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REPORT: Chrysler products from Fiat could be here in 18 months
Fiat 500 - Click above for a high-res image gallery
Will we see a new line of Fiats in America in just 18 months? According to Chrysler vice chairman and president Tom LaSorda, the answer is "yes." Responding to reports that some analysts predict it will take upwards of three years before the first Fiat is (once again) sold in America, LaSorda said:
"We've done a lot of pre-work in terms of homologations and emissions. Eighteen months is practical. Three years is fundamentally wrong. We can do it faster."Of course, in light of Thursday's bankruptcy filing at Chrysler, perhaps a better question is whether we'll still see Chrysler vehicles in 18 months. Jim Press, another Chrysler VP, says the ailing automaker still plans to reduce the number of nameplates it currently sells and offer Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealers under one roof. It remains to be seen how Fiat fits in to the discussion, but CEO Sergio Marchionne says they are indeed coming.
So, what's up first? Hard to say, but LaSorda did suggest that the retrotastic Fiat 500 MINI-fighter is likely to be built somewhere in the United States, Canada or Mexico for sales in the U.S. market.
Gallery: Fiat 500
[Source: Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Eric Liberatore 4:24PM (5/01/2009)
I don't want Chrysler-branded-Fiats. I want Fiat-branded-Fiats! Bring us Lancia too!
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JeremyClarkson 5:00PM (5/01/2009)
totally agreed
9600baud 5:16PM (5/01/2009)
I agree, give us pandas! Now!
P.V. 5:19PM (5/01/2009)
The FIATs and Alfas are great, but the Lancias? They all look quite dated (even if they are technically very good cars).
I'm looking forward to the new Italian small cars!
Mehdi Cheddadi 5:23PM (5/01/2009)
agreed, the Chrysler look is horrible and would ruin any Fiat Product. just give us the same unmodified cars.
Erik 5:56PM (5/01/2009)
I want Chrysler branded Fiats.
chris 7:34PM (5/01/2009)
100,000,000% agree.
I WILL buy a Fiat 500 the day they hit US shores. I will NOT buy it if it is a Dodge or Chrysler rebadged product.
Fiat, get it? I will buy a FIAT 500. Not a Dodge 500, not a Chrysler 500. From a FIAT/Alfa Romeo dealership, not a Chrysler dealer either.
jgp 8:00PM (5/01/2009)
Fiat and Alfa, yes.
Lancia, no. At least not until Lancia stops making their cars so damn fugly and starts making them look more like 80s Lancias.
Jake B 12:11AM (5/02/2009)
Why not buy the Chrysler rebadge. Hopefully it will have the lifetime power train warranty so I don't have to worry about the little Italian motor going kaput. Eagle Talons and such were rebadges and I think that they were pretty cool.
Aprime 9:15AM (5/02/2009)
Hey you Fiat bitchas, nothing stops you from re-rebadging your 500.
dallasward007 10:19AM (5/02/2009)
Lancia was great when they participated in rally racing. It's been a while since that has happened. I've owned Fiats and Lancias. I'd prefer a Fiat. An Alfa would be nice too.
tuxchown 1:03PM (5/02/2009)
Fiat has little to no identity here in the United States. Chrysler is still has quite a popular image so it makes sense to give these cars a Chrysler identity.
Auari 5:03PM (5/01/2009)
18 months without fiat products...... That's a long F***ing time.
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monobox 5:05PM (5/01/2009)
I look forward to Fiat taking over Chrysler and offering all sorts of efficient smaller and diesel vehicles in the US like they do in Europe and Latin America.
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Val 6:57PM (5/02/2009)
VW is not doing it, Ford is not doing it, GM is not doing it (offering small cars and diesels that they iffer EVERYWHERE in the world), Toyota, honda and nissan offer some small cars but no diesels, why do you think FIAT will suddenly decide that people want a 1.3 liter Multijet diesel in a 500, for the fair price of $19k? (no, i am not converting euros to dollars) People clearly don't want that...
Jimbo 5:05PM (5/01/2009)
I wonder with the 500 coming if Ford will bring over it's sister car, the Ka?
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Stone 5:10PM (5/01/2009)
Other than the 500, which would be a strictly niche vehicle, is there any other Fiat we would want on our shores??
Nah, didn't think so either.
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David 5:45PM (5/01/2009)
Yes, idiot! The Alfa Romeo MiTo would be most welcome.
djaferisp 3:15AM (5/02/2009)
apart from the MiTo, Alfa has several other cars in the pipeline to replace the current 159. These will be great for the USA. Fiat also has the Panda...the 4x4 version is really cute. The Linea sedan could be adapted for the US and why not the Punto Abarth?
Chris 1:32PM (5/02/2009)
I'd love to see the Fiat Bravo as a Neon ressurection/caliber replacement. MiTo GTA for a Dodge Hornet, and the Croma would be nice, although everyone hates on wagons, so maybe the platform could be nice for an avenger/sebring replacement, who knows...