Fiat News: FCA's Latest Five-Year Plan: What You Need to Know

[William Maley]

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced their latest five-year plan at an investor meeting in Italy. This is important as it will be the final plan presented by CEO Sergio Marchionne who will retire next year. Aside from news about Sergio actually wearing a tie (I'm being completely serious here -WM), there were some interesting bits to come out. We're going to breaking down what is in store for each brand along with intriguing information that was presented.

Jeep:

• Four new models are expected to launch by 2022. They include the Wrangler pickup, Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer, a smaller model to sit underneath the Renegade, and a three-row crossover to sit next to the Grand Cherokee.
• By 2021, Jeep is planning to have an electrification option on each nameplate by 2021, along with Level 3 autonomous capability - basically a car can drive itself in limited situations, but requires a driver to jump in at a moment's notice.
• Diesels will be gradually dropped from the various models, but no timetable was provided.
• A new 'hawk will be joining the Jeep family. Deserthawk will be models setup for "high-speed sand running". Think Ford Raptor as an SUV. This will launch in the first quarter of 2020.
• Production capacity will increase to keep up with the demand for SUV and crossovers around the world.
• Jeep will also introduce Jeep Wave. It's part 'loyalty program' and connected car services, and part subscription service.
  • The loyalty part grants owners of the Hawk models and Wranglers 'Jeep Coins' when purchasing. The coins can be used to borrow other FCA products. Additional coins will be available for purchase. A pilot program will begin in 2019.
  • A more traditional subscription service will launch in 2019. Subscribers pay a monthly fee for access to a fleet of FCA vehicles. Three tiers - Good, Better, and Best - determines vehicle selection, insurance, and concierge services.
  • Jeep will also launch a in-car payment pilot program in 2019 as part of Wave.

Ram Trucks:

• A new Ram Heavy-Duty will be arriving in 2019.
• By 2022, Ram will have three new/redesigned models: A midsize pickup, redesigned ProMaster City, and the high-performance Ram 1500 TRX. The TRX will compete against the Ford F-150 Raptor.
• Both the Ram 1500 and redesigned ProMaster City will come with Level 2 autonomous capability in 2021.

Maserati:

• The Alfieri, which was first shown in 2014 as a concept will finally launch it as the replacement for the GranTurismo by 2022. The platform has been designed in such a way that allows for three different powertrains - including a plug-in hybrid and fully-electric version. Maserati claims a 0-100 kph time of two seconds for the electric version.
• The Alfieri EV will serve as the flagship for Maserati's new Blue lineup. This is the designation for any Maserati model equipped with a fully-electric powertrain comprised of three motors, new battery tech, and all-wheel drive with torque vectoring. The Levante, Ghibli, and Quattroporte will also have Blue models.
• Redesigns of the Ghibli, Levante, and Quattroporte will arrive by 2022. All of them will have a plug-in hybrid option.
• A new, smaller crossover will sit alongside the Levante. It is expected to possibly use the platform that underpins the Stelvio.
• Maserati is hoping to sell 100,000 vehicles by 2022, double the current sales volume.

Alfa Romeo:

• Remember those rumors about the Giulia Coupe? It is real and will be named GTV. Alfa is promising more than 600 horsepower thanks to electric boost, all-wheel drive with torque vectoring, and 50:50 weight distribution.
• 8C will also be making a comeback as a mid-engine coupe. With a twin-turbo gas engine and electric drive system for the front axle, the combined output will be 700 horsepower. It will also feature a carbon fiber monocoque chassis.
• Alfa looks to getting out of the subcompact game as there is no product listed for 2022. They'll be sticking in the compact realm with a new Giuletta.
• Two new crossovers will be joining the lineup. One will sit underneath the Stelvio and the other will sit above. We know a little bit more about the larger model as it will be the first model to debut a new mild-hybrid system. It will be underpinned by a stretched version of the Giulia's platform.
• Also in the cards are long-wheelbase variants for the Giulia and Stelvio (most likely for China) and plug-in hybrid models.

Other Details:

• Fiat got a brief mention during the meeting. There will be a new 500e and a wagon variant known as Giardiniera. Both models will get a new electric powertrain built for small vehicles. The 500L and 500X will come with hybrid powertrains. No time frames were revealed.
• "Chrysler is going to continue to be a relevant brand in the United States," said Marchionne when asked about the brand. No mention of Dodge during the conference.
• FCA will be working a number of partners on developing autonomous vehicles. This includes an expanded partnership with Waymo, along with new partnerships with Aptiv and BMW.
• Diesel will be phased out from all passenger cars in Europe by 2021.

Source: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

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[daves87rs]

Well, it's pretty simple: Chrysler and Dodge were not mentioned because none of the products will be around by 2022.

Journey is done at Toluca in mere weeks....

Good chance of a closure of the Brampton plant (300, along with the charger, challenger) will happen as well...

Durango and Pacficia could simply end up joining the RAM family...

If they want to have a few "special" models. they could just import them from someplace, like China......

As much as I hate the thought-FCA is going to pretty much be Jeep and RAM from here on out.....

Want to hope I am totally wrong, but my gut tells me otherwise....

[Robert Hall]

Next Durango will be the 3 row GC variant in the slide, I bet.   A Ram branded minivan would be odd.  I could see a butched up Pacifica w/ a seven slot grille being a Jeep crossover van...

Given how low the sales #s are, Alfa and Maserati seem pointless to continue..

Edited June 1, 2018 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[smk4565]

Jeep is adding a 3 row D-segment SUV, a 3 row Grand Cherokee and a Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer.  That is 4 new 3-row SUVs, they don't need the Durango anymore, or anything else from Dodge.  FCA's formula will be simple, if you want a crossover, you buy a Jeep, unless you are in the Alfa-Maserati price territory.   And they'll probably exit the sedan market just like Ford did, save for Alfa Romeo and Maserati luxury sedans, which who knows if they even each keep 2 sedans.

[balthazar]

• Despite the continued uptick in CUV sales, Jeep is over-extending by the above chart. Doubling the lineup (from 6 to 11) in 3 years is too ambitious. IMO, a Jeep smaller than the Renegade is not going to pay off in sales, either.

• Showing how much I pay attention to mid-size trucks, I don't think I was aware the Dakota has been dead since 2012... but I assume the proposed future mid-size in the re-entry into that segment. Dodge lost a bunch of sales during all these years there.

• Alfa, fiat & maserati should just get shut down. Dump all that money into Dodge & Ram.

[Robert Hall]

Keep in mind these product forecasts are global, some of those won't be US models, like how the Grand Commander is for China.  And a small Jeep CUV below the Renegade would likely sell in markets like Japan and the UK. 

Edited June 2, 2018 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[balthazar]

But the renegade is only 167"- the same exact size as the 'lifted' fiat 500X.

Anything smaller is nutso.

Edited June 2, 2018 by balthazar

[Robert Hall]

10 minutes ago, balthazar said:

But the renegade is only 167"- the same exact size as the 'lifted' fiat 500X.

Anything smaller is nutso.

The Fiat Panda Cross 4x4 is 145".   I can see them doing a rebodied Jeep version of that.  I bet a Jeep that size would be a hit in Japan if priced right..

 

Edited June 2, 2018 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[G. David Felt]

16 minutes ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

The Fiat Panda Cross 4x4 is 145".   I can see them doing a rebodied Jeep version of that.  I bet a Jeep that size would be a hit in Japan if priced right..

 

Having spent 3 1/2 years of my life going to college in Japan and enjoying the auto scene there you are right on. Everything is much smaller and a small 4x4 Jeep Panda size would be a big hit if it has the right Jeep Rough Off Road look.

24 minutes ago, balthazar said:

But the renegade is only 167"- the same exact size as the 'lifted' fiat 500X.

Anything smaller is nutso.

Nutso for the North America Market for Sure, but for Japan, Korea and even China, it would be a big hit.

[Robert Hall]

4 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Having spent 3 1/2 years of my life going to college in Japan and enjoying the auto scene there you are right on. Everything is much smaller and a small 4x4 Jeep Panda size would be a big hit if it has the right Jeep Rough Off Road look.

Nutso for the North America Market for Sure, but for Japan, Korea and even China, it would be a big hit.

Speaking of small Jeeps, wouldn't a modern day CJ equivalent be cool?  The '50s CJ3s were really tiny compared to a Wrangler.  A baby brother for the Wrangler..

Edited June 2, 2018 by Cubical-aka-Moltar