Fiat Wants Mid-2011 Makeovers for Chrysler Minivans, Caliber, PT Cruiser

I don't have have a good feeling here. I like the new Grand Cherokee—but this vehicle should have occurred the last go-round, not for the 2011 MY.

Prediction: Long term, only the Jeep and Ram brands will survive.

Agree with rsholland. Maybe include a Viper "brand".

I'm not sure how they'll be able to justify building more LX-based cars when they are certainly no benchmarks of efficiency.

I don't marketing Chrysler as an upmarket choice is such a bad idea. All cars that aren't complete econoboxes are getting better materials and high tech gadgets. Slapping wood and leather on Chryslers and leaving Dodge with the plastics isn't a terrible idea.

And Alfas, I assume, would constitute the 'sporty' choice.

The old Chrysler was dying a long slow death and Damiler sped it up a lot.

I think breeding in some new life from a brand that is very different from what North Americans are used to is a very good idea. Of course there is alway the potential for them to screw it all up but I think something interesting will happen here.

Fiat and Alfa have the premium products and sub compact products that Chrysler is lacking. Chrysler has the trucks, Jeeps, V8s and infrastructure that Fiat is lacking.

I see no reason to be negative about what will happen over the next 5 years.

How about the Sebring and Dodge variant. It sucks now and desperately needs a makeover.

Here's the thing about people saying, "that's what they should have done back when"...that's whole the point, they didn't do it back then, hey're doing it now. These are big ol' hind-sight comments. This is showing that we're coming back. New vehicles, new people, better interiors, etc.

I'm looking forwartd to the new GC. I've had four Jeeps, gotten lucky with all of them regarding reliability. And this new one looks like a giant leap forward in design, materials, and most of all technology.

We need to erase the past from our minds (the majority of it anyways, there were plenty of good vehicles), and move on. It seems like there's going to be a big shift in Fiat/Chryslers portfolio.

I will say that the PT re-do better be good. Because, um, yeah, that thing is old.

I think Dodge and Jeep should be what GMC was supposed to be for GM (and Jeep should dump the Compass and leave that one to Dodge), and that's trucks and 4x4's.
Chrysler should make their vehicles a little more upscale. IMHO of course. And there's much else to be done.

The Grand Cherokee will be the best looking SUV in the segment.

smilez

I've been asking for a Grand Cherokee with a fully independent suspension, that's off-road capable, for well over a decade. And, now, they're finally offering one. So for me, this is not a "hind-sight" comment.

The current generation Grand Cherokee, to me, is a huge disappointment. It's just another me-too effort that did little to advance the state-of-the-art for this market segment. All it's doing is treading water until the 2011 model arrives. I don't even care for the styling. That's why I'm saying this '11 model should have debuted the last go-round.

I'm in agreement with you rsholland. I'm just saying that there's PLENTY they should have done before that we all wish would have happened. But it didn't happen, and that's why we're in the mess we're in as an American auto industry.

This is just showing that strides ARE being made, one by one. And I for one, am glad the GC is one of the starting points.

I'm not happy with the WK version of the GC. Everyone came out with three row models and the GC got smaller. I have a Commander, so I've got the three rows taken care of, but it's only like 2 inches longer. But the body style is good ol' fashion Jeep. But you're right, the GC is just a me-too, that didn't even stack up to the me-too quota.

The Hemi, when it came out, was the talk of the town. I've even had a mechanic tell me that it's one of the cleanest burning engines there is. But it goes through gas like there's a whole in the tank.
This equals another not-so-up-to-date decision by Chrysler.

Now, there's the Phoenix lines. Big improvement (on paper), the terrain response that is this year's cliche (sp?) for 4x4's. Fully independent suspension, as you stated, and so much more.

All I'm saying is let's look forward to what's going to happen and stop harping on the past. I think we're all in agreement that way, WAY too many bad choices were made, and although we knew it, they didn't acknowledge it. Well, they have now and everything's looking up.

Let's just hope they follow through.

And to clarify, I mean the GC is a starting point for Chrysler. Other companies have been looking up for a little while now.

Unfortunately, smilez, the past (whether failure or success) plays a big role in peoples' perception of brand quality.

It does, but it will only continue to do so if people continue to bring it up without looking at what's being done now to reverse those thoughts.

Open your minds people. In 2008, 5 of the top 14 nameplates in reliability ratings were American. And they all rose in status over 2007. I think that's a good start.

Yes, American manufacturers have a long way to go bring back our trust. But if no ones going to let them, then we're already screwed.

And on a lighter note, for those who say they don't build them like they used to, may I bring your attention to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CU-k0XmLUk

Just a departing Friay laugh.

Chrysler wasn't dying during the mid-nineties when Daimler came calling. They were thriving, which is why Daimler was interested.

Regarding the task force -- so the General Secretary and his comrades *don't* want to run the car companies? Puhleeez. Where the heck is the executive branch's authority to do any of this?

What Chrysler should do:
- Import Fiat models NOW and distribute via select Chrysler dealerships as Fiats, Alfas, etc.
- Initiate a second wave of dealership closings, costs be damned
- Invite Fiat into the GEMA plant
- Drop the Chrysler nameplate
- Drop any vehicle that does not add to the bottom line
- Continue shipping jobs overseas where labor is cheaper
- Pressure UAW/CAW into submission
- Cooperatively develop hybrids

What Chrysler will do:
- Rebadge certain Fiat models as Chryslers
- Keep all dealerships out of fear of lawsuits
- Develop all core products separately
- Eventually be forced to sell the Jeep brand
- Might be forced to sell the "Ram" brand
- Continue to promise hybrids but not deliver
- Beg for another bailout
- Declare bankruptcy
- Fiat sells off their share
- Wash, rinse, repeat