Posted on 09/25/2009 8:16:43 PM PDT by PilotDave
Chrysler thinks its future may be in a new lineup of smaller cars based on models from Italian partner Fiat. The question is how to make them for Americans put off by stiff suspensions, firm seats and - perish the thought - not enough cupholders.
The problem is further complicated because Americans generally are plumper and taller than Western Europeans, and they're used to driving fatter and longer cars.
It's a dilemma faced by nearly all automakers as they try to hold down development costs by tailoring cars to sell around the globe. But at no company is the problem more acute than Chrysler.
(Excerpt) Read more at thesunnews.com ...
After looking over a convertible Mini in a parking lot, at 6'2" I'm not sure I'd fit in a Mini, let alone something seven inches shorter.
38 mpg. 70 mph top speed. Could probably be built for few thousand dollars each. With the depression coming, who knows?
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/01/wayback_machine_11.php
parsy, who wonders
LOL, that’s good stuff. To reply to this thread in general, I would never own another GM or Chrysler product. I’ve never owned a Ford, but you can bet your ass I’ll buy one after I finish my degree.
Something was always breaking on that thing.
Spiders were junk. Key to the X1/9 was Bertone. Only repair problem I really had with mine was the small engine compartment was a pain to work around even with just regular maintenance.
Sounds like a pork-and-bean can to me. No thanks...
I've been living in Italy for the past two months... these things are all over the place, and that's a pretty fair description.
About the only thing much smaller is the Smart car. That is a pork-and-bean can. Every time I see one I feel like I need to try to find the wind-up key.
Yeah, I’m going to over pay for this crap.
Yo, auto unions, F U
Chrysler doesn’t need to build cars to fit Americans’ tastes.
Chrysler needs to build cars to fit Obama’s tastes.
You’re right, it’s not made for someone like you.
You’re a dinosaur. This is the 500 not the 850.
OK, nobody’s putting a gun to your head to buy one. Plenty of others will.
Where in Italy? I hear the 500 is extremely popular in Europe. It sounds like the 500 will be popular here with city dwellers as long as the reliability is the same as the Panda.
From what I understand the Fiat 500’s reliability is average.
What do you hear?
Remember: Fiat designed the YUGO!
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