Jump to content
News
Reviews
Discussons
Activity
Create New...
Close
  • William Maley
    William Maley

    By William Maley •

    FCA's 5-Year Briefing To Not Feature Chrysler, Dodge, or Fiat

      Where are they?

    Tomorrow will be Fiat Chrysler Automobile's final five year plan being presented under current CEO Sergio Marchionne. We reported on what is expected to be talked about yesterday in the rumor pile. Today, we have gotten a clear picture of what will be presented in the plan.

    Automotive News found the schedule for the five-year presentation on a company website before being taken down. The schedule features sections for Jeep, Ram, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Autonomous Driving and Connectivity, and CO2 reduction. Not listed on the schedule were Chrysler, Dodge, and Fiat. This unsurprisingly sent a number of people into a tizzy as they see this as a possible hint that these brands are going bye-bye. An FCA spokeswoman said Chrysler and Dodge will be talked about in other presentations "as appropriate." We're not sure this inspires confidence.

    Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

    Go to articles

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    G. David Felt
    39 minutes ago, daves87rs said:

    Well, I think we already knew this was coming......all but toast now.

    Betting they sell the old stuff from both brands to the chinese to bring a few more bucks ....

    I agree, at this point, I could see Sergio selling off Dodge, Chrysler and Fiat for pennies on the dollar to unload those brands and all associated to a chinese auto company wanting to get feet in the door for selling in America.

    The only problem is Potus 45's trade war makes this unlikely to happen. Partial close down for various lame reasons coming from FCA.

    FCA soon to be JRAM corporation

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    daves87rs
    1 hour ago, dfelt said:

    I agree, at this point, I could see Sergio selling off Dodge, Chrysler and Fiat for pennies on the dollar to unload those brands and all associated to a chinese auto company wanting to get feet in the door for selling in America.

    The only problem is Potus 45's trade war makes this unlikely to happen. Partial close down for various lame reasons coming from FCA.

    FCA soon to be JRAM corporation

    That is...if a company doesn't come in to buy the company for the Jeep and Ram brands first....pretty sure they would not keep anything else....maybe the dealership network....

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    G. David Felt
    6 hours ago, daves87rs said:

    That is...if a company doesn't come in to buy the company for the Jeep and Ram brands first....pretty sure they would not keep anything else....maybe the dealership network....

    Sergio has been very clear about not selling off Jeep / Ram without the others. Jeep / Ram is what is keeping FCA afloat. Chinese wanting an established dealership network would be the only reason if cheap enough to buy Dodge / Chrysler / Fiat.

    If Chinese did get approval to buy DCF, they would probably be pretty quick to swap out models with Chinese made versions rebadged as those brands.

    I honestly see more value in Dodge / Chrysler than I do in Fiat.

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    smk4565

    What makes sense is to pull Fiat from the USA, build only the 500 and Panda for emerging markets like eastern Europe or South America.  Dodge and Chrysler I wouldn't put a dime into, and let the vehicles run out their current life cycle.  They could move the Pacifica to Ram and do cargo and passenger versions if they want to keep that van around.  I can see them getting rid of Dodge and Chrysler in 2022, they aren't global brands.  And if you chop FCA down to Jeep, Ram and Alfa/Maserati you are left with high margin product.

    • Disagree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    G. David Felt
    7 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

    What makes sense is to pull Fiat from the USA, build only the 500 and Panda for emerging markets like eastern Europe or South America.  Dodge and Chrysler I wouldn't put a dime into, and let the vehicles run out their current life cycle.  They could move the Pacifica to Ram and do cargo and passenger versions if they want to keep that van around.  I can see them getting rid of Dodge and Chrysler in 2022, they aren't global brands.  And if you chop FCA down to Jeep, Ram and Alfa/Maserati you are left with high margin product.

    Alfa / Maserati are bleeding cash, Jeep / Ram is what is keeping FCA afloat.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    G. David Felt
    3 minutes ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

    I've been looking at the slides..some vague mentions of future products (no surprise), no mention of Dodge, Chrysler, or Fiat (other than international market trucks in the Ram slide deck)...

     

    https://www.fcagroup.com/en-US/investors/Pages/capital_markets_day_2018.aspx

    Leaves more questions than answers and especially leaves it wide open for the new CEO to throw it out and do their own thing.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    daves87rs
    6 hours ago, dfelt said:

    Sergio has been very clear about not selling off Jeep / Ram without the others. Jeep / Ram is what is keeping FCA afloat. Chinese wanting an established dealership network would be the only reason if cheap enough to buy Dodge / Chrysler / Fiat.

    If Chinese did get approval to buy DCF, they would probably be pretty quick to swap out models with Chinese made versions rebadged as those brands.

    I honestly see more value in Dodge / Chrysler than I do in Fiat.

    Only value I see in FCA my friend is in Jeep and RAM, and keeping them close to the way they are now. The rest is pretty much throwaway which they could replace with their own lineup (would be cheaper as well) and use the current dealer network.......

    • Like 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    ccap41
    1 hour ago, dfelt said:

    Alfa / Maserati are bleeding cash, Jeep / Ram is what is keeping FCA afloat.

    Personally, I'd keep Alfa around and if they can't also keep Maserati around then move Alfa onto those platforms as higher end cars as well. Then Alfa could be a full luxury line from the Giulia to whatever high end Maserati is out. 

    I think having a luxury line will help them once they really sort things out. As much as some don't really like Alfa Romeo they're a good brand to keep as a whole for a luxury line with the Giula getting great compliments from professional reviewers. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    smk4565
    3 hours ago, dfelt said:

    Alfa / Maserati are bleeding cash, Jeep / Ram is what is keeping FCA afloat.

    I find it hard to believe that they are bleeding money on Maseratis that cost $80-125,000 and haven’t been redesigned in forever, no matter how poorly they sell.  I looked at the product roadmap they put out for both, there is nothing in there to scare the German brands but I understand why FCA is trying, they see margin potential on high end cars. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Drew Dowdell
    18 hours ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

    Saw this on Allpar today..not sure how accurate it is (Allpar seems to have a lot of wild speculative fiction). FCA is supposedly working on an update the Charger and Challenger..

    http://www.allpar.com/news/2018/06/dodge-working-on-significant-upgrade-to-current-challenger-and-charger-platform-40887

     

    Yeah, it’s supposed to be another revision of LX platform.  Really, if they just refreshed it and put the effort into the interior that they did with the Ram, they’d be fine. Put the new turbo 2.0 in there as a base engine, maybe eAssist the V6 and V8. The cars today are super solid and have all the latest tech available.

    The possibility of their cancellation has renewed my interest in acquiring a 300.

    • Like 1
    • Agree 3
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    G. David Felt

    I really have to question just how realistic the FCA 5yr Road map is as looking at the last one, they only accomplished maybe 1/3 of that plan.

    This plan is even more vague, so I have to figure half of the 1/3 accomplished from the last plan which means maybe 20% or less will really happen. ?

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites


    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

    ×



  • Subscribe to Cheers & Gears

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001 we've brought you real content and honest opinions, not AI-generated stuff with no feeling or opinions influenced by the manufacturers.

    Please consider subscribing. Subscriptions can be as little as $1.75 a month, and a paid subscription drops most ads.*
     

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • G. David Felt
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By G. David Felt · Posted

      This is too funny and I HOPE HOPE HOPE Amazon moves forward with this as all the auto's on Amazon for sale will have a TRUMP TARIFF line that shows how much TARIFF tax they will pay. Trump’s ‘Pottery Barn rule’ problem
    • trinacriabob
      New Toyota Prius HEV LE model - 3 days of motoring

      By trinacriabob · Posted

      I don’t know if this vehicle, a Toyota Prius Hybrid HEV, represented an upgrade.  It’s just what I was assigned as a mid-size rented vehicle for 3 days.  I had a general idea that this vehicle was recently refreshed and that it looked a lot better.  As I got closer to it and got into it, I was able to get a better look.  The new Prius looks a lot better than I recall a Prius ever looking.  It looks sleek, sporty, and even sort of low-slung.  Interesting exterior features show that they made this a priority.  The front lights and fascia are thin and understated, working well with the more unified exterior.  The rear fascia is definitely Prius’s own and it gives the car some interesting, angled vantage points.  They even incorporated gullwing handles into the sedan’s rear doors and, having once had these in the last rendition of the W-body Buick Regal coupe, I like their look and just plain using them. Its low-slung aspect can present a slight demerit.  The windshield and profile of the front doors is very raked and, as a person of average height, I had to duck a little more than usual to enter the car.  Similarly, the rear backlite borders on almost being horizontal.  This does give the rear storage area a little more usable height. Inside, the front pillars’ rake is mitigated by fixed renditions of what used to be vent windows in older cars.  However, they still seem to block an instinctive sight line compared to more upright vehicles like the current Camry and Corolla.  Inside, the feeling is more cockpit-like.  Similarly, the rear view has the thicker pillars and flatter backlite that require more proactive work – looking over the shoulder attentively and using the amber traffic monitoring warnings in the outside mirrors.  A complementary feature is the chime that assisted lane changes. The Prius has a 4-cylinder engine that seems to spend more time in EV mode than did the hybrid Camry.  That means good fuel economy and, over 3 days, I only added 6 gallons for between 200 and 300 miles of motoring.  In terms of power, handling, and roadability, the Prius gets mixed comments from me.  It does have agility when the pedal is pressed and it moves from eco to power mode.  It also eases upward to higher than anticipated highway speeds if not paying attention!  The transmission is a CVT with a “faux” first gear and it works well.  The Prius has a more noticeable wheezing sound when in reverse gear, which actually advises those inside the car and near it.  However, when pushed, the powertrain gets buzzy, as in noisy.  But at steady speed, any engine noise is not that noticeable.  The vehicle’s handling, smoothness, and quietness vary.  Handling is always nimble and, even at highway speeds, it maneuvers adeptly.  The ride is mostly smooth.  However, noise control could use some improvement.  Some of that can come from the tires they equip the car with, fitted with aluminum wheels that hearken to the ones on Tesla products.  That said, it’s hard to tell if the drone is tire thum or wind.  However, if you prioritize handling among these, I was surprised to see how well the Prius handles … on the highway, on city streets, and even in tight parking spaces, where 3-point attempts are rarely necessary. The cockpit is unusual and very different from yesterday’s Priuses, which I’ve only seen and never driven or been a passenger in one.  I remember how the first model had an oval main instrument pod set up on the cowl in the middle of the dashboard but angled toward the driver.  Today’s Prius has thin and smaller pods, almost set on ledges that seem to staircase down as the cowl approaches the driver.  The main panel looks like a small tablet that is set quite far from the steering wheel.  Depending on how the wheel is titled, there could be some visibility issues seeing all the information.  This required adjusting the wheel and the seating height.  Also, the front seat can be very far from the pedals.  So, while the door is low, taller drivers might like this potential distance.  The infotainment center sits slightly forward of the main instrument screen and is conventionally placed atop the center stack.  Thankfully, it continues with touch operation as opposed to being operated via a remote dial.  Most functions are the ones you’ve known for a while, so setting things up doesn’t take long.  I did struggle a little with the Android Auto, even though the Bluetooth pairing was quick.  Note that, while the Camry has USB-C ports, the Prius does not.  Further down on the center stack, the climate control is easy to work with (not the 3-dial type that so many exports and even domestics have) and the A/C blows colder a little quicker than in the last Camry I drove.  The console deck is about the right height and its overall dimensions, including the box, are generous.  The compactness of the shift lever is sort of fun … think of a small underpowered low-cost EV Corvette! When going into gear, it’s not about moving the selector linearly.  A quick jog to the left and up toward the instrument panel is for reverse while that same quick jog followed by a rearward move puts the vehicle in drive.  It doesn’t take long to get used to this.  Also, the park feature is easy to work with.  Just push in P when stopped and, whether in reserve or drive, the gear selector goes to park.  The only thing is that it is not forgiving when shifting the lever … your foot must be firmly on the brake, so no slipshod maneuvers.  The seating is comfortable and the buckets seem a little high, but this offers support from top to bottom.  The same is true in the rear of the cabin and the headrests do intrude with an already thicker rear sail panel / C-pillar.  Legroom in the rear also seems good and the length of the vehicle allows for that.  Space is sensibly distributed in the 3 volumes from front to back. I always thought a Prius would have something daunting or different about it.  Its look is different in that it lost its first-gen look that looked like an upright Nissan Versa of 2016 … sort of like the runt of the litter that is on the run because it has been kicked in the rump.  This Prius looks planted.  Upon pushing the prominent and easy to use “power” button on the dash, there will be no noise and the dash will literally tell you when it, and you, are “ready” to go. It's a smaller but roomy vehicle where the price isn’t a bargain, but not that steep in today’s terms.  I find there are a few things that I wasn’t crazy about – the height, the main instrument pod sitting in the distance, and not the best noises suppression – but I liked most other things about it.  With so many Priuses going the long haul, this one will probably do the same … and look a lot more presentable while doing it. - - - - - PHOTOS FORTHCOMING  
    • trinacriabob
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By trinacriabob · Posted

      I'm laughing.   There are always reasons why things are "discounted." With me, it's DFW and Austin that give me heartburn.  San Antonio, too, even though I don't know it as well.  I just don't like the look of the DFW area, whether natural or built.  I don't like Austin for being the governmental engine of a big red place next to a massive university with over 50,000 students that is a big blue place.  I'm more of a moderate and don't want extremes in either element.  I also don't like the "way cool" leanings in Austin. Houston has its negatives, but I'd take it for nearby Galveston, and water in general, the extensive pinewoods, the dark red brick homes, an attractive downtown, and for being America's most ethnically diverse city that has always rolled with that spirit.  There is no "you shouldn't be here" factor.  IIR, I've heard of a saying about Madrid that goes, 'When you're in Madrid, you're from Madrid.'  Having lived in various places, I pay attention to those subleties.
    • G. David Felt
      Random Thoughts Thread

      By G. David Felt · Posted

      Very cool to see This Hyundai Ioniq 5 Owner Managed 413,991 Miles In Under Four Years, With One Big Catch
    • G. David Felt
      Tariff Tuesday - Big Trouble in Little Crossovers

      By G. David Felt · Posted

      Removing tariffs that idiot47 caused so much pain with for getting nothing in return show how stupid a person can be in not understanding true business and how to negotiate.  A real man with Business sense would have put together a package of tariffs to present to China to address specific areas that are an imbalance not just attack everything and see what falls out. As such, incompetence in not understanding the long road map to building greatness shows how foolish the current administration is and now they are going to sign an exception list for the auto industry. Destroy good trading partners just to cause Chaos! Never a sound business strategy. Trump to Sign Order Later Tuesday Easing Auto Tariff Impact

  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online

  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

I've whitelisted
Continue without support

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search