specially-commissioned Ferrari Enzo based P4/5 by Pininfarina.

Glickenhaus declared himself particularly proud of being the first American customer to receive an Alfa Romeo. Immediately after the official handover of the keys, the customer carried out a road test in order to appreciate the main technical and dynamic features of his Alfa 8C Competizione.

With a limited production of five hundred units, the supercar has been designed by Centro Stile Alfa Romeo (the Alfa Romeo Style Centre) and is remarkable for its moulded surfaces that are the ideal attire for Alfa Romeo’s engineering and mechanical excellence: a slender line that expresses all the beauty of a veritable piece of poetry in motion that harks back to the brand's glorious past while also carrying forward its attributes of engineering and emotion into the future.

The Alfa 8C Competizione is equipped with a mighty 4.7 litre 8 cylinder engine that develops 450 bhp, teamed with a 6 speed robotised gearbox and immediately turns heads due to its unmistakable Italian elegance, an absolutely unique and unrepeatable style that promises the satisfaction of a sporty drive with full respect for Alfa Romeo tradition. The other 84 examples of the Alfa 8C Competizione destined for US clients will have been delivered by the end of the year.

http://static.blogo.it/autoblog/alfa_8c_competizione_big_10.jpg

And the Spider is coming:

http://www.italiaspeed.com/2005/events/pebble_beach/8c_spider/101.jpg

[Silcc69]

This thread is starting to look like a showroom.

[dbev]

Yes, maybe... :)

[dbev]

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/26/obama.emissions/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

[dbev]

I think that I need to revive this thread...

[TommyFoxtrot]

He can google shitty car companies 0_0
American cars aren't shitty, their companies just poorly managed these days. My restored original 66 Stang is over 40 years old and has never broken down after 20 plus years of hard driving. My girlfriends BMW SUV (parked next to the stang in the pics below) has given her more problems than any American car i've owned. It's all about basic maintenance.


This is true. American cars are on par with Japanese cars and better than some (Mitsubishi, Suzuki) in terms of initial quality. However there's a perception gap that hasn't closed. It's not the only reason for their failure, but I just want to confront this issue about quality.

[Tara Emory]

Fiats =yummy
Alfas = super yummy, very sexy!

I'm hoping if they start selling Fiats and Alfas here, that they won't water them down with horrible Chrysler badging, but I expect they'll find a way to suck the coolness out of them somehow.

But if there's a Fiat dealer network and the 500 Abarth gets here intact (and as a Fiat, not a Dodge) that will be great! I'd buy one. And if they sell any Fiat here as a Dodge, and you can just swap out the Dodge bits for Fiat bits, that might work too (people already do that with the Dodge Sprinter- really a Mercedes van)

I don't think there are enough new car buyers who remember Fiat's awful 70's reputation, or even care anymore. When I was in England in 2005, I rented a Fiat Panda, and the think was as well built and nimble as any other new car, and got great mileage.

Even GM managed to take halfway cool Opels and Holdens and suck all the life out of them as they rebadged them as Chevys and Pontiacs.

-Tara

[dbev]

Tara, may I say that I think that you a nice blend of intelligence and beauty?

[dbev]

ALFA ROMEO 159 1750 TBi (200 CV) (http://www.italiaspeed.com/2009/cars/alfa_romeo/03/159_1750/3103.html)

http://www.italiaspeed.com/2009/cars/alfa_romeo/03/159_1750/gallery/103.jpg

And the following, I believe, is the main reason for the agreement: technology in CNG engines in both private cars and commercial vans/trucks.

FIAT PROFESSIONAL INTRODUCE NATURAL POWER TO DUCATO RANGE (http://www.italiaspeed.com/2009/cars/fiat_professional/03/ducato_natural_power/2503.html)

http://www.italiaspeed.com/2009/cars/fiat_professional/03/ducato_natural_power/102.jpg

http://www.italiaspeed.com/2009/cars/fiat_professional/03/ducato_natural_power/101.jpg

[slinky]

I heard they were going to combine Fiat with General Motors but couldn't get approval for the new corporate name:
GenItalia

[Tara Emory]

You know, everybody says FIAT is Fix It Again Tony, but the one I've always heard (but no one seems to remember) "Feeble Italian Attempts at Transportaion"

-Tara

[jaycanuck]

They just had a special one hour of our national news about the car crisis. My thought on it is....stop dicking around! These companies could stay afloat and get zillions of government money, but they still think that the traditional gas-powered plan is going to work. If one of these companies had the balls to make some wide-sweeping, factory overhaul changes, the government would be there to help them. Pump billions into green-technology and the infrastructure to support it. Hell, they spent billions to fight a war but only about 14 billion into electric technology. I say pump billions into research and you'll get your gas car killer.

[dbev]

Agreed.

[dbev]

It's done.

What do you think?

[tstv_lover]

The thing I can't understand is where this burgeoning demand is expected to come from. The current downturn in autosales is world-wide, and plants in Asia, Europe and America are equally impacted with layoffs, short hours, plant closures, etc.

Given that hundreds of billions of government money is being pumped into improving infrastructue for PUBLIC transport, largely to tackle greehouse emissions (yes, I know that's a whole different subject) is there really going to be a demand for the vast quantities of cars that Chysler/Fiat, Toyota, Ford, Honda, etc, etc are expecting to produce?

Remember that China and India now have their own car manufacturers and produce lower cost models suited to their markets.

I can't help feeling the day of reckoning for the US car industry (in particular) has been postponed rather than avoided.

[dbev]

Very good point!!!

[dbev]

http://www.italiaspeed.com/2009/cars/industry/05/chrysler/0105_us_treasury_department.html

[MacShreach]

Fiats =yummy
Alfas = super yummy, very sexy!

I'm hoping if they start selling Fiats and Alfas here, that they won't water them down with horrible Chrysler badging, but I expect they'll find a way to suck the coolness out of them somehow.

But if there's a Fiat dealer network and the 500 Abarth gets here intact (and as a Fiat, not a Dodge) that will be great! I'd buy one. And if they sell any Fiat here as a Dodge, and you can just swap out the Dodge bits for Fiat bits, that might work too (people already do that with the Dodge Sprinter- really a Mercedes van)

I don't think there are enough new car buyers who remember Fiat's awful 70's reputation, or even care anymore. When I was in England in 2005, I rented a Fiat Panda, and the think was as well built and nimble as any other new car, and got great mileage.

Even GM managed to take halfway cool Opels and Holdens and suck all the life out of them as they rebadged them as Chevys and Pontiacs.

-Tara

Ah, you have taste in metal as well as fabric! Italian cars are cool on wheels. I don't have one just now, though I have had a few (that old AlfaSud flat-four motor was AMAZING.)

Still have a Ducati, though. :lol:

And you're right-- Italian car makers sorted the reliability and longevity issues out a long time ago.

[CORVETTEDUDE]

As long as they don't fuck with the Viper, 300, Charger, Challenger, and the Ram pickups, I'm cool with it.

Willie....Now buddy, you know that SHIT needs to go away!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[BLKGSXR]

[quote=Willie Escalade]As long as they don't fuck with the Viper, 300, Charger, Challenger, and the Ram pickups, I'm cool with it.

Willie....Now buddy, you know that SHIT needs to go away!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:[/quotelol just because your a chevyguy...fuck the 300 and the soccer mom CHARGER. other than that Willie's list is preety good...

[dbev]

The Viper should be discontinued.

Have a look at this:

http://www.repubblica.it/2007/03/gallerie/motori/chrysler-fiat-accordo-foto/1.html