Chrysler Wraps Auburn Hills HQ with New "Imported From Detroit" Tagline

The Chrysler Group is showcasing its new “Imported from Detroit” tagline for the 200 model series with a massive wrap covering almost the entire west side of the company’s 15-story headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The Detroit automaker's new tagline made its debut in a two-minute advertising spot for the company's latest entry to the mid-size segment on Super Bowl Sunday.

“The 2011 Chrysler 200 is a vehicle designed with purpose, it has beautiful shapes and incorporates the utmost attention to detail,” said Olivier Francois, President and CEO of the Chrysler Brand, Chrysler Group LLC, and Lancia.

“This new mid-size sedan delivers on a promise to our customers to be the very best of American design combined with a value proposition that will exceed their expectations. The new tagline was created to convey the message that one does not have to cross an ocean to obtain luxury, its available right here,” Francois stated.

Francois last statement could be taken as a poke to European buyers who -figuratively speaking- will have to "cross an ocean to obtain luxury" given that the soon to be released Lancia Flavia is a re-badged 200 Imported from Detroit...

Building Wrap Facts [From Chrysler Press Release]

• The Chrysler 200 featured in the building wrap is 116 feet wide by 145 feet tall
  • Its grille is 51 feet wide
  • The badge on the Chrysler 200 grille is 31 feet in length
  • Headlight is 32 feet long
  • Its hood measures 44 feet in length and 85 feet in width
  • Its windshield is 66 feet wide and 20 feet long
  • The side-view mirrors are each 9 feet wide and 7 feet long
• The Chrysler brand logo is 98 feet wide
• The building wrap covers 14 stories of the Headquarters’ tower
• It took three days to place the wrap on the tower

READ MORE - Chrysler Wraps Auburn Hills HQ with New "Imported From Detroit" Tagline

Ram Truck Announces New Entry-Level 1500 HEMI V8, Still to Decide on Name

In a somewhat strange move, the Chrysler Group's Ram Truck division announced today that it would launch a new entry-level version of its 1500 pickup truck equipped with a standard HEMI V8 engine, but it has yet to decide on the vehicle's name. According to the company, the new model is currently known under the code name “Adventurer".

The Detroit firm said the new model borrows the formula of the 2011 Ram Tradesman and is aimed at "first-time buyers and owners who are looking for a vehicle with performance and style that they can customize and make their own."

The unnamed new Ram 1500 will come equipped with a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine delivering 390 horsepower and 407 lb.-ft. of torque as standard. It will be offered in a monochromatic paint scheme featuring a body-colored grille with black honeycomb inserts, body-colored front fascia and body-colored rear fascia with chrome-tipped dual exhausts.

Other standard features include fog lamps, 20-inch aluminum wheels with locking lug nuts, a locking tailgate, cargo lamp, rear-bumper step pad, 6” x 9” side-view mirrors, a 160-amp alternator, 3.55 rear axle ratio, 700-amp maintenance-free battery, four and seven-pin trailer wiring harness, heavy-duty front and rear shock absorbers, and front and rear stabilizer bars.

Inside, Ram's new pickup truck model get a heavy-duty vinyl 40/20/40 split-bench seat, air conditioning, six-speaker media center with CD and MP3 player, as well as audio jack input for mobile devices and automatic headlamps.

The standard list of safety features include front air bags, supplemental front curtain and side air bags, anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes and electronic stability control.

Ram said that buyers will also be able to choose from a variety of options ranging from Mopar chrome tubular side steps to a Sirius Satellite Radio.

“We know we have the formula right,” said Ram Truck President and CEO Fred Diaz. “Now we just need a great name that promotes pride of ownership. This new Ram model will be an attractive alternative for a younger or first-time buyer looking for performance at an affordable price. Case in point, it will have more horsepower and a lower base price than our competitors’ entry-level performance cars with the added benefit of versatility and capability.”

The new truck will come as a regular cab, short-bed model, with a choice of 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain. Sales will begin in the second quarter of the year with prices starting from 23,830, including $975 destination charge.

READ MORE - Ram Truck Announces New Entry-Level 1500 HEMI V8, Still to Decide on Name

Chrysler Designates FIAT Dealers

In a move that shows their clear intentions, Chrysler has started designating new franchises for the FIAT brand in the USA.

The initial list of new dealerships selling the Italian brand included dealerships in New York, Massachusetts, California, Washington, Pennsylvania, and Maine. Now the list is increasing to other parts of the country. Some dealers who closed their doors during the ‘08/’09 crisis are happy to take the FIAT brand. One former Saturn dealer in Florida is happy to hang the Italian logo where GM’s forgotten import fighters were once sold.

It seems that Chrysler is doing its best to avoid the mistakes made by FIAT in the US in the 70s and 80s. Back then the Turin brand did not have a dedicated dealership basis, instead the Italian cars were sold by a mixed match of dealerships that included Ford, GM, and Chrysler dealers and a few odd import sellers. Without their own dedicated shops, auto maintenance suffered, as most mechanics had poor training on FIAT maintenance, which led to the stereotype that the brand had poor build quality and shoddy engineering.

As reported earlier on Car Throttle, the Italian brand will be launched in the US by the diminutive 500, the first car from the manufacturer sold in America in 25 years. The car headed to the USA will be built in Mexico, and will come in regular coupe version, convertible, a much awaited sporty Abarth hot hatch, and a high roof, four door version.

The launch will be followed by the FIAT Panda, a sub compact that is smaller than most other cars sold in North America. The Panda’s launch could include the interesting four wheel drive Panda Cross model, although rumors say this version of the Italian car could also reach US shores under a Jeep badge to replace the Compass. It is not sure whether Jeep drivers will like an even smaller Jeep in their stable, specially one that is not US designed, or whether FIAT/Chrysler marketers will want a four wheel drive FIAT stealing sales from small Jeeps.

FIAT is now one of the main brands in Europe, and has received very good reviews in Europe for the quality of their cars. The question is whether The USA is willing to forgive or forget the “Fix It Again Tony” moniker that has plagued FIAT since the 1980s.

READ MORE - Chrysler Designates FIAT Dealers

Ram Truck Announces New Entry-Level 1500 HEMI V8, Still to Decide on Name

In a somewhat strange move, the Chrysler Group's Ram Truck division announced today that it would launch a new entry-level version of its 1500 pickup truck equipped with a standard HEMI V8 engine, but it has yet to decide on the vehicle's name. According to the company, the new model is currently known under the code name “Adventurer".

The Detroit firm said the new model borrows the formula of the 2011 Ram Tradesman and is aimed at "first-time buyers and owners who are looking for a vehicle with performance and style that they can customize and make their own."

The unnamed new Ram 1500 will come equipped with a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine delivering 390 horsepower and 407 lb.-ft. of torque as standard. It will be offered in a monochromatic paint scheme featuring a body-colored grille with black honeycomb inserts, body-colored front fascia and body-colored rear fascia with chrome-tipped dual exhausts.

Other standard features include fog lamps, 20-inch aluminum wheels with locking lug nuts, a locking tailgate, cargo lamp, rear-bumper step pad, 6” x 9” side-view mirrors, a 160-amp alternator, 3.55 rear axle ratio, 700-amp maintenance-free battery, four and seven-pin trailer wiring harness, heavy-duty front and rear shock absorbers, and front and rear stabilizer bars.

Inside, Ram's new pickup truck model get a heavy-duty vinyl 40/20/40 split-bench seat, air conditioning, six-speaker media center with CD and MP3 player, as well as audio jack input for mobile devices and automatic headlamps.

The standard list of safety features include front air bags, supplemental front curtain and side air bags, anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes and electronic stability control.

Ram said that buyers will also be able to choose from a variety of options ranging from Mopar chrome tubular side steps to a Sirius Satellite Radio.

“We know we have the formula right,” said Ram Truck President and CEO Fred Diaz. “Now we just need a great name that promotes pride of ownership. This new Ram model will be an attractive alternative for a younger or first-time buyer looking for performance at an affordable price. Case in point, it will have more horsepower and a lower base price than our competitors’ entry-level performance cars with the added benefit of versatility and capability.”

The new truck will come as a regular cab, short-bed model, with a choice of 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain. Sales will begin in the second quarter of the year with prices starting from 23,830, including $975 destination charge.

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

READ MORE - Ram Truck Announces New Entry-Level 1500 HEMI V8, Still to Decide on Name

Chrysler 200 Could Become a Lancia in International Markets

Product funding at Chrysler was cut severely as it headed into negotiations process with the Fiat Group. Unlike competitors General Motors and Ford, there has been a startling dearth of new products available on the market.

After the ensuing partnership, development was ramped up. We’re beginning to see the fruits of that with Chrysler’s introductions of vehicles like the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango and Chrysler 200.

The partnership with Fiat has resulted in the 500 minicar coming to our shores. Now, the Chrysler 200 could be heading overseas as well, badged as a Lancia.

There has been much talk about the potential for sharing between Lancia and Chrysler. But until now that has mostly been for all-new models farther out. But reports circulating now point to the the 200 possibly seeing duty overseas.

Olivier Francois is the CEO of both Chrysler and Lancia brands and told AutoNews that “We are running numbers to see if it could become a profitable business case.”

One issue with importing the 200 from the U.S to sell internationally is the lack of a diesel option in our market. In Europe, availability of a diesel is a must. The current Sebring however, is available in select European markets with a 2.0-liter CRDi turbodiesel engine.

It would seem like a no brainer to sell as a Lancia, but another obstacle is a short shelf life planned for the 200. As a mid-cycle enhancement to the Sebring mid-size sedan, an all-new model to do duty for both Chrysler and Lancia is slated for 2013.

That would provide only a short time on the market. The price tag for converting it for suitable use as a Lancia is around €50 million ($70 million).

That includes redesigned grille and other design elements, as well as modifications to accommodate a diesel engine. Fiat has to be certain that money will be recouped, hence the numbers being crunched right now

READ MORE - Chrysler 200 Could Become a Lancia in International Markets

New Chrysler Designates FIAT Dealers

In a move that shows their clear intentions, Chrysler has started designating new franchises for the FIAT brand in the USA.

The initial list of new dealerships selling the Italian brand included dealerships in New York, Massachusetts, California, Washington, Pennsylvania, and Maine. Now the list is increasing to other parts of the country. Some dealers who closed their doors during the ‘08/’09 crisis are happy to take the FIAT brand. One former Saturn dealer in Florida is happy to hang the Italian logo where GM’s forgotten import fighters were once sold.

It seems that Chrysler is doing its best to avoid the mistakes made by FIAT in the US in the 70s and 80s. Back then the Turin brand did not have a dedicated dealership basis, instead the Italian cars were sold by a mixed match of dealerships that included Ford, GM, and Chrysler dealers and a few odd import sellers. Without their own dedicated shops, auto maintenance suffered, as most mechanics had poor training on FIAT maintenance, which led to the stereotype that the brand had poor build quality and shoddy engineering.

As reported earlier on Car Throttle, the Italian brand will be launched in the US by the diminutive 500, the first car from the manufacturer sold in America in 25 years. The car headed to the USA will be built in Mexico, and will come in regular coupe version, convertible, a much awaited sporty Abarth hot hatch, and a high roof, four door version.

The launch will be followed by the FIAT Panda, a sub compact that is smaller than most other cars sold in North America. The Panda’s launch could include the interesting four wheel drive Panda Cross model, although rumors say this version of the Italian car could also reach US shores under a Jeep badge to replace the Compass. It is not sure whether Jeep drivers will like an even smaller Jeep in their stable, specially one that is not US designed, or whether FIAT/Chrysler marketers will want a four wheel drive FIAT stealing sales from small Jeeps.

FIAT is now one of the main brands in Europe, and has received very good reviews in Europe for the quality of their cars. The question is whether The USA is willing to forgive or forget the “Fix It Again Tony” moniker that has plagued FIAT since the 1980s.

READ MORE - New Chrysler Designates FIAT Dealers

Read All About it: Lancia's Geneva Motor Show Debuts in Detail

*The above photo is a Carscoop illustration

We've been hearing a lot of rumors and speculations for the past few months about Lancia's future product portfolio as well as which of these new models could make their world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show on March 1. Carscoop has now learned final details of Lancia's plans for the Swiss Salon and can confirm that, aside from the 2012 Ypsilon we've already told you about, the Italian automaker will slip the covers off six more production and concept cars.

Without further ado, these are the Lancia models that will make their first public appearance in Geneva next month: the new Thema flagship sedan based on the Chrysler 300; the Grand Voyager minivan based on the Chrysler Town & Country / Dodge Grand Voyager; the Flavia sedan and convertible concepts based on the respective versions of the Chrysler 200; and finally, the subtly revised 2012MY Delta with a new grille plus trim and engine updates.

Some additional information we found out is that the new rear-wheel drive Thema will reach European showrooms this fall with a choice of two engines including Chrysler's V6 Pentastar and a 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel in two states of tune, while the Flavia concept sedan and cabriolet models may be available in production form as early as the beginning of 2012.

As you can see, Fiat and Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne's plans to create a single brand lineup with certain market differentiations for Lancia and Chrysler are going full speed ahead, but only time will tell if these efforts -at least in this first implementation- prove to be successful, especially with European consumers.

READ MORE - Read All About it: Lancia's Geneva Motor Show Debuts in Detail