Carpocalypse - Jalopnik

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Dodge Viper Dead Again, New Fiat Alliance Product To Replace In Summer 2012
The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
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DeLorean Solstice In Doubt After Fisker Buys Old GM Plant
REPORT: The Not-So-All-New Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep And Alfa Lineup!

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Alfisted
11/04/09

In reply to Dodge Viper Dead Again, New Fiat Alliance Product To Replace In Summer 2012
I can name a number of cars with lovely Italian bodies and torquey American V8s but am wracking my memory for a sporting American car with Italian power. Any help? #dodgeviper
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ChiefPontiaxe
11/04/09

@Alfisted: Sorry initially misunderstood the question. The correct answer is Vector M12 #dodgeviper
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Alfisted
11/04/09

@ChiefPontiaxe: Ooh, I forgot about that soap opera. Thanks. #dodgeviper
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I was drivin' that Model A
11/04/09

In reply to Dodge Viper Dead Again, New Fiat Alliance Product To Replace In Summer 2012
Gawd.

As long as they don't call it Alliance, Medallion, Avenger, Nitro, Reliant, or any other crap which has FAIL written on it in indelible marker, it'll be better than the Sebring.

Erk. That's probably what they'll call it.

(repeatedly smacks forehead)

The Viper ain't goin' nowhere. That tooling is paid for. #dodgeviper
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
11/04/09

In reply to Dodge Viper Dead Again, New Fiat Alliance Product To Replace In Summer 2012
Are they losing money building the Viper? If not, keep building it. At the very least you can roll out an infinite series of commemorative editions or tribute models.

You can slot in a high end Alfa either above or below the Viper and keep each well differentiated, and complementary. Viper is all about raw power and a stripped down experience. The Alfa can stress refinement, handling, creature comforts, fuel efficiency, whatever.

Maybe that would help you get those last Sebrings off the showroom floor? #dodgeviper
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GreenN_Gold
11/04/09

In reply to Dodge Viper Dead Again, New Fiat Alliance Product To Replace In Summer 2012
Save the Vipers!

Hopefully this is just snake oil. #dodgeviper
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Pessimippopotamus
11/04/09

In reply to Dodge Viper Dead Again, New Fiat Alliance Product To Replace In Summer 2012
Well. Ferrari in the sense that the engine might be based on a 10 year old Ferrari engine design through Maserati. But Chrysler's used to taking someone else's trash and making a living, right? #dodgeviper
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Elhigh
11/04/09

In reply to Dodge Viper Dead Again, New Fiat Alliance Product To Replace In Summer 2012
I'm hungry for some spicy Italian made in America. Let's have it.

By-zee-bye, the new Chrysler logo doesn't really speak to me. The old pentastar didn't mean much, but what with all the tortured convolutions of corporate jockeying it didn't seem wrong either - maybe they were trying to invoke a demon. Or if you included what little shards of AMC were left when they started using it, it represented five corporate divisions. What's up with the eagle?

Or is it supposed to be a phoenix? That wouldn't suck. And nobody at Pontiac gets to complain, because they're gone. #dodgeviper
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Sloop_John_B
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep

Simple. Add this, make it cheap, and I will buy. I would absolutely purchase an offroad capable, barebones Jeep Truck. #chrysler
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FrankGrimes
11/04/09

@Sloop_John_B: I concur X eleventybillion #chrysler
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GasGuzzler
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
There's a lot of upside to the Fiat marriage. Granted, I am the eternal optimist as I'm a Mopar man at heart, but I truly do believe that Fiat's market position allowed them to have a lot better understanding than Daimler (and even more so, Cerberus) ever could.

The Wrangler and Grand Cherokee are the best at what they do (especially the sexy new '11 GC, good work Ralph). Those two vehicles, the new Dodge Ram lineup (of which the new HD should be able to make some solid sales before the '11 SD and GMT900 are released, and even after thanks to the Cummins), and the revised LX platform are enough to make Chrysler's contribution to the alliance worthwhile.

Marry those solid, well built, well designed American vehciles with some of the new Fiat small cars and I think it'll work. I always thought Fiat's were garbage until I was in Europe last year and I found them to be impressive little buggers. A bit ugly, yes. But Chrysler stylists have always been some of the best in the biz and I think Marchionne knows that and will turn them loose to add some "American flavor" to the Italian cars.

Good luck Chrysler, I'm rootin' for ya. #chrysler
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MushyHeirloom
11/04/09

@GasGuzzler: Based on the Grande Punto 1.4 I encountered in Scotland, their interior materials are even comparable, so it won't take much adaptation in that regard.

You're right - they seem to be ditching most of Chrysler's useless junk, but maintaining the vehicles that are still at all desirable. A good thing. #chrysler
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GasGuzzler
11/04/09

@MushyHeirloom: That's the thing that should be interesting. I'll be the first to admit, as the owner of many recent Chrysler products, their interiors, while being well assembled, lacked the "soft touch" materials that the auto press clamors for. Some of Fiat's long in the tooth models are evident of the same ideology, hard plastics, maybe not the most attractive. I find it funny that the auto press lambasts cars here and endlessly compares us to european cars when in all seriousness, European cars are full of plenty of hard plastics themselves.

I know the S-max Focus I drove around for a week wasn't high on my list of interior luxuries.

This press conference is showing some good thinking on the product side. Much better than Cerberus' or Daimler's "plans" ever were. #chrysler
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FTGDWolverineEdition'09
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
BTW if anyone wants to listen to the plans of an Italian-Canadian trying to save an Italian-American company you can do so via the Chrysler webcast.

Link: [investor.shareholder.com]
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Edited by FTGDWolverineEdition'09 at 11/04/09 10:38 AM

brandegee
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
Jeep is not a killer. It's a piggy bank. It's a life support device. It's comfortable, simple, profitable, and easy to market. For a company floundering with automotive product, it's the "well, thank goodness Cherokee sales are still strong" division. And eventually, even Jeep cannot prevent the inevitable.

Sure, the product needs a relaunch, but Jeep the brand is basically free money for FIAT. #chrysler
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TheSwagger
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
How to fix Jeep: 1. Bring back the 4.0L I-6. 2. Make it affordable and offroad capable. 3. ???? 4. Profit! #chrysler
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brandegee
11/04/09

@TheSwagger: Don't hold your breath. Chrysler was fortunate not to get into more trouble over the motor's poor emissions performance. One of the all-time great engines, but its time is probably done. #chrysler
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GasGuzzler
11/04/09

@brandegee: It already is done - the venerable AMC I-6 has made it's trip out to the "cursed Earth" and it' ain't comin' back. #chrysler
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Timtoolman, going ASH
11/04/09

@GasGuzzler: AMC's was a 4.2. I think the 4.0 was all Chryco. #chrysler
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BraappBraapp is losing faith in the commentariat
11/04/09

@Timtoolman, going ASH: Nope, AMC first. I know this cause it was made at the old american motors plant 25 miles from my house in kenosha.
[www.allpar.com] #chrysler
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brandegee
11/05/09

@BraappBraapp is losing faith in the commentariat: Interesting read. I always thought the NOx emissions killed the long-stroke, but it turns out the tooling was also so old that it would been immensely expensive to replace. #chrysler
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Timtoolman, going ASH
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
I think the majority of us would LIKE to root for the underdog, but I'm getting more and more disillusioned with the path of all of these jokers. First, Daimler dumped them, presumably after 1. taking all the cash they had, and 2. not putting any new money in. Second, Cerberus, who realized what a disaster Daimler had, only after the fact, and put no money into the company...as one guy said, "we're going to save our way into prosperity". Now Fiat "buys" 20% of the company for NO MONEY and promises to put NO MONEY into the company.

Yeah, I'm optimistic this is going to work out well for the future of what is left of Chrysler. #chrysler
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Alfisted
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep

Coming soon... the export only Fiat-based Jeep Jolly. #chrysler
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Ehrich Blackhound
11/04/09

@Alfisted: Haha, who built that...The Professor? #chrysler
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beercheck
11/04/09

@Ehrich Blackhound: How long have you been waiting to play that card? #chrysler
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weatherman
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
I've always been suprised at what little presence Jeep has in Central and South America. Seems like when I go down there it's all Mitsubishi and Toyota. I'm sure there's a great market for the Cherokee (as the Liberty is known SOTB), the Wrangler and especially the Unlimited. And dare I hope, the Comanche...? #chrysler
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Flathead Smith
11/04/09

In reply to The New New Chrysler Is The Old Jeep
A "Jeeps based on Fiat technology" doesn’t sound like a good plan. #chrysler
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drewdrawshashtags
11/04/09

@Flathead Smith: I think that a Fiat Panda 4x4 makes a better Jeep than the Compass. That said, I don't think it should be a Jeep. #chrysler
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