Report: Two Fiat-based small cars to replace PT Cruiser, Caliber in 2012
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/geneva-motor-show/" rel="tag">Geneva Motor Show</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/crossovers-cuvs/" rel="tag">Crossover</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hatchbacks/" rel="tag">Hatchback</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/chrysler/" rel="tag">Chrysler</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/dodge/" rel="tag">Dodge</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/jeep/" rel="tag">Jeep</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/alfa-romeo/" rel="tag">Alfa Romeo</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/fiat/" rel="tag">Fiat</a></p><a href="autobirdblog.com/news/next-generation-small-dodge-hatch/"><img hspace="0" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/abbsegmentvehicle-630op.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />
<br />
Late last year, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/alfa-romeo/">Alfa Romeo</a> previewed the all-new <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/02/alfa-romeo-previews-stylish-new-giulietta/">Giulietta</a> ahead of its reveal at next month's <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/Geneva-Motor-Show/">Geneva Motor Show</a>. While the five-door hatch is enough to make Stateside consumers weak in the knees - particularly in <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/09/alfa-romeo-presents-mito-quadrifoglio-verde-with-new-multiair-en/">Quadrifoglio Verde</a> trim - the impact in the U.S. is going to be much more substantial.<br />
<br />
According to a report by <em>Automotive News</em>, the underpinnings of the Giulietta are set to proliferate throughout <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/fiat/">Fiat</a>'s range in the coming years, and of the one million vehicles the automaker plans to build off the new architecture annually, the Chrysler group will account for around 700,000. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/alfa-romeo-giulietta-2/#3"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/091202argiulietta02-250op.jpg" alt="" /></a>Fiat and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/chrysler/">Chrysler</a> are currently working on a widened version of the platform - appropriately dubbed "Compact Wide" - and seven new models for Chrysler, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/dodge/">Dodge</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/jeep/">Jeep</a> will use the new underpinnings, including the replacement for the Chrysler <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/pt+cruiser">PT Cruiser</a> and Dodge <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/caliber">Caliber</a> in 2012. And judging by Fiat's description, it's a helluva platform.<br />
<br />
Aimed to compete with the new <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/audi/">Audi</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/A1/">A1</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/bmw/">BMW</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/1+series">1 Series</a>, the platform uses 84 percent high and ultrahigh strength steel, a McPherson front and a dual-link rear suspension, both of which will use aluminum components (front and rear arms, along with the crossmember).<br />
<br />
The platform comes in around 10 percent lighter than its predecessor thanks to the use of aluminum and magnesium, and is designed to fit a transverse engine and can be adapted for either front- or all-wheel drive applications.<br />
<br />
On a related side note, during last week's Economic Club of Chicago luncheon in which Ralph Gilles, Dodge CEO and Chrysler Group design head, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/11/gilles-fiat-500-on-sale-in-u-s-by-the-end-of-2010/">dropped a a handful of interesting tidbits</a> about the future of the automaker, he also showed a few teasers of upcoming products. Included in the presentation were images of the new <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/300">300C</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/grand+cherokee">Jeep Grand Cherokee</a>, along with the the rendering above, a new subcompact product from Dodge, most assuredly the next Caliber. Combined with the new platform and Fiat's Multiair engines, we may finally have a credible contender in the compact arena from Chrysler. And it's about damn time.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/alfa-romeo-giulietta-2/low/">Alfa Romeo Giulietta</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/alfa-romeo-giulietta-2/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/091202_ar_giulietta01_thu mbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/alfa-romeo-giulietta-2/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/091202_ar_giulietta02_thu mbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/alfa-romeo-giulietta-2/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/091202_ar_giulietta03_thu mbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/alfa-romeo-giulietta-2/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/01_alfaro_giulietta_thumb nail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/alfa-romeo-giulietta-2/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/02_alfaro_giulietta_thumb nail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div> <br />
[Sources: <a href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100215/ANE/100219943/1193">Automotive News</a>, <a href="http://autobirdblog.com/news/next-generation-small-dodge-hatch/">AutoBird</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/report-two-fiat-based-small-cars-to-replace-pt-cruiser-caliber/">Report: Two Fiat-based small cars to replace PT Cruiser, Caliber in 2012</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:58:00 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.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/report-two-fiat-based-small-cars-to-replace-pt-cruiser-caliber/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19358689/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/15/report-two-fiat-based-small-cars-to-replace-pt-cruiser-caliber/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

أكثر...