More Lancia than Chrysler, here are the first pics of the Chrysler Delta model seen at the Detroit show. We don’t have any official details of the Chrysler Delta as yet, although it looks very similar to the Lancia Delta with a chunkier rear and a changed front grille and bonnet. We’ll have more details to follow, but you can compare the Chrysler Delta to our gallery of the Lancia Delta after the jump. What do you think?

Source | Jalopnik

Continue reading: First pics: Chrsyler Delta vs Lancia Delta

0 comments

The first Lancia-Chrysler model to be produced will be revealed at the Detroit auto show as an example of the first combined Fiat Chrysler style. The model will be presented under the Chrysler badge, and it’s possible we’re looking at a Delta-based design.

It seems that the Lancia brand was the obvious choice for Chrysler models integrated with Fiat, although this new model will be a concept only, not a production model as the Delta has obviously not been developed to comply with the US car market. We’re curious to see what they produce though, and won’t write off a Chrysler-Lancia model until we see one.

Source | Autoblog.it

0 comments

The Fiat Doblo will go to the US under the Ram, Fiat-Chrysler brand, as part of its range of pick-ups, trucks and vans. It is expected that the Doblo will compete with the Ford Transit Connect in that market, though its new name is undecided (we are hoping, though, that its name will get changed).

The Fiat-Ram Doblo will not get produced in the US, however, but will arrive only as an import. A likely production location for the moment is Turkey, as Fiat has a joint venture there with Koc Turk Otomobil Fabrikasi AS. Brasil is also a possibility, where the Doblo already gets assembled for the Latin American car market.

Source | Repubblica

0 comments

According to reports, Daimler head Dieter Zetsche has been advising Sergio Marchionne on what to do with the Chrysler brand and how to handle the Fiat-Chrysler merger. Known also as having destroyed the Chrysler brand, at least to Americans, the guys at Autoblog.com are telling Marchionne to do exactly the opposite of whatever Zetsche is telling him.

We think Marchionne is probably safe, as we don’t see him as the kind of guy up for advice from someone who was the head of a company that went disastrously bankrupt. We’ve reported on some of the reservations regarding the new Fiat-Chrysler relationship, but frankly, things are looking better than what they did when it was Daimler-Chrysler “merger of equals” time.

Zetsche has apparently happened upon the fact that the US market likes big cars, and that Fiat has only promised smaller cars and fuel efficient technology. We had thought of this too, along with many others in the business (it doesn’t take a former CEO to figure that out, after all) but we’re feeling quite positive about future Lancia-Chrysler sedan designs, as the Lancia Thesis renderings indicate.

Continue reading: Dieter Zetsche gives advice to Sergio Marchionne

0 comments

Another sexy rendering, this time of the Lancia Thesis, comes from Theophilus Chin, and Chrysler 300 C or not, a model like this could definitely make an impact on the US market. It’s basically a merging of the Chrysler 200C hybrid concept car, and the Lancia Thesis. In fact, the suggestion is to replace the Thesis with the 200C, and this is what you get.

I was at first quite skeptical about how Fiat-Chrsyler style would go together, particularly on some of the larger Chrsyler models that haven’t been crash hot on the European market. In addition, with some concern about how succesful a hatch like the Alfa Milano might be in the US, you’re starting to get a mine field of possible design downfalls for the new venture. It will all be up to the guys at Fiat-Chrysler, but with a design like this Chrysler-Lancia Thesis, they don’t have to go far to look for inspiration.

Source | Theophilus Chin

4 comments

In a funny article for Automotive News, Edward Lapham examines the catering choices and body language of Fiat and Chrysler execs to see what they might reveal of the future of the company. Forget Fiat-Chrysler product plans and the Abarth 500, this is all about the coffee breaks and wine (or lack of it).

Lapham says:

It’s interesting to come to a multinational, multidiscipline event like this one and watch how the nearly 500 attendees interact … especially the Chrysler and Fiat execs, since this is supposed to be an alliance.

I didn’t notice a lot of intermingling during the coffee break. But so far they seem to be getting along. The Chrysler execs I know say nice things about Sergio Marchionne and the way the other Fiat execs have acted when they got here.

That’s a heckuva lot better than what the Chrysler guys used to say about the Daimler execs when they came to town as part of that old, so-called merger of equals.

I think the espresso, “authentic food from Italy” and ashtrays are not to be underestimated in the cultural bridging of gaps and learning curves both these companies will have to undertake. Read for yourself at Automotive News.

0 comments

The presentation from Fiat-Chrysler on future plans for the Chrysler brand and models has been comprehensive, if a little confusing, and confirms much of what was already thought. The Fiat 500 will be the first Fiat group model to reach American shores, late next year, with dedicated sales teams and “salons” in Chrysler showroooms.

The hope is that the cute little Fiat 500 will hold much of the same fascination for the Americans as the Mini, with its retro style winning hearts. It will be followed by the Fiat 500 cabrio in 2011 and the Abarth 500 in 2012, in a logical progression which will be the first introduction to the US market and distribution channels for Fiat.

As for Chrysler models, there will be a number of “special editions” launched to get the last few models off the production line. The 300, Town and Country, Sebring and PT Cruiser will transform into a sports edition, fashion edition, ocean edition and final edition respectively, to tie the models over before new production, style and models kick off later next year and into 2011.

Continue reading: Fiat-Chrysler plan: Fiat 500 confirmed to US

1 comment

As the car world waits for the plan of the Fiat-Chrysler deal to be revealed, it looks as though a new Chrysler logo could be revealed. You might wonder why, if the brand is going to disappear from Europe, but it could be a show of faith from Fiat that Chrysler will get a revival in its own market of North America.

The new logo is quite sexy, definitely modern and hopefully marks the dawn of a new era for America’s beloved Chrysler. So far the Fiat-Chrysler plans have been sketchy and mostly include the arrival of the Fiat 500 or Abarth 500 on the US market, the appearance of the Alfa Giulia in the US, but perhaps not the Milano or MiTo, and the retaining of the Jeep brand on the European market. It looks as though Dodge will go niche, including an electric car in its line-up, and that we will see Lancia-badged Chryslers, particularly the new 300c already spied, in Europe. All will soon be revealed. Stay tuned.

Source | Autoblog

0 comments

The first spy shots of the new Chrysler 300 have emerged, among much speculation as to the future of Chrysler models and the collaboration with Fiat. The new Chrysler 300 C is expected to debut sometime in 2010 as the first Chrysler to be produced under the Fiat banner.

The aim is to provide some credible competition for Cadillac and we should see the Chrysler 300 become more luxurious and include additional optional extras. It should be equipped with the new V6 Pentastar, and a top-of-the-range SRT-8 could also be produced.

There has been more than enough conjecture about which Fiat/Alfa models are going to the US, who’s staying at home and which little piggy is replacing another. So until we have more concrete news, enjoy the spy shots and we’ll keep you updated.

Source | Speedlux.com

0 comments

With talk of Fiat-Chrysler plans and the return of Alfa Romeo to the US with the new models Alfa MiTo, Alfa Milano and Alfa Giulia, here’s another rendering to keep our interest going. This design of a hypothetical Alfa Giulia shows a sporty, agressive front, while keeping the smooth lines of the sedan intact.

The Fiat group will first make its appearance on US shores with the Fiat 500, and it is expected to be every bit as successful as in Europe, having become an icon of Italian style. It will appear in 2011 and will be followed by the Alfa models later, with the Milano debuting next year in Europe, and the Giulia not until 2012.

Source | Alvolante.it

0 comments