Fiat Auto to introduce 10 4WD vehicles in 2 yrs.

kmacleod · 07-26-2004, 11:46 AM

ITALY: Fiat Auto to introduce 10 four-wheel drive vehicles in two years
26 Jul 2004
Source: just-auto.com editorial team

Over the next 24 months, Fiat brands will introduce four-wheel-drive versions of 10 vehicles in a bid to break out of Fiat Auto's market share doldrums.

If consumers respond to the permanent 4x4 offerings from Fiat and Alfa Romeo, the Italian automaker is considering adding up to five more models with the option by 2008, including one for Lancia.

just-auto.com

Ken

mbukukanyau · 07-26-2004, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kmacleod@Jul 26 2004, 03:46 PM
ITALY: Fiat Auto to introduce 10 four-wheel drive vehicles in two years
26 Jul 2004
Source: just-auto.com editorial team

Over the next 24 months, Fiat brands will introduce four-wheel-drive versions of 10 vehicles in a bid to break out of Fiat Auto's market share doldrums.

If consumers respond to the permanent 4x4 offerings from Fiat and Alfa Romeo, the Italian automaker is considering adding up to five more models with the option by 2008, including one for Lancia.

just-auto.com

Ken

Does GM own Fiat yet?

stewacide · 07-26-2004, 01:42 PM

IIRC GM had to go to court to have NOT to buy it.

svx92 · 07-26-2004, 02:14 PM

It would have been nice to see GM return Alfa Romeo to the states.

I could see a branding concept where Chevy and Buick were the traditional American cars with Buick being the step up for luxury. Saturn and Saab where quirky was cool. And Pontiac and Alfa Romeo as the poor man's Ferrari line up. Then Cadillac would be the top tier of the three pyramids

**nadepalma** · 07-26-2004, 02:39 PM

Good news for Fiat, they need some kind of an added feature to spur sales. They already have some 4WD cars in the new 156 CrossWagon and SportWagon, and the reviews have been positive. The article points out that Demel is a 4WD wiz since he spurred its use at Audi. This is great for Fiat obviously, but could be great for GM too since the technical cooperation between the two companies might mean GM will get this "affordable" 4WD system Demel came up with for their cars.

But it kind of pis$$es me off that Lancia once again gets the shaft from the rest of Fiat Auto. It always seems as though Alfa Romeo and Fiat Brand take priority over Lancia. Don't get me wrong, Lancia exists in limited markets outside Italy, and no doubt that Alfa and Fiat are larger in volume. But since all Lancias (with the possible exception fo the Thesis) are based on Fiat and Alfa platforms, why would they not extend these offerings to Lancia as well? And since they have recently "relaunched" the brand across Europe and are supposedly putting more emphasis on the brand outside Italy, why would they exclude Lancia from this new 4WD offering? Fiat Auto keeps pointing to Lancia saying they will transform Lancia into a true luxury brand since Alfa is more of a sporting marque (at one time both Lancia and Alfa occupied this territory, but since Fiat Auto took over Alfa Romeo in the 80s, Fiat has let Lancia lanquish and fall apart). If this is the case, that's fine, but where is the investment? Were are the products?

It's really a shame since back in the day Lancias were known for their technical sophistication and for really great products. Cars like the Stratos, Aurelia, Fulvia, and Delta Integrale were great vehicles. Too bad that it doesn't seem as though Lancia will get any new products anytime soon. Also too bad that Fiat Auto Chairman Demel has quietly admitted that he isn't a Lancia fan -- could mean some bad times are ahead for the marque.

GM_Guy81 · 07-26-2004, 02:53 PM

FIAT = Fix It Again Tony

ibechip · 07-27-2004, 02:22 AM

Wow that's a LOT of new cars to come out of what I understand is not a giant company.

Hudson · 07-27-2004, 10:17 AM

At just over 2 million units last year, Fiat is still the world's 11th (10th if you combine Nissan and Renault) largest vehicle manufacturer.

**TaHoE** · 07-27-2004, 10:25 AM

I love Alpha Romeo's designs and vehicles, I wish GM could bring them to the states!

Hudson · 07-27-2004, 02:54 PM

Tahoe:

Please! "ALFA" Romeo.

barcodedorganic · 07-27-2004, 03:09 PM

i'm surprised theres a few alfistis here on a GM board

so when do we see the ferrari SUV? lol

Hudson · 07-28-2004, 05:48 PM

Fortunately, Maserati will probably carry the SUV for Ferrari SpA. So as not to taint the Prancing Horse.

yoblues · 07-29-2004, 05:07 PM

There are a few Alfisti here but it's getting thinner. Alfa screwed it all up years ago by not offering their entire lineup in the USA plus lousy quality control. Alfa makes some great quality enthusiast cars now that could rival anything from Japan but due to interior GM/Fiat politics we will probably never see them here. If GM suits had a brain (oxymoron) Saab would be dumped for Alfa.

07-26-2004, 02:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
nadepalma GMI Staff Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 5,579	Good news for Fiat, they need some kind of an added feature to spur sales. They already have some 4WD cars in the new 156 CrossWagon and SportWagon, and the reviews have been positive. The article points out that Demel is a 4WD wiz since he spurred its use at Audi. This is great for Fiat obviously, but could be great for GM too since the technical cooperation between the two companies might mean GM will get this "affordable" 4WD system Demel came up with for their cars. But it kind of pis$$es me off that Lancia once again gets the shaft from the rest of Fiat Auto. It always seems as though Alfa Romeo and Fiat Brand take priority over Lancia. Don't get me wrong, Lancia exists in limited markets outside Italy, and no doubt that Alfa and Fiat are larger in volume. But since all Lancias (with the possible exception fo the Thesis) are based on Fiat and Alfa platforms, why would they not extend these offerings to Lancia as well? And since they have recently "relaunched" the brand across Europe and are supposedly putting more emphasis on the brand outside Italy, why would they exclude Lancia from this new 4WD offering? Fiat Auto keeps pointing to Lancia saying they will transform Lancia into a true luxury brand since Alfa is more of a sporting marque (at one time both Lancia and Alfa occupied this territory, but since Fiat Auto took over Alfa Romeo in the 80s, Fiat has let Lancia lanquish and fall apart). If this is the case, that's fine, but where is the investment? Were are the products? It's really a shame since back in the day Lancias were known for their technical sophistication and for really great products. Cars like the Stratos, Aurelia, Fulvia, and Delta Integrale were great vehicles. Too bad that it doesn't seem as though Lancia will get any new products anytime soon. Also too bad that Fiat Auto Chairman Demel has quietly admitted that he isn't a Lancia fan -- could mean some bad times are ahead for the marque. __________________ Email: nadepalma@gminsidenews.com "La vita è come un albero di Natale..c'è sempre qualcuno che ti rompe le palle!" "You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves" -Abraham Lincoln "Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried" -Winston Churchill "In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a Congress" -John Adams

07-26-2004, 02:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
GM_Guy81 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,267	FIAT = Fix It Again Tony __________________ "Government at its best is a necessary evil, at its worst it is an intolerable one" - Thomas Paine

07-27-2004, 10:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
Hudson 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,224	At just over 2 million units last year, Fiat is still the world's 11th (10th if you combine Nissan and Renault) largest vehicle manufacturer. __________________ Hudson www.carspace.com/hudsonthedog

07-27-2004, 10:25 AM	#9 (permalink)
TaHoE GMI Staff Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Long Island, New York Drives: 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora 3.5 Posts: 9,848	I love Alpha Romeo's designs and vehicles, I wish GM could bring them to the states! __________________

07-27-2004, 02:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
Hudson 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,224	Tahoe: Please! "ALFA" Romeo. __________________ Hudson www.carspace.com/hudsonthedog

07-26-2004, 11:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
kmacleod 3.8 Liter Supercharged V6 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: AZO Drives: 02 Montana, 88 Fiero GT Posts: 643	ITALY: Fiat Auto to introduce 10 four-wheel drive vehicles in two years 26 Jul 2004 Source: just-auto.com editorial team Over the next 24 months, Fiat brands will introduce four-wheel-drive versions of 10 vehicles in a bid to break out of Fiat Auto's market share doldrums. If consumers respond to the permanent 4x4 offerings from Fiat and Alfa Romeo, the Italian automaker is considering adding up to five more models with the option by 2008, including one for Lancia. just-auto.com Ken

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07-26-2004, 01:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
stewacide 3.8 Liter Supercharged V6 Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 580	IIRC GM had to go to court to have NOT to buy it.

07-26-2004, 02:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
svx92 2.0 Liter Supercharged ECOTEC Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 156	It would have been nice to see GM return Alfa Romeo to the states. I could see a branding concept where Chevy and Buick were the traditional American cars with Buick being the step up for luxury. Saturn and Saab where quirky was cool. And Pontiac and Alfa Romeo as the poor man's Ferrari line up. Then Cadillac would be the top tier of the three pyramids

07-27-2004, 02:22 AM	#7 (permalink)
ibechip 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Minot, ND Posts: 819	Wow that's a LOT of new cars to come out of what I understand is not a giant company.

07-27-2004, 03:09 PM	#11 (permalink)
barcodedorganic 3.8 Liter V6 Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 307	i'm surprised theres a few alfistis here on a GM board so when do we see the ferrari SUV? lol

07-28-2004, 05:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
Hudson 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,224	Fortunately, Maserati will probably carry the SUV for Ferrari SpA. So as not to taint the Prancing Horse. __________________ Hudson www.carspace.com/hudsonthedog

07-29-2004, 05:07 PM	#13 (permalink)
yoblues 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 3,388	There are a few Alfisti here but it's getting thinner. Alfa screwed it all up years ago by not offering their entire lineup in the USA plus lousy quality control. Alfa makes some great quality enthusiast cars now that could rival anything from Japan but due to interior GM/Fiat politics we will probably never see them here. If GM suits had a brain (oxymoron) Saab would be dumped for Alfa.

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