Fiat to launch 20 new models, invest billions in auto research

[nadepalma]

Source: http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosins...uto-269399.htm

Thursday, August 4, 2005

Fiat to launch 20 new models, invest billions in auto research
By Frances D'emilio / Associated Press

ROME -- Fiat SpA will launch 20 new models over the next three years and invest billions of euros in research and development as part of a turnaround bid, the Italian carmaker's chief executive officer said Wednesday.

CEO Sergio Marchionne also vowed not to shut down any factories in Italy, the company said in a statement from its headquarters in Turin. The statement followed a meeting between Marchionne, top government officials and union leaders at the Italian premier's office.

"The aggressive renewal of the product range that began two years ago is continuing under the 2005-2008 product range, which calls for the launch of 20 new models and 23 restylings of existing models," the statement said.

To support the comeback efforts, Fiat Auto will spend 4 billion euros ($4.92 billion) in research and development over the next four years, the company said. The Fiat group as a whole will invest about 18 billion euros ($22.15 billion) through 2008.

"All financial targets are confirmed," the statement said, adding that efforts to be competitive will need the support of unions.

Fiat has used temporary layoffs to cut production at its plants in line with demand, and workers worry that might be a prelude to permanent firings.

Thousands of Fiat workers went on strike earlier this year over fears that their jobs might be part of the price for Fiat's restructuring. Labor Minister Roberto Maroni was among those at Wednesday's meeting.

The new models will come in the Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo and Commercial Vehicle lines, the company said, and include five models not included in earlier announcements.

A small, "city" car model will be manufactured in Tychy, Poland, Fiat said.

Fiat said that among the engines it is developing is a six-gear transmission for commercial vehicles to be produced in southern Italy starting next year. Researchers are also developing a small two- or three- cylinder engine with "low environmental impact."

Fiat Auto has been banking heavily on a revamped version of its best-selling Punto model, which is expected in autumn.

[nadepalma]

According to an article ( http://www.italiaspeed.com/2005/cars...ew_models.html ) it appears that Fiat Auto S.p.A. will finally be giving poor Lancia some new products as well, including an SUV, the New Delta, and a "specialty vehicle for the luxury marque".

Originally Posted by ItaliaSpeed.com

The first big surprise however comes from Lancia who - along with a facelift for the popular Ypsilon - will introduce an unscheduled 'SUV', although no details whatsover are offered. However these two are the first of three all-new models, and three facelifts, to be badged as Lancias in the period up to 2008, providing welcome news that the historic brand is assured a firm role in Sergio Marchionne's vision for the future of Fiat Auto.

The article goes on to say later that they'd facelift the Phedra and Musa, but if they are updating "three", then I can only hope that they updated the Thesis. I like the Thesis overall, but a lot of buyers are turned off by it simply because of it's odd looks. Ironically, the Thesis wasn't designed primarily by and Italian, but by an American head of design who worked at Centro Stile Lancia named Mike Robinson. I think that they need to give the front and rear a make-over to attract new customers. It's not even the grille that bothers me, but how it all comes together with the lights and the shape of the hood. The interior is really, really nice though and very stylish. I only wish they'd get the exterior more in the mold of the Stilnovo concept or even the Ypsilon so that they'd attract a few more buyers. I just hope that Fiat Auto S.p.A. doesn't give up on the Thesis since it shares a platform with the Alfa Romeo 166. They've already announced the 166 will be replaced on a stretched version of the 159's platform, but haven't said anything about the Thesis. If it were me, I'd continue it, but give it a new look and a new name to break with the past. An AWD Thesis replacement with one of the new HF-GM sourced engines would be a nice addition to Fiat's "luxury" marque.

Lancia Thesis Bicolore:

Regular Lancia:

[SobeSVT]

Guess were those billions came from?

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by SobeSVT

Guess were those billions came from?

Well, at least two of those billions came from the kind-hearted, generous folks at General Motors! ;-)

[nadepalma]

I was looking at some Thesis pics and thought this was interesting. It's a concept Lancia Thesis coupe, but don't the wheels look familiar? Don't they look like the came from the Caddy Sixteen Concept?



Nice looking coupe though, with that front end grille redone (now fix the lights).

[Bravada]

Actually the Thesis rides on a platform of its own. The Alfa 166 rides on a freshened former Lancia Kappa platform. Given Fiat's proficiency in stretching platforms every possible direction (they are really leaders in this technology), Thesis' platform probably has much in common with the 166, but still it's a platform of its own. Fiat originally hoped to be using it for a long time probably.

The Thesis coupe does not look to good for me - it's just too heavy. The Kappa Coupe wasn't overly attractive either, so I guess Lancia's stylists need some help with coupes.

I still believe it would make sense for Fiat to team up with Honda. They would get great petrol engines, especially the small ones from Honda Jazz, in exchange for great diesels (at present, Honda's got only one diesel, albeit excellent too). They could also share the RL's platform (next-gen Alfa 167), perhaps the Pilot/MDX, and in future much more. Their brand images and product palettes, as well as manufacturing bases (Fiat's Europe + Latin America vs. Honda's Asia / North America) complement nicely. What do you think?

[FStephenMasek]

That Thesis is one very handsome car, and from every angle. Too bad we do not have such handsome cars as the Lancia Thesis and the new Puegeot models here. Instead, people here get excited about the ugly Chrysler 300. I think that part of the design of the Thesis is in response to the regulations in Europe regarding lessening of injuries to pedestrians hit by cars, but look at the beautiful results.

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by Bravada

Actually the Thesis rides on a platform of its own. The Alfa 166 rides on a freshened former Lancia Kappa platform. Given Fiat's proficiency in stretching platforms every possible direction (they are really leaders in this technology), Thesis' platform probably has much in common with the 166, but still it's a platform of its own. Fiat originally hoped to be using it for a long time probably.

The Thesis coupe does not look to good for me - it's just too heavy. The Kappa Coupe wasn't overly attractive either, so I guess Lancia's stylists need some help with coupes.

I still believe it would make sense for Fiat to team up with Honda. They would get great petrol engines, especially the small ones from Honda Jazz, in exchange for great diesels (at present, Honda's got only one diesel, albeit excellent too). They could also share the RL's platform (next-gen Alfa 167), perhaps the Pilot/MDX, and in future much more. Their brand images and product palettes, as well as manufacturing bases (Fiat's Europe + Latin America vs. Honda's Asia / North America) complement nicely. What do you think?

I don't know if Honda would want to get involved right now with Fiat for just the fact that financially they don't seem to be doing all that well. True things are getting better, but their leadership still has to prove that they're out of the woods, and that will take a few years. Plus, Honda is notorious for not wanting to tie up with any automakers. They're fiercely independant and have gone through some large lengths to say that way. The only way I could see some sort of a hook-up would be through a cooperation, like the way Honda agreed to help the former Rover Group in the early 1990s or some sort of technical agreement, like GM currently has for Honda's 3.5L engine in the Saturn Vue RedLine. Other than that, I don't think that Honda would want to go near Fiat.

As for Lancia, I always thought that the 166 and Thesis shared some mechancias since they're built in the same factory. I know that Fiat back in 2001 said that Lancia would use a new dedicated platform for the Thesis, but I don't know if some of the parts were carry over or not. Nevertheless, the point remains that Fiat will use the new "Premium Platform" co-developed wiht GM for the 166 replacement -- the same one used for the 159 and Brera. My hope is that if they're going to replace the 166, that they do the same for the Thesis, especially since the Premium Platform includes AWD. I only wish that if Fiat were to really make a go of turning Lancia into it's "luxury marque" that they'd shell out for a RWD platform to use for future Alfas and Lancias. I think you're right in that Fiat is a master at stretching platforms to fit different vehicle segments, but I can't help but wonder if that has also hurt them in the past?

I kind of liked the Kappa Coupe back in the day, for some reason, always seemed nice to me. But I will agree that this Thesis Coupe needs some help.

[HEVguy]

It is too bad that GM has helped to finance this product development, and that they will not really have anything to show for it or any share in the company (not necessarily a bad thing).

However, I find it odd how fiat can come up with some very nice designs and some extremely fugly designs... They are sort of a schizo-design house in that respect.

nadepalma, good call, those wheels look like they came right off of the sixteen concept! Those lights are fugly though!

[vdoh182]

Step 2, finish 149 and 169 and bring them over along with the 159 and Brera/Spyder and make loot.

[Whirling_Dervish]

GM's money will be well spent!

But I thought they were bleeding close to a billion every quarter! Did they turn it around or are they still close to death?

This could be their last gasp.

[Whirling_Dervish]

Originally Posted by HEVguy

It is too bad that GM has helped to finance this product development, and that they will not really have anything to show for it or any share in the company (not necessarily a bad thing).

However, I find it odd how fiat can come up with some very nice designs and some extremely fugly designs... They are sort of a schizo-design house in that respect.

nadepalma, good call, those wheels look like they came right off of the sixteen concept! Those lights are fugly though!

Didn't GM at least get some diesel technology out of it?

[asim]

I cant believe people will pay money to not buy something.

[Stéphane Dumas]

Originally Posted by Bravada

I still believe it would make sense for Fiat to team up with Honda. They would get great petrol engines, especially the small ones from Honda Jazz, in exchange for great diesels (at present, Honda's got only one diesel, albeit excellent too). They could also share the RL's platform (next-gen Alfa 167), perhaps the Pilot/MDX, and in future much more. Their brand images and product palettes, as well as manufacturing bases (Fiat's Europe + Latin America vs. Honda's Asia / North America) complement nicely. What do you think?

Wasn't Suzuki had planned a common project with Fiat?

[paul3230]

I can't seem to get pass those ugly headlights!!