Thanks to Chrysler Communications Facebook site, global results of Chrysler Group in the US have been released. The good momentum continues during the fith month of 2012. The whole group (included Fiat brand) had sales growth of 30% over May 2011, selling a total of 150.041 cars, or 34.678 more cars than the ones delivered one year ago. Are really good numbers compared with total market growth and competitors performance. The main source tells that 7 models got more than 10.000 units sold volume, lead again by Ram Pickup, up 29%. By brands Dodge delivered 45.793 units (+14%), closely followed by Jeep with 44.198 (+24%), Chrysler up a massive 81% with 29.674, Ram with 26.373 (+23%). Finally Fiat had another record sales with its 500 delivering 4.003 units, up 128%. More analysis in the next days.
Category Archives: Chrysler Group
More aerodynamics in future Chryslers
Chrysler 200C EV Concept Car
Aerodynamics will become a key factor for the performance of coming models of Chrysler Group. This important field is becoming by far one of the topics from which future cars will be able to have better fuel efficiency. It means that design or a specific shape can affect the way the car moves and therefore the quantity of gas required to do so. This principle has been understood by all car makers using their wind tunnels to evaluate their car forms. But now Chrysler wants to go ahead and spend more time in this process according to Ralph Gilles, Chrysler’s design chief. “The wind is starting to sculpt these vehicles”, he said refering to Audi A7 or the redesigned Toyota Avalon in the US. He thinks mid sized sedans can have really aerodynamic shapes and not only sport cars. That’s why he says next Chrysler 200 and 300 will look much more sporty in that sense: “We’ll have no choice but to be some of the most wind-swept vehicles that you’ve ever seen”.
Future Chrysler 300 rendering by Alessandro Masera via autoblog.it
To achieve that requires more time evaluating the aerodynamics coefficient. Now designers are working together with engineers , somtehing that allows cooperation and enhances the ideas they can have. Normally, for a specific project, designers spend 100 hours in the wind tunnel. Gilles wants designers and engineers to spend 200-300 hours per project because he thinks there are lot of small parts in the outline of a car that can be improved in terms of aerodynamics. “It’s amazing the details, especially if you look at the back of a car,” Gilles said. “There are a lot of little flicks and bends that simulate aquatic animals almost.” Then it is just a matter of time to see next generation of Chrysler sedans to look more sporty and dynamic and see very small numbers of fuel consumption.
Source: Automotive News, Joseph Lichterman
Fiat-Chrysler begins its come back to China
After the presentation of Fiat Viaggio in Beijing Auto Show 2012, the Group is getting ready to enter the Chinese market with some of its brands. The Viaggio will be the, by the moment, the only product to be produced locally, but more products from Fiat brand as well as Dodge and Chrysler will soon join Jeep in world’s largest market. Fiat will be initially present with the C-segment sedan, and will import both, the 500 and Freemont from Mexico. The small one will be offered with some specific changes while the large MPV will be offered with the 173hp 2.4 engine. It is also expected the return of Chrysler with its big sedan, the 300C imported from Canada. After being produced in China during Daimlers era, this sedan will go back to China with its facelift and much better interiors to compete with of Germans in D-segment in large version configurations. Its launch will take place in June 26th and its price should be 500.000 yuans (US$79.000). Dodge is also getting ready. Some spy shots reveiled by the site CarNewsChina.com showed its Journey (is the Dodge version as the logo can be seen in the steering wheel). It means that China will be, as it is Brazil, another market to have both models available, Fiat Freemont and Dodge Journey. Nevertheless, it is expected the Journey to be more expensive as it will have a better engine of 283hp 3.6 V6. Its price is not expected to be far from Freemont which starts at $250.000 yuans (US$39.000). All of these models will join the only brand of the group that has not interrupted its presence in China, Jeep.
Dodge Journey/Fiat Freemont. Both models are available in Brazil and soon in China. Photo by autoesporte.com.br
Jeep models are available in China in 120 dealers. They are all imported from North America and it makes them really expensive SUVs. No matter its representation in the country has changed a lot during the last 30 years (its owners were always changing) the brand still has a good reputation among Chinese. Last year they sold 19.013 units, up 63% compared to 2010. Is a small number compared to competition but it can be seen as a good starting point for future sales with local production. In fact Fiat-Chrysler’s plan include the start of production in 2014. In the meantime, Jeeps will continue to be well recognized, and its sales will rise without reaching the big numbers local production means. It is because imported cars are highly taxed by Chinese authorities and it makes Jeep products really expensive: the Grand Cherokee starts at $576.000 yuans (US$91.000). All of that means that Fiat has a lot of potential but they need to start local production as soon as possible if they want a respectable place in this important car market.
America: more 500, future SRT Dart/Jeep, and a RAM diesel?
RAM 1500. Is it coming a diesel version? Photo by netcarshow.com
Some news are coming from America. The latest one is related to Fiat and its successful 500. After the good start of Abarth version with 160 hp, Fiat presents the 500 T version. They saw the lack of a mid size engine between the regular 500 with 105 hp and the Abarth one. That’s why the 500 T with 135 hp will become the option for those wanting more performance than ‘just’ 105 hp but can’t afford $22.000 dollars that costs the Abarth. The T version is expected to keep increasing sales as the car will cost $19.000 dollars $15.200 €, and offers a very nice engine with good especifications inside, though the car will not have Abarth logo. With this version, Fiat 500 family in America is now composed by the 500 Pop starting at $15.500 dollars ($12.350 €), the 500 Lounge, 500 Sport, 500C Pop, 500C Lounge, the 500 Abarth and finally the 500 T. Meanwhile the Electric version of the small car was confirmed to be on sale next year.
American Fiat 500 family. Though the Abarth version is the bestselling one, it’s just offers one body type
Another sporty to arrive, not yet though, is the Dodge Dart SRT version. According to Sergio Marchionne, what is only missing to complete the project is “how big is going to be the engine that will move the Dart to create the SRT version”. It means they are really considering a super powered version of the mid size sedan and maybe use a 4 cylinders turbo version with even more than the 235 hp that moves the Alfa Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde. But as people from Autoblog Spain say, the SRT Dart could be moved by 300 hp and 2.0 MultiAir engine. The problem is that there is no 4 cylinder engine turbo available at the moment.
Dodge Dart GTS 210 Tribute, showed in Chicago Auto Show 2012. Photo by autofan.mx/tag/dodge/
On the other hand future plans of Chrysler group include the elimination of double products. It means the car company does not want to offer anymore two brand options for the same model. That is why they will remove from Chrysler’s range, the Town & Country which is the same car of Dodge Gran Caravan. Instead they will project a lighter minivan to be shared with Lancia and leave the popular Dodge alone. The same destiny for the Jeep Compass as it is practically the same Jeep Patriot. The C-SUV-segment from Jeep will be removed from dealers by the year 2014 to be replaced by a global compact SUV that might share platform with other products of Fiat-Chrysler Group, such as the next generation of Fiat Bravo, which could be replaced by a Cross Over. Regarding this news, it is weird Chrysler wants to get rid of the Town & Country as it was its best seller in 2011 with more than 102.000 units. The MPV is an excellent product that could be even more differenciated from the Dodge version with more luxury interiors. A smaller successor could be also an interesting thing but taking into account that Americans prefer big version of these kind of cars. In the case of the Compass, it has not been certainly a big success and that’s why they should work on a global compact Cross Over to fit expectations of American and European clients and to become a product to expand into other markets.
A render of a possible future compact Jeep. Illustration by inautonews.com
Finally, based on a spy photo, people from Automotive News comment the possible arrival of RAM pickup with diesel engine. They suggest the black speckled stain seen just above the exhaust (a common sign of Diesel engines) could be the proof that Dodge is working on a RAM diesel. Good news that should be analyzed carefully as Americans are not really used to this kind of engines and big trucks had been always associated with big petrol engines. Although diesel cars have become less unpopular in the last months, their market share is still low. In 2011 only 101.624 cars out of 12.7 million of total passenger cars sold in America, had the diesel technique, and none of them was a pickup.
Payment promotion: Chrysler America to maintain its sales growth
Chrysler 300. Photo by netcarshow.com
Chrysler America wants to mantain the good sales records. For this month they are offering people to take any model from their dealers of Chrysler, Dodge, RAM, Jeep and Fiat, and then begin to pay 90 days after. This will certainly boost their domestic sales which have grown up 33% in the first 4 months of 2012 in an overall market that grew 10%. Therefore, it is expected May sales to reach another record, and being much higher than May/11 when the whole group sold 115.363 vehicles, up 10% compared to 2009 figures. So far, best selling models have been the RAM Pickup, up 23%, Grand Cherokee, up 51% and Wrangler, up 30%. The only models to see decrease their sales are Chrysler Town & Country, down 16%, and Dodge Charger, down 7%.
More news from Fiat and Mazda
Fiat-Chrysler said they are ready to increase cooperation with Mazda and build their cars in Fiat and Chrysler plants worldwide. After this week announce of making a Joint Venture to produce the next generation of Mazda MX-5 and a future Alfa Spyder, this time people from F-C went forward to talk about more future plans together. Possible negotiations with a partner is something Fiat guys are working on as part of their plan to become more global and reach at least 6 million units by the year 2016. Mazda, as an independent manufacturer is one of the few available for a merge as they are looking also for a partner to develop new platforms and low costs of development.
Fiat has already some cooperation agreements with other car makers such as the manufacturing of Ford Ka sharing platform and body with Fiat 500, the twins Suzuki SX4 and Fiat Sedici, the common platform that share the Fiat Punto with Opel Corsa, and the Fiat Doblo and Opel Combo. This new intention of bulding Mazda cars could solve the extra production problem that Fiat and general car industry is facing nowadays in Europe. Mazda is mid size Japanese car manufacturer with strong presence in Australia and Israel and interesting numbers in Japan, Thailand, Colombia, the US and Canada. They are now introducing their new SkyActive technology, which is a efficient direct-injection gasoline and diesel engines that achieves, according to Mazda, the world’s highest compression ratio and achieves a 15% improvement in fuel economy.
USA: Chrysler, the only one of big three to grow up in April
April/12 was again an excellent month for Chrysler Group. In a overall market that moderates its growth (just 2%), the Pentastar was the only one of big three from Detroit to increase its registrations. A total of 141000 units of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM and Fiat models were delivered, which represents an increase of 20% on Apr/11 and the 25th consecutive month of sales growth. Market share is also the highest achieved in 2012: 11.9%. This good result is mainly explained by the success of Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, RAM pickup and recently Chrysler 200 and 300. It is also expected the sales to be even better thanks to launch of Dodge Dart, available from June/12.
Nevertheless, Chryslers’ main challenge is to keep this good performance in a market that, despite its recover, is now facing a period of stabilization. And at the same time the Group should focus on improving its range of vehicules in D and E segment in order to face better Toyota, which continues to be the third in the ranking.
Fiat Group World 