The Fiat-controlled Chrysler Group says it will propel itself back into profit with a massive product blitz over the next five years.
The plans were revealed over a marathon six-hour press conference in Detroit, where Chrysler bosses detailed how the company intends to relaunch and rebrand Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler, boosting global sales from this year’s low of 1.3m to 2.8m in 2014.
Chrysler says that by 2014 half of its models will be based on Fiat Group platforms and many of its engines will use Fiat Multiair variable valve technology, including Chrysler’s new Pentastar V6 powerplant.
Fiat will become the leader in small petrol and diesel engines and Chrysler the leader for large engine, hybrids and electric cars.
In four years’ time, the combined Chrysler/Fiat Group should be producing a combined total of over five million vehicles per year, a number regarded by boss Sergio Marchionne as the minimum volume required for a single car maker to prosper.
Chrysler says it has already completely re-thought its quality processes in reaction to what it admitted were unacceptable standards over the last few years. The company is also reorganising its manufacturing systems and overhauling its factories.
By 2014, Chrysler Group is predicting that its US market share will have risen to 11 per cent from the six per cent low it suffered in 2009. The company says it will make an operating profit next year and break even in 2011. The money it borrowed from the US state as a result of its bankruptcy will be paid back by 2014, according to financial projections.
Dodge plansThe Dodge brand has been given a new logo and will be repositioned as being "more youthful and more refined", with a "more visceral driving experience" and much-improved quality.
The new models will be available in one of five ‘lifestyle packages’ including ‘uptown luxury’ and ‘cool extrovert’.
2010: Completely revamped versions of the Avenger and Journey crossover with much improved interiors, handling and refinement. The brand will also get a new Charger and big new Crossover.2011: A new version of the Nitro is "under consideration".2012: Dodge gets a new Golf-size saloon based on Fiat platform. A new Viper based on Fiat group tech is under consideration.2013: A Fiat-based Avenger replacement and Punto-based hatchback.2014: An all-new big MPV.
Jeep plansHaving peaked at 609,000, Jeeps global sales crashed to just 497,000 in 2008. The company’s aim is to boost that over 800,000 by 2014. Chrysler says Jeep was hit by a doubling of competitors in the SUV segment as well as the arrival of ‘crossovers’.
In the future, most Jeep models will be more tuned to on-road use and will come in two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive versions, although a new platform architecture will allow the company to build cars that can be optimized for road and ‘Trail Rated’ off-road.
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Re: Fiat/Chrysler's five-year plan
"combined total of over five million vehicles per year, a number regarded by boss Sergio Marchionne as the minimum volume required for a single car maker to prosper."
BMW produces slightly over one million and they do seem to prosper nonetheless as far as I can tell.
Re: Fiat/Chrysler's five-year plan
Multijet 2
"With Injection Rate Shaping it is possible to reduce noise, fuel consumption and, in view of the Euro 6 limits, pollutant emissions.
Thanks to the Multijet II and IRS, the Diesel technology makes a big step towards the fulfilment of the future Euro 6 emissions standard, achieved with a combustion improvement while reducing the need of further aftertreatment devices."
[url]http://www.fptmultijet2.com/eng/[/url]
Re: Fiat/Chrysler's five-year plan
America does not have higher vehicle emission standards. 4 states in the US do, Calafornia and three others that adopted Calafornian legislation. The problem is not so much particulates either, it's NOx. Calafornia has very, very good reasons for trying to reduce NOx emissions (population density, climate, microclimates within certain cities etc). Now, a car manufacturer is not going to sell a vehicle that can not be sold in all 50 states, so the diesel options are limited. VW have the 2.0TDI with a special Cat, the 3.2v6 with Merc's bluetec equipment fitted and finally Merc's bluetec engine. This technology does push the price over that for a traditional petrol engine, especially as they are yet to go down the more efficient, but more expensive route of direct injection, turbo charging etc as is the trend in Europe with petrol engines. Diesel prices right now are on a parity with petrol, over the winter they'll increase, then in the summer they'll drop to lower.
Even if not brought over in passenger cars Fiat/Chrysler should considering bringing over diesel in some form for the commerical vehicle market. The Dodge Sprinter (a merc sprinter taken apart, shipped, rebuilt) sold well, despite many feeling that a 3.0 diesel couldn't shift a vehicle that size (stupidity really, the 2.1 did just fine in the sprinter, the 3.0 is a beast of a machine, but they are all auto which saps some power).