Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Despite Fiat deal, Chrysler will still get small cars from Nissan]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/28/despite-fiat-deal-chrysler-will-still-get-small-cars-from-nissa/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/28/despite-fiat-deal-chrysler-will-still-get-small-cars-from-nissa/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/28/despite-fiat-deal-chrysler-will-still-get-small-cars-from-nissa/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for high-res image gallery of the Dodge Hornet concept

Fiat's tentative global alliance with Chrysler should have the desired effect of bolstering the American automaker's nonexistent small car line and give Fiat access to a nationwide network of dealerships in the United States. Don't forget, however, that Nissan also has a deal in place with Chrysler that predates its tie-up with Fiat, and the Japanese automaker fully expects to make good on the arrangement that would provide Chrysler with two small cars developed by Nissan in exchange for one full-size Ram-based truck to replace the aging Titan. The first vehicle to spawn from this alliance is the Dodge Trazo C1.8 sedan, a carbon copy of the Nissan Versa (known as the Tiida in some other parts of the world) and sold in South America.

Before Fiat was ever considered (at least publicly) as a partner, it was assumed after initial negotiations with China's Chery failed to pan out that the second vehicle Nissan would develop would be at least partially inspired by the Dodge Hornet first seen in concept form back in 2006. Since the arrangement with Nissan was announced back in April of 2008, it's probably safe to assume that development work on the protracted small car project for Dodge is already underway and will conclude as planned. Whether or not any fruit of Chrysler's partnership with Nissan will be sold in the U.S. or just South American markets is unknown, as Fiat has plenty of small cars that could be built, badged with a Pentastar and sold in on American soil.

Gallery: Dodge Hornet Concept


[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Despite Fiat deal, Chrysler will still get small cars from Nissan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The fate of Chrysler LLC continues to grow more complicated as reports today indicate that Nissan/Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn has made an offer to buy 20% of the privately owned automaker from Cerberus Capital Management, which is also currently in talks to make a deal with General Motors. Unlike a potential deal with GM that could see Chrysler's brands dismantled, a deal with Nissan, which already has an alliance with Renault, would likely keep the American automaker intact and moving forward. Chrysler would become, in effect, the American arm of a triumvirate of brands that includes Nissan from Japan and Renault from Europe. Only Nissan's name is on the offer, however, because it reportedly has the cash on hand to make a deal, while Renault has around $5 billion of debt on the books. Nissan also already has a partnership with Chrysler in which it will get a version of the Dodge Ram full-size truck to replace the Titan and in return supply Chrysler with a new small car.

A potential Chrysler/Nissan/Renault mashup makes much more sense than combining two American automakers whose products overlap and are both in bad shape right now. But sense doesn't mean much when companies are out to make money, and Cerberus may not be interested in a deal with Nissan that keeps it a player in the auto industry. The investment firm reportedly still favors a deal with GM that would essentially fill its pockets with cash and absolve it of any responsibility for the house that Walter P. built.

UPDATE: Some people have asked about what will happen to Daimler's remaining 19.9% of Chrysler LLC if Cerberus makes a deal with either GM or Nissan, and reports indicate that Chrysler is actively seeking to buy the rest of Daimler's stake before any deal is made. We're guessing the German automaker is just about ready to relinquish its rights to Chrysler and get as far as away from this cluster **** as possible.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Nissan makes offer for 20% of Chrysler originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More details have emerged about the next-generation Dodge Ram-based Nissan Titan pickup. Questions about how similar the two trucks will be have been partially answered, as Pickuptruck.com reports that the Titan and Ram will share only their doors and roof panels. The next-gen Titan will feature an exterior and interior designed solely by Nissan, which should put to rest concerns about a rebadged Dodge Ram. The two trucks will, however, share platforms, the Ram's new coil-sprung rear suspension, the cool RamBox storage compartment (despite hearing previously that the Titan wouldn't get this feature), and engines. In fact, in addition to a 3.7L V6 and 4.7L V8 sourced from Chrysler and a Cummins light-duty diesel V8, Nissan may offer Chrysler's 5.7L HEMI V8 rather than its own 5.6L 'Endurance' V8. Apparently the HEMI costs several hundred dollars less to build than the Endurance engine. Pickuptruck.com reports that the 5.6L V8 would still live on in the Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX56 producing 400 and 450 horsepower, respectively.

Nissan is also reportedly going to produce a three-quarter-ton and one-ton Heavy Duty Titan, though these trucks will share no components with Chrysler products and be built alongside two other yet-to-be-announced light commercial vehicles at Nissan's plant in Canton, Mississippi.

[Source: Pickuptruck.com]

New info on Nissan's Ram-based Titan pickup originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 May 2008 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Despite the fact that the beleaguered automaker has not yet turned a profit since its unceremonious departure from Daimler to Cerberus, Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli says that the company is still on track. "Through the first quarter we are still on plan relative to the pro forma and the targets we established for 2008, in spite of some of the economic winds that are hitting us," he says. In order to turn last year's $1.6 billion loss into positive cash flow, Chrysler will be relying heavily on joint-partnerships like the one it just announced with Nissan (but probably not Fiat) as well as with new and advanced engineering. Nardelli highlights interiors, upcoming technology integration and alternative powertrains as potential new incoming-generating features for their line of vehicles.

[Sources: Automotive News / The Detroit News]

Chrysler won't turn a profit in 2008, but still on track to achieve goals originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 07:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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