Despite Fiat deal, Chrysler will still get small cars from Nissan
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Economy</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/chrysler/" rel="tag">Chrysler, LLC.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/dodge/" rel="tag">Dodge</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/nissan/" rel="tag">Nissan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/fiat/" rel="tag">FIAT</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/dodge-hornet-concept/266464/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/dodge_hornet_580.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />
<div align="center"><em><stron g><small>Click above for high-res image gallery of the Dodge Hornet concept</small></strong></em><br /></div>
<br />Fiat's tentative <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/20/breaking-chrysler-and-fiat-announce-partnership/">global alliance</a> with Chrysler should have the desired effect of bolstering the American automaker's nonexistent small car line and give Fiat access to a nationwide network of dealerships in the United States. Don't forget, however, that Nissan also has a deal in place with Chrysler that predates its tie-up with Fiat, and the Japanese automaker fully expects to make good on the arrangement that would provide Chrysler with two small cars developed by Nissan in exchange for one full-size Ram-based truck to replace the aging Titan. The first vehicle to spawn from this alliance is the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/28/chrysler-nissan-partnership-bears-fruit-the-dodge-trazo-c1-8/">Dodge Trazo C1.8 sedan</a>, a carbon copy of the Nissan Versa (known as the Tiida in some other parts of the world) and sold in South America.<br /><br />Before Fiat was ever considered (at least publicly) as a partner, it was assumed after initial negotiations with China's Chery <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/09/chrysler-and-chery-quit-talking-about-small-car/">failed to pan out</a> that <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/16/more-evidence-nissan-will-build-the-dodge-hornet/">the second vehicle Nissan would develop</a> would be at least partially inspired by the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/01/geneva-motor-show-dodge-hornet-concept-world-premiere/">Dodge Hornet</a> first seen in concept form back in 2006. Since the arrangement with Nissan was <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/14/breaking-chrysler-and-nissan-announce-major-supply-agreements/">announced</a> back in April of 2008, it's probably safe to assume that development work on the protracted small car project for Dodge is already underway and will conclude as planned. Whether or not any fruit of Chrysler's partnership with Nissan will be sold in the U.S. or just South American markets is unknown, as <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/26/fiat-chrysler-partnership-will-bring-7-new-models-to-u-s/">Fiat has plenty of small cars</a> that could be built, badged with a Pentastar and sold in on American soil.<br /><br /><div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/dodge-hornet-concept/">Dodge Hornet Concept</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/dodge-hornet-concept/266464/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/06/hornet_(31)_thumbnail.jpg " alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/dodge-hornet-concept/266463/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/06/hornet_(43)_thumbnail.jpg " alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/dodge-hornet-concept/266462/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/06/hornet_(46)_thumbnail.jpg " alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/dodge-hornet-concept/266461/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/06/hornet_(35)_thumbnail.jpg " alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/dodge-hornet-concept/266460/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/06/hornet_(13)_thumbnail.jpg " alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />[Source: <a href="http://www.autonews.com/article/20090126/ANA03/901260367/-1">Automotive News</a> - Sub. Req.]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/28/despite-fiat-deal-chrysler-will-still-get-small-cars-from-nissa/">Despite Fiat deal, Chrysler will still get small cars from Nissan</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.autonews.com/article/20090126/ANA03/901260367/-1>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/28/despite-fiat-deal-chrysler-will-still-get-small-cars-from-nissa/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/1442428/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/28/despite-fiat-deal-chrysler-will-still-get-small-cars-from-nissa/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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