Chrysler to Sell 4 Fiat 500 Models in U.S., CEO Says

[mart]

Chrysler to Sell 4 Fiat 500 Models in U.S., CEO Says

According to Marchionne, Chrysler's future is going
to be in selling rebranded FIAT 500 micro cars. Base
engine is a 1.2L 4-banger, with a 1.3L "Big block"
(Whoo hoo!) option!!! I can hardly wait! I'm sure that
as soon as these 'things' (calling them cars is a bit of
a stretch) hit the showrooms, North American consumers
will suddenly be dumping their Hemi Chalengers, their
Hemi 300s and their Hemi Ram pickups and lining up to
buy a new FIAT-Chrysler 500 micro-car......NOT!!!!
To get a look at these "things" check out this Wikipedia
article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Nuova_500

mart
--------------------------------
"We (You) don't need 5.7 Litre Hemi V8s"
- FIAT-Chrysler Charman Sergio 'Slash and Burn" Marchionne
---------------------------------------------------------------
Bloomberg News
http://www.bloomberg.com
July 2, 2009

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid= ... 6CGJr4jIwI

Chrysler to Sell 4 Fiat 500 Models in U.S., CEO Says

By Mike Ramsey and Sara Gay Forden

Last Updated: July 2, 2009 14:19 EDT

July 2 (Bloomberg) -- Chrysler Group LLC, the U.S.
automaker run by Fiat SpA, will sell four models of
the Italian carmaker’s 500 subcompact in the U.S.,
Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne said.

Chrysler, which emerged from bankruptcy on June
10, will eventually sell a convertible, wagon and
sporty version called the “Abarth” in addition to
the four-seat subcompact in the U.S., Marchionne
said in an interview on June 30. While the base 500
will go on sale next year, he didn’t say when the
other models will be available.

“All of those cars will be coming to the U.S.,”
Marchionne said. “Fiat will be known in the U.S.
purely in terms of its 500 car.”

Fiat, based in Turin, Italy, owns 20 percent of
Chrysler Group, and is sharing vehicles and
technology with the U.S. car company in
exchange for ownership. Fiat said it sold 190,000
of the small cars, which are about the same size
as Bayerische Motoren Werke AG’s Mini.

In Europe, the Fiat small car can be equipped
with a 1.2- liter or 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine
or a 1.3-liter turbo diesel. The 1.4-liter engine
variant gets a combined, city- highway average
of 36 miles per gallon under European regulatory
standards.

“Its biggest impact will be to spark interest in
bringing people back into the dealerships,”
Aaron Bragman, a Troy, Michigan-based analyst
with IHS Global Insight Inc., said in an interview.
“Given the fact that it is an unusual car and quirky
and cute, it is a good car for them.”

Chrysler’s most efficient model today is the
Dodge Caliber, which gets 24 to 30 miles per
gallon.

Chrysler, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, filed
for bankruptcy on April 30 because of plunging
car sales.

--------------------
To contact the reporters on this story: Mike
Ramsey in Southfield, Michigan, at
mramsey6@bloomberg.net; Sara Gay Forden
===============================================
in Milan at sforden@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: July 2, 2009 14:19 EDT

[scottm]

The only way they're going to be able to sell micro cars in
mass quantities is if they outlaw large cars and/or raise the
cost of fuel an exhorbitant amount.

Govt owners will take care of the former.
"Cap-and-tax" will take care of the latter.

I should find a '70 Cuda or '69 Camaro while I still can...