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

It an intriguing move in the car industry, Fiat has taken on the Dodge Viper supercar brand by taking on the franchise as part of the Fiat-Chrysler deal. The Viper brand has been in dire straits, and may not be safe under Fiat management either.

Plans were to sell Viper, but at ten million dollars, Chrysler couldn’t find a buyer. Fiat may find the task just as hard, with Devon Motor Works apparently being the only bidder at a mere 5.5 million dollars.

The Viper has been an icon in American sports cars since it first appeared in 1992, but may risk going by the wayside as Fiat protects its own Maserati and Ferrari supercar brands. While Fiat may recognise the differences between its luxury Italian sportscars and a US V10 supercar, things are tense for lovers of the Viper brand.

Continue reading: Fiat acquires Dodge Viper: future sale possible

The Dodge Viper doesn’t have ‘just’ 600hp, as the manufacturer has officially declared, but actually a good 642, as revealed by a dynograph test from Dragtimes. The experiment shows that the Dodge Viper could challenge the Corvette ZR1 as America’s fastest and most powerful car. As the guys at Jalopnik say, only a head-to-head test run of the Dodge and Corvette will find out…

Source | Jalopnik

Continue reading: Dodge Viper ACR: 642 CV and 813 Nm