FIAT near stake in Chrysler.

[Kitdy]

I dub the new union Fysler.

You heard it here first.

[Ferrer]

You're like, psychic, or something. When the PT Cruiser production ends, they're now planning on building the 500 there: Fiat-Chrysler partnership will bring 7 new models to U.S. - Autoblog

Other products anticipated to come to America as a result of the partnership: a Fiat Panda-based 5-door badged as a Chrysler or a Dodge, the next generation of the Fiat Grande Punto, and a few other models. The full details are in the link above.

I'm not seeing this...

The 500 might work as a cheaper alternative to the Mini. But the MiTo is probably too expensive for America's Alfa Romeo image. The Dodge Panda is destined to fail, and perhaps the mid sized Fiat-based saloons wouldn't flop too badly.

But anyway, we'll see.

[Kitdy]

Seeing how North Americans receive these cars will be interesting. Sadly, I read on Autoblog that the 500 may not be destined for Canada due to stricter crash testing for the front headlights or something. Pity.

[LeonOfTheDead]

There is a tendancy in the US small/Mid sized car market towards sedans/saloons. something the Italians are perhaps not as well suited at as their hatchbacks.

my guess? the Linea will make an apperance also.

the Linea is too cheap to even cross the ocean.
it's not that we are not good at making those smaller sedans, we don't like them, so we design the car as a sedan, and ten turn it into a hatch.
the 156 and Lybra/Marea were the last ones. the Alfa was gorgeous and so sold well, the other were sunk by their wagon versions. See the new Croma available only as a wagon.

[wwgkd]

So if we're getting the 500 are we getting the essesse too, then? Or just the lesser versions?

[Ferrer]

the Linea is too cheap to even cross the ocean.
it's not that we are not good at making those smaller sedans, we don't like them, so we design the car as a sedan, and ten turn it into a hatch.
the 156 and Lybra/Marea were the last ones. the Alfa was gorgeous and so sold well, the other were sunk by their wagon versions. See the new Croma available only as a wagon.

The other way round, you mean.

And arguably those you mention aren't really small saloons.

[IBrake4Rainbows]

the Linea is too cheap to even cross the ocean.
it's not that we are not good at making those smaller sedans, we don't like them, so we design the car as a sedan, and ten turn it into a hatch.
the 156 and Lybra/Marea were the last ones. the Alfa was gorgeous and so sold well, the other were sunk by their wagon versions. See the new Croma available only as a wagon.

All I was alluding to is that the market for Small sedans is somewhat more buoyant in the US than in other parts of Europe. I know Spain is somewhat of an Anomaly with their purchasing habits......

Still, the next gen of Chrysiat models will likely be sedans for the US market.

[LeonOfTheDead]

The other way round, you mean.

And arguably those you mention aren't really small saloons.

in a way, I meant what I wrote, but you can be right too

besides those cars were as big (engineeringly) as a Jetta, and the only sedan smaller than those are some weird stuff as a Fabia sedan, the new Fiesta sedan and so on. I just consider those as a lady with a purse, not another kind of human being (weird analogy, I know).

All I was alluding to is that the market for Small sedans is somewhat more buoyant in the US than in other parts of Europe. I know Spain is somewhat of an Anomaly with their purchasing habits......

Still, the next gen of Chrysiat models will likely be sedans for the US market.

I agree on the market view. We buy sedan only as big as an Alfa 159 (BMW 3 Series) or similars, for the smaller just there isn't a real market, we go directly hatches.

[Kitdy]

Still, the next gen of Chrysiat models will likely be sedans for the US market.

I already taxed the merger name and it's Fysler not Chrysiat. Come on now.

[wwgkd]

I think I've got to go with Fysler.

[Ferrer]

in a way, I meant what I wrote, but you can be right too

besides those cars were as big (engineeringly) as a Jetta, and the only sedan smaller than those are some weird stuff as a Fabia sedan, the new Fiesta sedan and so on. I just consider those as a lady with a purse, not another kind of human being (weird analogy, I know).

Sizeway definitely. But the Alfa and the Lancia were in fact D-segment cars, despite being quite small.

And I like Fysler too.

[IBrake4Rainbows]

It seems as though that even with the Fiat Merger, Chrysler is looking to source small cars through Nissan......

Read me!

[Ferrer]

It seems as though that even with the Fiat Merger, Chrysler is looking to source small cars through Nissan......

Read me!

And that Fiat is still looking to merge with PSA and have a partnership with BMW.

Italian Leyland, anyone?

[f6fhellcat13]

And that Fiat is still looking to merge with PSA and have a partnership with BMW.

Italian Leyland, anyone?

European Leyland.
Maybe all the car companies in the world can merge...

...and then go bust. Leaving us to ride rickshaw's to work.

I'm sure this has been said many times, but I really don't like big automotive conglomerates. They might be good in the short term, but in the long term probably not. (decreased brand identity and quality of products.)

[Ferrer]

European Leyland.
Maybe all the car companies in the world can merge...

...and then go bust. Leaving us to ride rickshaw's to work.

I'm sure this has been said many times, but I really don't like big automotive conglomerates. They might be good in the short term, but in the long term probably not. (decreased brand identity and quality of products.)

I don't like big car companies either, for the reasons you mentioned.

In fact Fiat already has quite a lot of problems sorting its own premium brands. Lancias are just posh Fiats and Alfa Romeo has never ever turned a profit since Fiat bought it (and that was 23 years ago). I don't think adding moar brands will solve it.