The latter gave up all of its shares for a reported €34.1 ($47.1) million – they had been purchased back in 2007, when things were still apparently going well…
Now, the Italian automaker will have complete access to the entire yearly production run of 90,000, though, not all of them are for automotive use. Models such as the newly released Ram 1500 EcoDiesel and the slightly older Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel do use the three-liter V6 unit. It is competent, but not necessarily a benchmark compared to the array of similar units in use around Europe.
For both Fiat and Chrysler, I don’t think there’s any downside to the deal whatsoever, especially if the diesel market in the US picks up like it has been speculated that it might, and demand grows. In fact, we heard rumors that it may be introducing a diesel version of the 300 sedan to counter the increasingly large number of Euro-derived oil burners ending up on sale in the US, and we can speculate as to the connectedness of it all, but we’ll leave that up to you.
By Andrei Nedelea
Fiat is considering assembling the Cherokee at its existing plant in the country rather than build a new facility for it – that would also help it fill unused capacity as the Viaggio sedan it manufactures in China is forecast to miss sales targets for 2013 and 2014 by more than 60 percent.
Viaggio sales are reportedly affected by the model’s lack of visibility on the market. The compact sedan debuted on the Chinese market in September 2012. Although Fiat targeted production of 100,000 Viaggios this year and as much as 200,000 next year, analysts estimate sales of only 40,000 units this year and 54,000 units in 2014. The Dodge Dart-based Fiat Viaggio was made specifically for China and competes in the market’s biggest segment.
Both the Viaggio and the new Cherokee use the same underpinnings as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, so building them in the same plant would make economic sense for Fiat. The Cherokee, which is called the “Zi You Guang” in China (“Liberty Light”), would also be exempted from the 25 percent import duties. Jeep is more recognizable than Fiat in China because in the 1980s, it was the first western badge built in the country. No Jeep vehicles are currently made in China after the plant shifted to Mercedes-Benz vehicles about 10 years ago during DaimlerChrysler’s ownership of the Jeep brand.
Fiat and Chrysler declined to comment on production plans for China.
By Dan Mihalascu
The Ram Sun Chaser show truck is a leisure vehicle for surfing fans that even includes a shower. Based on the Ram 1500 Quad Cab, the vehicle features Vibrance Orange Blast, with two-tone Brilliant Black paint, a unique concept Mopar roof rack, dubbed the “surf rack,” and two adjustable support rails housed within the tracks of the truck’s bed, for accommodating a long surfboard. Hooks on the side of the rails can also carry up to four boards.
The concept’s exclusive RamBox bed-side storage features a concept water tank equipped with a hose and a portable shower head, forming a makeshift shower kit that may be clipped on to the rack for a quick rinse. The shower can be used to wash off salt water or seaweed. The Ram Sun Chaser rides on unique 17 x 8-inch beadlock wheels with color-keyed rings.
The Fiat 500L Adventurer features modifications that transform the five-seater by giving it a tough, rugged appearance. The exterior is enhanced with Bright White body paint, two-tone accent wheel flares and rockers painted in Satin Black. The roof is painted Vibrance Bright Orange and features Mopar roof rails and a large roof basket. The vehicle sits on 18 x 7.5-inch custom concept wheels embellished with FIAT logo center caps.
Other visual enhancements are the custom 500L graphics on the door panels, orange mirror caps, tinted taillights, tinted chrome exhaust tips, molded splash guards, and a chrome FIAT logo ring. On the inside, black perforated suede Katzkin seats and pearl leather seatbacks are the highlights. The interior also features a two-tone instrument panel with a white leather insert and various Mopar accessories.
The Jeep Cherokee Trail Carver is a vehicle with capabilities to handle the rugged off-road. It uses the Trailhawk 4x4 package powered by a 3.2-liter V6 engine as a starting point. The exterior is colored in Auburn Pearl paint, with low-gloss black and Granite Crystal with low-gloss clear touches.
The SUV features unique Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk hood and roof topographical graphics bordered in Crush Orange, with matching orange tow hooks. The top of the vehicle sports a concept roof basket design fitted with a front wind deflector. The off-road character of the vehicle is underlined by the aggressive tires and the rock rails.
The interior has Katzkin Amaretto leather seats, with colored leather in the center, leather wrapping on the center console, storage door and armrest, and matching color stitching on the seats.
Mopar will also display a 2014 Chrysler 300S featuring a sinister look thanks to the Phantom Black Tri-coat paint, darkened headlights and 13-bar black “Gotham” grille surround. The car also has lowering kit and rides on 20x8-inch wheels from the Chrysler 300C John Varvatos Limited Edition. At the rear, a black SRT spoiler and smoked taillights complete the exterior changes.
The interior features luxurious touches like the Katzkin “Bisque” leather on the seats and door bolster inserts.
By Dan Mihalascu
The publication said that during the two months that Chrysler started production of the cars, and while its engineers were working on the problems that popped up, it built around 23,000 Cherokees, which is double the number mentioned in another recent report.
Nevertheless, customers have been flocking Jeep stores asking for the new Cherokee, according to dealers like Josh Towbin, co-owner of Las Vegas-based Towbin Automotive, who said: "Demand has been good. We've been asked every single day when it's going to arrive, and we're going to take every one we can get."
From what we understand (since Chrysler hasn't really been open about it), the biggest problem that caused the delay in the 2014 Cherokee's launch was an issue with the new nine-speed automatic transmission's software.
Update: Chrysler officially confirmed the news with a short statement saying, "2014 Jeep Cherokees began arriving at dealerships today".
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