But fear not, Fiat-Chrysler has appointees its first North American chief to flip this company around, Laura Soave.

Laura has her work cut out for her – according to CNN Money; “Chrysler’s sales to consumers have plunged more than 44% so far this year…Toyota’s retail sales fell less than 14%, even though Toyota stopped selling its best-selling models for more than a week in January, and has been hammered by a constant drumbeat of bad news ever since.” So yes, even the struggling bad-PR machine Toyota, which has cars that attempt to kill drivers, is doing better than Chrysler. Ouch.

Soave will be charged with leading the introduction of Fiat 500 in the North American later this year. As Head of Fiat Brand for North America, Soave will be directly responsible for ensuring that Fiat is properly integrated into Chrysler’s current North American distribution chain and she will be in charge of all marketing activities.

Sources: LeftLaneNews | CNN Money

“Fiat 500 on sale in U.S. at end of the year”

That’s 1 – 2 years sooner then we thought Fiat vehicles would be on sale at Chrysler lots in the States. Fiat may have to adapt their tiny city cars to go along with US highway safety standards and fuel economy. Still, this is very exciting news!

But fear not, sports fans – 1200 people may be out of work by year’s end – but millions of government funds are being used to give Chrysler a slot during Super Bowl XLIV night. I mean, where else did they get the cash?

“Chrysler will be the only U.S. automaker to advertise in this year’s Super Bowl, forking over millions of dollars to restore its image following its bankruptcy and the federal bailout that followed. A 60-second spot is the longest and the most expensive ad available during the Super Bowl. The 30-second spots are more common, and are selling for about $3 million each according to Dana McClintock a spokesman for CBS, which is airing this year’s Super Bowl. It isn’t clear exactly how much Chrysler is paying, but CBS said on Thursday that it was close to selling out.”

Sources: Freep | CNN Money

Fiat-Chrysler also plan on dropping Fiat’s little 500 model to the US in coming years, along with hybrid EV variants of both models.

Lancia already grabbed attention with its 2009 Geneva Auto Show debut, and is touted by Fiat as “an environmentally friendly car concept, being luxurious but accessible, spacious but compact, sparkling but frugal in consumption. At Geneva, Lancia is further enhancing its “green” credentials by presenting, as a world preview, a dual-power LPG and gasoline range. Known as “Ecochic”, the range includes the Musa and Ypsilon models fitted with the 1.4 liter twin-fuel engine producing 77 HP…”

Stay tuned, and keep an eye open on Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealerships near you later this year – as Chrysler Lancias will most likely be popping up.

Chrysler has announced an extended holiday shut down at some North American factories as it retools for new vehicles to be produced in 2010. Although the shutdown will reduce overall supply, Chrysler is in desperate need of a lineup refresh. Chrysler’s Belvidere, Illinois plant will extend its holiday shutdown through the week of January 4th. The Belvidere plant produces the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass and Patriot, all of which are due for a refresh.

In Ontario, Canada, Chrysler will close its Brampton and Windsor plants through the week of January 11th. The Brampton plant is ramping up to produce new versions of the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 while the Windsor plant is preparing for heavy updates to Chrysler’s minivans. Chrysler will also add a week shutdown at its Toluca, Mexico plant during 2010 so that plan can prepare for production of the Fiat 500.

Via LeftLaneNews

Italy’s invasion continues – gearing up for the 2010 Detroit Auto Show (the BIG ONE, ya hear?) Chrysler is apparently going to rebrand Fiat’s Lancia compact car for American consumption. And why not, America seems to have a thing for all that is Italian (well, Italian American, Jersey Shore style) – Fiat chose the perfect time to brings some Hospitaliano to the auto industry on this side of the Atlantic. “There’s no doubt that in the mid-sized car and small-car markets, the company is at a disadvantage,” said Michael Robinet, an analyst at consultant CSM Worldwide Inc. in Northville, Michigan. “It’s in their best interest to bring new product to bring out some new models as quickly as possible.”

According to Bloomberg: “The automaker’s five-year business plan calls for having designs from Turin, Italy-based Fiat account for more than half of global sales by 2014.”

The Source: I Go Watch The Bloomberg

The Italian invasion of America’s auto industry has begun. Starting next year, Chrysler will begin building Fiat’s1.4-liter, Four-cylinder Turbo FIRE Engine in the United States. It’s good news for the residents of Auburn Hills, Michigan, and those working in local auto factories. The motor will be produced under the supervision of Chrysler-Fiat at the Midwestern plant.

Chrysler’s Dundee facility will create 155 new jobs to compensate, bringing in a total of 573 for the entire project. The plant will have an annual capacity of 100,000 engines, but you won’t ride with any in the States. Fiat’s FIRE is being built for Mexico’s Fiat 500 units. Wait, aren’t the Mexican’s supposed to build things for us? Press Release follows:

“Chrysler Group LLC Introduces Fiat’s 1.4-liter, In-line 4-cylinder, Fully Integrated Robotized Engine with Multiair Technology to Powertrain Lineup

Auburn Hills, Mich., Dec 17, 2009 – Chrysler Group LLC will debut Fiat’s 1.4-liter, in-line four-cylinder Fully Integrated Robitized Engine (FIRE) featuring Multiair in the Fiat 500 starting in 2010. The engine, well-suited for a small car application, delivers 100 horsepower (75 kW) at 6,750 rpm and 95 lb.-ft. (129 N•m) of torque at 4,250 rpm. A turbo version also will be available in future applications. The 1.4-liter FIRE features Fiat’s Multiair technology, which significantly reduces emissions while improving fuel economy and power delivery.

The 1.4-liter FIRE features four valves per cylinder and incorporates state-of-the-art technology for Fully Variable Valve Actuation (FVVA), also known as MultiAir. Multiair is a sophisticated technology that delivers an increase in power up to 10 percent and a reduction in fuel consumption and emissions up to 10 percent when compared to similar engines. A turbo version of the engine is also planned and will produce a fuel economy improvement up to 25 percent when compared to a V-6 engine with equivalent power.

The MultiAir system consists of electro-hydraulic variable valve actuators filled with conventional oil, which is interposed between the camshaft and each valve. A solenoid valve is energized every 360-degree camshaft rotation, regulating the quantity of oil addressed to the actuator or to a reservoir. The lift of the valve is a function of the quantity of oil addressed to the actuator, ranging from full lift to complete valve closure. Each solenoid valve may also delay application of the actuator in advance, leading to late valve opening or early valve closing.

MultiAir is exclusive for Chrysler Group in North America and is based on a series of Fiat Powertrain patents related to hardware, combustion strategies and controls that allow for full control of the lift and timing of engine valves.

In the early 1970s, robotics in assembly plants was not common. The term “FIRE” came into existence when Fiat integrated the use of robotics in the production process of manufacturing plants. Although mechanized assembly is commonplace today, the brand name FIRE has remained with Fiat’s powertrain lineup.

The 1.4-liter FIRE with Multiair is the world’s first mass production engine to incorporate such technology to control the intake valves. Dedicated components have been developed to accommodate four “bricks” (one for each cylinder), which package relevant components. MultiAir technology can be adapted to different types of engines, including Diesels for enhanced NOx control, and is planned for Chrysler Powertrain’s four-cylinder World Gas Engine and all-new Pentastar V-6.”

The Source: WCF

Plymouth’s Acclaim and its sister car, Dodge Spirit, began life in 1989 at Chrysler Corps’ Newark, Delaware plant. The successful AA-body was the successor to the Reliant-K – also known as they K-Car. Acclaim kept a 4-door, 4 & 6 cyl sedan styling (with a horrible turning radius, sadly) until 1995. With its pluses and minuses available for review and pretty typical on Chrysler vehicles (transmission being an issue always) – I will always think of my family road trips to the Jersey Shore and even learning to drive behind the Kelley Green Acclaim.

When it was time for driving lessons we mostly all learned in a parent’s vehicle. With my father sitting nervously in the passenger seat I had to slam the steering-column-mounted shifter into drive and took off. Acclaim rode like a tank through the Streets of New Jersey. My dad took me on the Parkway, Turnpike and any other stereotyped road in the Garden State. When friends told me they were “learning to drive in my parent’s (insert SUV here)” it was as if they were bragging. When I told them I learned in an Acclaim they all bowed.

One final, and interesting, bit of information about the Acclaims via Wikipedia: A motorized passenger’s side seat belt was added to US-market Acclaims in 1994, to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208’s requirement for passive restraints. These motorized belts do not comply with Canada’s safety standards; Canadian-market Acclaims continued to use a manual passenger seat belt, and 1994-1995 Acclaims cannot legally be imported across the US-Canada border in either direction.

According to Left Lane News: t’s unclear if the van will retain the Doblo model name when it is imported beginning in late 2011 for the 2012 model year. It will be sold alongside a Ram-branded version of the Fiat Ducato, a Sprinter-size van that will be used when the agreement between Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz lapses.

Fiat has just introduced a second-generation Doblo, which will go on sale soon in Europe. Like the Transit Connect, the all-new Fiat Doblo is based on a car platform – it shares its basic underpinnings with the popular Fiat Grande Punto.

– 1.4-liter Multi-Air I-4
– 1.8-, 2.0-, and 2.4-liter I-4s
– 3.6-liter V-6
– 5.7- and 6.2-liter Hemi V-8s