- Chrysler will lead hybrid and electric-vehicle technology for its own brands and Fiat.
- 2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta was designed to use a hybrid powertrain.
- 2014 Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger could benefit from this technology.
DETROIT — Chrysler will be the lead technology partner for the development of hybrids and battery-electric vehicles for the Fiat and Chrysler collaboration, say insiders, who note that Fiat has been impressed with the U.S. company's work in this area.
Chrysler will carry out the core development of any forthcoming new hybrid models, before handing the technology to Fiat for subsequent detail development to suit its brands. The same will apply to any battery-electric vehicles that the group plans to develop.
Fiat Auto's new C platform, which will debut on the 2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta, has been designed from the start to accommodate a hybrid drivetrain. It could well be among the first to benefit from Chrysler's expertise. The wide version of the C platform will underpin the replacements for the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger, in 2014, although these names may have disappeared with the extensive revamp that the pair will receive later this year.
Inside Line says: Chrysler's sometimes-derided ENVI program may be dead, but this is proof that the company does know something about electric vehicles. — Richard Bremner, Correspondent
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jimboy45 says:
08:30 PM, 03/16/2010
Don't forget that Chrysler already sells more electric vehicles than any other manufacturer through it's GEM subsidiary. It probably has more expertise with electric vehicles than any other car company.
@threemopars - well said, I'm really, really sick of stupid people airing their uninformed idiocy in public. Thank You.
threemopars says:
03:34 PM, 03/12/2010
@aston
"The expertise to produce POC vehicles and even ruin MB's reliability?!"
Ruin MB's reliability?
How about the money that MB robbed from Chrysler? How do you explain the billions in cash that was in the bank that disappeared only to reappear in Germany? How do you explain the extreme cost cutting of cars that was under the Daimler rule? How do you go from soft touch interiors of the LH cars, to the hard plastics of the LX when they came out? How do you explain the cutting of engineering and IT at Chrysler under the Daimler rule?
Let me guess, this was all Chryslers fault?
Yea when you take a company: toss out all the management, engineers, force them to use outdated and piss poor technology, and give them a development budget that isn't even close to what's needed to produce a decent car you get: Daimler-Chrysler....or how it was really on the inside Damiler(minus)Chrysler. Chrysler was run into the ground by Mercedes without any doubt about it. It's public information, get a clue and read about it.
aston_dbs says:
01:07 PM, 03/12/2010
If FIAT is truly smart, they will STAY AWAY from Chrysler as far as they can
"2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta, has been designed from the start to accommodate a hybrid drivetrain. It could well be among the first to benefit from Chrysler's expertise"
Expertise? What expertise?
The expertise to produce POC vehicles and even ruin MB's reliability?!
Run FIAT... Ruuuuuuuuuunnnnn!! Don't ruin the Alfa Romeo!!
delraylocal says:
11:00 AM, 03/12/2010
That is one sharp ride.
Why can't we get a car like that, hybrid or not.
debbaranko says:
09:24 AM, 03/12/2010
I'm sure there will be a lot of Toyota batteries not being used from the recalls and cover up going on over there. Chrysler could probably pick them up at the Toyota fire sale auction.
notabigdeal says:
09:21 AM, 03/12/2010
thats a good looking hybrid.....probably never see that on this side of the ocean