Skip to main content

More Fiat-Chrysler SUVs for Europe

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has announced that the Fiat brand will be moving away from mass-market models to focus on producing more SUVs in markets like Europe. The brand will use this approach to exploit the demand for SUVs of all sizes in the European market. As per the plan, the first cars were the Fiat 500X small SUV, accompanied by its Jeep sibling, the Renegade. Our sister publication, Autocar UK, has also revealed that the two brands are working on a pair of larger SUV models based on the same high-end platform.
More Fiat-Chrysler SUVs for Europe

At the recent Geneva motor show, FCA boss Sergio Marchionne said, Fiat would no longer attempt to be a “mass-market brand” and will not attempt to offer a “full range” of models. He added that Fiat would “focus on what it does best”.
In extracting the best from what remains of the Fiat brand, Marchionne and his team have devised a four-pronged plan. The biggest growth areas in the European market are the SUV and premium segments. The premium sector will be addressed by the reinvention of Alfa Romeo and, to a lesser extent, rising sales and new models from Maserati. Fiat is already very well placed in the market for small cars with its 500 line-up. The 500 hatchback and the bigger 500L MPV are both segment leaders in Europe, and Fiat’s main challenge will be to maintain and progress the success of the 500 family.
Fiat will attack the SUV sector with the new 500X small SUV and an upcoming Nissan Qashqai-sized SUV. The production of these models will be profitable because they will share components with, and be built alongside a pair of Jeep sister cars. Additionally, the sophisticated platform underpinning the new 500X and Jeep Renegade can also be scaled for use on the bigger Fiat and Jeep models.
Farther down the line, Fiat and Jeep may launch more products based on the same platform as the 500L MPV and will be built in Turkey, where labour rates are cheaper.
Even under Marchionne’s rigorous approach, the Fiat brand will get a ‘halo’ model. The car that started life as Alfa Romeo’s version of the new Mazda MX-5 will now be sold as the Fiat 124 Spider, a reference to the classic Pininfarina-designed roadster that was sold between 1966 and 1985.
Closer home, FCA has, in the past, confirmed its plans of launching the Jeep brand in India. It is also likely that an SUV on the lines of the Jeep Renegade for the Indian market. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2018 Lamborghini Urus India review, test drive

             On first introduction, it’s a recipe for intimidation. It’s claimed to be the fastest SUV in the world (0-100kph in 3.6sec and a top speed of 305kph puts it nearly in supercar territory), and it’s made by Lamborghini – creator of some of the most savage vehicles on the market. Things – as with any Lamborghini, for that matter – would be a lot less daunting if we were driving on a smooth European country road, a wide motorway, or even a race track. But today we’re driving the Urus on a narrow  ghat  road, as well as through some heavy Pune traffic. Perhaps the intention was to demonstrate that this is the first Lamborghini ever to go on sale in India that truly works in our conditions – but still, I doubt they accounted for rush hour. It’s requisitely mad to look at, employing as many ‘sporty’ design tropes to an SUV body style as possible – the only thing missing is a massive wing on the back; and somehow, it works. It’s ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Rolls Royce Cullinan SUV in the works

Rolls Royce has released the first pictures of its Cullinan SUV prototype. The company has said that only the length of the prototype gives clues about the production. The entire car is an engineering mock-up to test the new all-wheel drive transmission and suspension. The prototype, based on a shortened Phantom II, is set for road testing from the second week of April. The company has said that it would “assist Rolls Royce engineers in developing a final suspension system that will deliver the brand's hallmark 'magic carpet' ride not only on the road, but off-road too”. Rolls Royce CEO Torsten Muller-Ötvös had, some time back, confirmed to our sister publication Autocar UK, that the company was developing an all-new four-wheel drive high-bodied Rolls Royce. He had, however, avoided using the word ‘SUV’. The new Rolls Royce is expected to shatter existing price and size ceilings for a SUV, but as per the brand's design boss Giles Taylor, the SUV will be po...
Post a Comment
Read more

Honda City facelift India launch on February 14

                       Honda will launch the refreshed City sedan in the Indian market on February 14, 2017. The carmaker has started accepting bookings for the updated sedan with the booking amount set at Rs 21,000.  The Honda City had long been the best seller in the segment, though in recent months the Maruti Ciaz has risen to the challenge, outselling the City in certain months last year. And with rivals such as Skoda having recently given the Rapid a facelift, and Volkswagen’s near constant updates to the Vento, Honda looks to refresh interest in the City with a facelifted model. Here’s what you can expect from the updated Honda City in India. 1. It sports cosmetic changes: The updated City’s front now gets a Civic-like nose and chin, along with a chrome band running across the grille and spilling over the headlights on both sides. The headlights' shape has been mildly tweaked and now houses LED daytime runn...
Post a Comment
Read more