[rsidd]

Originally Posted by amit

Why would Chrysler set up a new plant when Fiat's plant is largely un-utilised? From what we know, Chrysler will be launching only Jeep products - Grand Cherokee, possibly Wrangler & Renegade.

Exports. (This has been widely reported. It is also what is driving Nissan and some others.)

[Aditya]

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) plans to expand its manufacturing facility in Ranjangaon, near Pune in the state of Maharashtra. The company will start assembling and rolling out Jeep models from the plant in the second quarter of 2017. The company plans to invest $280 million (approximately Rs. 1,780 crore) for the expansion of the facility.

Link to Team-BHP News Article

[amit]

Originally Posted by Aditya

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) plans to expand its manufacturing facility in Ranjangaon, near Pune in the state of Maharashtra. The company will start assembling and rolling out Jeep models from the plant in the second quarter of 2017. The company plans to invest $280 million (approximately Rs. 1,780 crore) for the expansion of the facility.

I read this in the news papers too. This means the news of Chrysler setting up a new plant was not correct? Even I mentioned it seemed better for them to use Fiat's largely un-used Ranjangaon facility instead of setting up an entirely new plant. The article also says the money will expand capacity of the plant to about 2.5L units/year. Honestly, I don't think Fiat & Chrysler together will sell anywhere close to those numbers even by 2020. Clearly, a large part of these volumes will be for exports and even there Chrysler will be leading the way. By the way, does anyone know Chrysler sales in China? I don't think they would be exporting to US from India.

[volkman10]

Avventura T -Jet with 135hp of Power confirmed.



http://motorbash.com/torn-sticker-co...medium=twitter

[johy]

Originally Posted by volkman10

Avventura T -Jet with 135hp of Power confirmed.

Time to go for a test drive whenever this comes to the Kolkata showroom.

Hope it comes with all bells and whistles. Fatter rubber. And more importantly 4 disc brakes.

[21Archer84]

Originally Posted by amit

The article also says the money will expand capacity of the plant to about 2.5L units/year. Honestly, I don't think Fiat & Chrysler together will sell anywhere close to those numbers even by 2020. Clearly, a large part of these volumes will be for exports and even there Chrysler will be leading the way. By the way, does anyone know Chrysler sales in China? I don't think they would be exporting to US from India.

Agreed. 2.5L/yr in India for FCA, would be a very optimistic target, unless they have a vision with big line-up planned, which as of now is not the case. It's definitely being planned with exports in mind.

Chrysler has a good presence in China. About 10% of global Jeep sales come from China, it's definitely a big market for them.

Exports majorly could be planned to the RHD markets, as there are enough plants with sufficient capacity for Jeep/Chrysler in US.

[arjab]

All of us here at T-Bhp are discussing the impending launch of Jeep variants by Fiat, a la Cherokee, Renegade et al.

Out of the recent Fiat launches, worldwide, if you guys analyse carefully, the FREEMONT SUV is doing pretty well in multiple markets around the world, such as as Brazil, Morocco, Australia and several other countries.

The Freemont essentially is a re-badged DODGE JOURNEY. After the Fiat-Chrysler merger, a decision was taken that the DODGE nameplate will not be sold anywhere"outside" the US of A.

FIAT capitalised on this opportunity, took the JOURNEY, did significant engineering changes and launched it as the FREEMONT.
The FREEMONT is available in 2WD and AWD variants powered by a variety of petrol and diesel engines. The 2.0 Litre MJD is also an option.

From all the discussions on FIAT's future plans, it seems that they have plans to launch a "C" - segment SUV next year, and this i am getting a very strong gut feel will be the FREEMONT and not the RENEGADE. Strictly speaking, if you look at it, the Renegade actually fits the bill for "B+" segment SUV; it not exactly a "C-SUV" as seen in FCA product plan slides elsewhere in this forum.

The FREEMONT, if priced intelligently, has the ingredients to take the fight to the big boys. Size-wise, it will be in the "Duster plus but Endeavour minus" segment. I am sure if Fiat contemplates to launch it here, they will definitely be manufacturing it in India as well as localising it to bring costs down.

This will be an interesting speculation to monitor - and if it does happen, well - we petrolheads and Fiat aficianados at T-Bhp should replace Fiat's planning department!

[21Archer84]

Originally Posted by arjab

From all the discussions on FIAT's future plans, it seems that they have plans to launch a "C" - segment SUV next year, and this i am getting a very strong gut feel will be the FREEMONT and not the RENEGADE. Strictly speaking, if you look at it, the Renegade actually fits the bill for "B+" segment SUV; it not exactly a "C-SUV" as seen in FCA product plan slides elsewhere in this forum.

That's interesting and nothing wrong in speculating such scenario. However, as you said the Renegade is not a C-SUV, its considered to be a B segment SUV.

The C-SUV is going to be an all new Jeep that is going to play very critical role for Jeep. And I doubt if the Freemont will ever land on Indian shores as its a dated vehicle. Would be surprised if it ever happens though

[desdemona]

Autocar reported that the original plan was for the local manufacture (as much or more for exports) of the Jeep Compass-replacement, the 'C-Suv' currently undergoing testing dressed up as a a lwb renegade (mules) in the US. Later, Autocar said, a decision was taken (?) to also offer the Renegade after customer clinics. The 2 SUV-s, like the Fiat 500X, will share most of their platform, powertrains and suspension architecture, so to make the other would seem plausible, provided sufficient export+local demand is thought to be there?

The Dodge Journey/Fiat Freemont will also be replaced in the next year or two with a bigger-than-500X suv, a twin with lower off-roading chops of the jeep c-suv/compass replacement. It too will be off the SUSW platform, also shared (mostly) with the Linea replacement (Aegea) and other upcoming models for many of FCA's brands. A very edgily styled lifestyle Fiat pickup truck is on the verge of a launch in LatAm, possibly for exports to Europe and the USA too, built off the shared underpinnings with the Jeep renegade in the new FCA plant in Pernambuco, Brazil. Brazilian websites claim that its SUV-version, also a Fiat, will be launched too, presumably the Fiat Freemont/Dodge Journey replacement?

Now, the question for India is: will the 'New Avventura' in the FCA India plan (for end 2016+-) be THAT bigger 'c-suv' or will it be a smaller, 4-4.2m, suv?

Either way, with the platform sharing, and the new lines for the the SUSW Jeeps + the Tata SUVs, one or more other, Fiat-brand SUSW-platform models become economically and logistically feasible for FCA to locally manufacture at Ranjangaon?

But does FCA feel it had better stick to the sub-10 lakh space where it is currently (without great sales) and leave the d-segment and above for Jeep-branded SUVs, or will one (say the Fiat 500X or 500L) or another new Fiat model (say the Aegea) make sense at prices upwards of 13-14 lakhs?

If the former (and it appears so from their stated year and a half old 'plan' they've been sticking to mostly) then India will get a new Avventura, an all-new Punto, and the Grand Sienna, all c1-c2 segment vehicles, all off an updated and much-lightened Palio platform ('x3u') and nothing above that, at least not locally made, rather than ckd or cbu. All the SUSW new Fiat and jeep models are more d-segment than c, cost and engineering/design-quality wise.

My sense is that everything depends on export demand for different prospective, possible-for-India Fiat models, just like it so depends for the Jeep C-suv and/or Renegade that will start getting made here in early 2017. India retail sales volumes possibilities are very constricted for all the non-dominant (ms, hy, h, tyta), mainly European and American firms to justify the hundreds/thousands of crores it costs to offer localized all-new models in India.

[volkman10]

Abarth Punto unveil on 4th August

Fiat will be unveiling the Abarth Punto on the 4th of August. Abarth dealerships will be in order in the first week of August itself. Fiat showrooms will have an Abarth section in their existing space. The Abarth portfolio will be consisting of the 595 Competizone, Punto and the Avventura. The Punto will be the second one to be launched in the Abarth range after the 595.

http://motoroctane.com/news/15220-ab...-on-4th-august

[vibbs]

Abarth 595 Competizione launched in India @ INR 29.85 (Ex-Delhi)

"Fiat India finally launched the Abarth 595 Competizione in India for Rs. 29.85 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The 3-door hatchback derives power from a 1.4-litre T-Jet motor that puts out 159bhp and 230Nm of maximum torque. One must note, the car offers 206Nm in 'Normal Mode', and it is in the 'Sports Mode' that the torque is increased to 230Nm. It comes mated to an automated manual transmission (with manual override). While the high-performance hatchback rides on 17-inch alloy wheels, it sports a reduced height of 1485mm to aid its aerodynamics.

Inspired by the Fiat 500 Cinquecento - the Abarth 595 Competizione's design primarily comprises Abarth decals, Xenon twin head-lamps, twin exhausts, sunroof, etc on offer to give sporty touch to it. Inside, it gets Sabelt racing seats, 7-inch TFT colour display instrument panel, split rear setas with head restraint, etc.

Its list of standard provisions for comfort includes manual climate control, leather steering-wheel with integrated controls, and rear parking sensors. Features for safety include airbags, torque transfer control, and suspensions with Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) technology."

Source: http://auto.ndtv.com/news/fiat-abart...5-lakh-1203733


At Almost 30 Lakh INR Ex Showroom wonder how many will they manage to sell.

[johy]

Fiat C-SUV for 15 Lacs? Is this for real?

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/b...w/48351768.cms

Wishful thinking it is going to be for the Freemont Cross



Or perhaps a Panda 4 x 4. And that is how Green should look like, Renault.

[shyamk]

Mods - Apologies if this thread already exists. My limited search skills did not show this up.

Read this in the newspaper.

If true, then my bolero has a serious contender ;-)

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...w/48355793.cms

Shyam

[fiat_tarun]

http://www.business-standard.com/art...0500108_1.html

The Tata-Fiat manufacturing plant has started making a profit now !

[Turbanator]

watched interview of Kevin Flynn in NDTV Auto show today , this guy seems little different from others and looks if he stays can bring some changes . He mentioned about his earlier challenges of setting up Lexus brand in Germany .

from his own mouth - we should see Wrangler & Cherokee as CBU soon followed by C-SUV at later date as CKD .


http://auto.ndtv.com/cnb-prime-edition-1-tv-show

after 15th minute