Ever since Italian automaker Fiat took control of Chrysler following the automaker's bankruptcy, we've been waiting for the axe to fall on some underperforming Chrysler products. The Dodge Avenger, for instance, has held the bottom spot in our Affordable Midsize Car rankings all year. Ditto the Dodge Caliber, the current holder of the bottom rung in our Affordable Small Car list.
If media reports are to be believed, both vehicles could be gone soon.
The Wall Street Journal reports, "Four months after exiting bankruptcy, Chrysler Group LLC is about to unveil a product road map that relies heavily on vehicles from Italian partner Fiat SpA while abandoning many of the U.S. car maker's own models." The plan, which will be officially unveiled on November 4, means that Chrysler "is preparing to phase out many current models, including a number of Dodge cars, the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan and several Jeeps."
The plan involves particularly brutal cuts at Chrysler. Just two current Chrysler products - the 300 large sedan and Town & Country minivan, will still be offered in 2012.
Autoblog reports, "Unloved nameplates like Dodge Nitro, Caliber and Avenger will be forgotten, probably along with the Jeep Patriot and Compass. New models will be brought in from Fiat to replace these outgoing cars." Among the first new Chrysler products we'll see will be the Fiat 500, a popular Mini Cooper rival in Europe, which will reportedly appear in Chrysler dealerships "as soon as possible."
The plan even calls for a new auto brand to hit American roads. Kicking Tires reports that Alfa Romeo will return to the U.S. market, "As a luxury marque slated above Chrysler."
The plan is ambitious, but its success is far from certain. Motor Trend writes, "The biggest issue for Chrysler and Fiat is time, as in Chrysler's running out of it. It's clear that Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne sees Fiat product as the solution for Chrysler's woes, but he has to buy time until his Fiats and Alfa Romeos show up." In order to bring those models here, the company must get them past U.S. safety and emissions inspections and set up production for the U.S. market - which, MT estimates, should take at least two years. "Until then, Chrysler must rely on its aging fleet of trucks, SUVs and large cars to keep the company afloat."
If you're in the market for a new car, check out the U.S. News rankings of this year's best cars as well as this month's best car deals.
