Upcoming Chrysler-Fiats

Several sources have been projecting which vehicles from Fiat may be sold by Chrysler over the coming years, based on the utterances of Frank Klegon and Jim Press, internal sources, and bare speculation. Most recently, Jim Press said that a Fiat-based Chrysler-made vehicle could arrive in as little as two years, but said that items such as how it would be badged (as a Dodge, as a Fiat, etc.) has not yet been determined; one could speculate that the return of the Plymouth line, though not mentioned, is possible. Sales chief Steve Landry noted that the Fiat 500, Punto, and Panda are all strong possibilities for U.S. sale, in some form. 

Chrysler has rarely sold cars in the size of popular Fiats in the U.S. – the Omni and Horizon (unless the PT Cruiser is judged by bumper-to-bumper length alone). The Omni and Horizon were closely based on designs by Chrysler-owned SIMCA, a French concern; but the American versions, unlike previous imports (such as the <a href=”http://www.rootes-chrysler.co.uk”>Rootes-based</a> <a href=”http://www.allpar.com/model/cricket.html”>Plymouth Cricket</a>) which failed in the market. The Omni/Horizon twins reportedly succeeded because of the <a href=”http://www.allpar.com/omni/horizon-c2.html”>international development process and greater differences between European and American versions</a>.

Fiat has sold designs for cars to numerous companies in the past, including several firms behind the Iron Curtain during the Soviet Union’s existence, and to the Indian firm that had once built Dodges under license.