Chrysler Hints at Second Fiat Model
While the name wasn’t revealed, the “sporty sedan” would be the basis of a small Chrysler sedan to likely replace the Dodge Caliber, which never lived up to its promise as the Neon’s successor. Fiat has a number of small cars in its lineup: We’d guess this “sedan” is either a Fiat Bravo (pictured) or a Grande Punto, both offer a four-door hatchback but do not come in a sedan bodystyle.
The Bravo is 170 inches long, more than half a foot shorter than a Honda Civic or Nissan Versa sedan but only 3 inches shorter than a Caliber.
The Journal quoted Chrysler’s head of design Ralph Gilles as saying the U.S. company would use the small car’s platform but design entirely new sheet metal for it.
Why wouldn’t Chrysler just make the Caliber better? That car (and the Jeep Patriot and Compass) was the result of Mitsubishi partnership; perhaps updating that co-developed platform is no longer possible.
It’ll be interesting to see what new models come out of a Chrysler-Fiat alliance, especially if any Alfa Romeo products get included.
