FIAT News

Meant for Emerging Markets only supposedly.

Marchionne yesterday received the Man of the Year award from the Journal de l'Automobile, France's premier car mag.

Apparently Fiat is pulling out of the JV with Bertone to build the Lancia Coupe'.

Bertone is in danger of folding

Originally Posted by BigFoot

Bertone is in danger of folding

Thats sad

It's getting political now as a lot of jobs are on the line...

Marchionne yesterday said that Fiat's planning a low-cost car with the Innocenti brand.

He also said that the new 500 may be sold in the US () though not before 2010 (which seems to be the date for Alfa's launch there too).

It looks like that Fiat may end up building the new Mercerdes A Class

Article (in German - sorry)

Originally Posted by BigFoot

It looks like that Fiat may end up building the new Mercerdes A Class

Article (in German - sorry)

no, won't happen, from what i've heard Mercedes are dropping the A-Class, which is a welcome bit of news for dealers!

Originally Posted by BigFoot

It looks like that Fiat may end up building the new Mercerdes A Class

Article (in German - sorry)

oh crap, i take it back i think you're right!!! Damn thats bad news for Mercedes dealers! But i read that in sorta payback for Merc using Fiats expertise at building small cars, Merc could share platforms (or such like) for their forthcoming E-Class with Fiat, however this probably means the replacement for the 166 would be pushed back!

Dunno dude, not sure why Fiat would want to help Merc take market share away from their key segment

In an interview with a German newspaper, Marchionne on Friday mentioned that cracking the German market is one of the two biggest challenges at Fiat. The other one is making Alfa Romeo successful

How about Lancia? Not even mentioned? Booh...

Nope, no mention.

Originally Posted by BigFoot

In an interview with a German newspaper, Marchionne on Friday mentioned that cracking the German market is one of the two biggest challenges at Fiat. The other one is making Alfa Romeo successful

Well updating their cars and actually improving their curs during a model run would help. Once you have bought for example, an Alfa 147 2.0 ,their was actually no real reason to buy another. New brakes and new dampers/shocks and you had a better car than Alfa Romeo could produce. No engine updates, just some tarting up. Way to Go Alfa Romeo, saved me loads of money!

Do you think Alfa wait to long between model runs?You may have a point.
Although the likes of bmw and mercedes seems to update/facelift quite often.Then again finances permit this and also there's the issue of resale remaining relatively strong,something Alfa needs to address.

Well, the 147 is really stretching its life isn't it? I really can't see it running for another two years or so until the 149 comes around...

I think the Junior is expected to arrive early 2008.
Although i don't know if production has started yet.

Junior wont' be sold until about mid 2008 in Europe so we in OZ will not see it until 2009. The 149 is probably about 2010 for OZ.

Fiat to build a cross-over (with Alfa to follow)? Linky

Originally Posted by BigFoot

Fiat to build a cross-over (with Alfa to follow)? Linky

I suppose you need to keep up with the Jones' even in the automobile industry.CX's are becoming very popular but why would Fiat pit themselves against with their own subsidiary for a same market share?,seems a little strange.Unless they were so closely based on one another so as to share many of the same parts other than the badge.

Well Fiat does a lot of that with Lancia (or at least used to). It's a way of sharing the development costs.

For example, I thought the 149 will share the Bravo platform.

Originally Posted by BigFoot

Fiat to build a cross-over (with Alfa to follow)? Linky

If Alfa's cross-over looks anything like the Kamal, it would be a welcome sight.