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| 2010 Mazda3 equipment levels, safety & pricing updated
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| Mazda has today announced its Mazda3 range will receive a raft of equipment upgrades, more safety equipment and revised pricing. 
The Mazda3 hatch and sedan range will see upgrades on all models, beginning with the entry-level Mazda3 Neo, which now offers steering wheel-mounted cruise control and remote audio controls, plus front-side and full length curtain airbags as standard. The additional safety equipment now means all Mazda3 models share a five-star ANCAP safety rating. On Mazda3 Neo, the additional airbags and cruise control, previously more than $1000 worth of optional equipment, are now included at no extra cost. Continuing through the range, Mazda3 Maxx now adds front fog lamps, a leather wrapped gear knob (manual models only) and leather wrapped steering wheel to the feature list. The Mazda3 Maxx also enjoys a $485 reduction in its list price. Mazda3 Maxx Sport and Mazda3 Diesel models pick up dual-zone climate control while also offering a price reduction of $485. Top-shelf Mazda3 SP25 remains unchanged in its equipment levels, but also attracts a $485 price cut. “New Generation Mazda3 has been widely recognised by Australian consumers as offering tremendous value since its launch last year,” said Mazda Australia’s Managing Director, Doug Dickson. “Through the addition of new features and reduced prices, we are very pleased to be able to offer a Mazda3 that is now even better value.”
2010 Mazda3 Pricing Update: - Mazda3 Neo $21,330*
- Mazda3 Maxx $23,755*
- Mazda3 Maxx Sport $26,360*
- Mazda3 Diesel $29,230*
- Mazda3 SP25 $29,255*
*Pricing is a guide as recommended to us by the manufacturer and does not include dealer delivery, on-road or statutory charges. . | | |
| 2011 Audi A7 spy photos, testing at Nürburgring
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| The Audi A7 has hit the Nürburgring for some quick laps. These spy photos are the third set CarAdvice has secured so far and show the new four-door coupe testing suspension settings at Germany’s favourite high-speed circuit. 
The Audi A7, which is due to be released later this year (most likely as an MY11 model) will challenge the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLS, Volkswagen Passat CC and BMW 5 Series GT. Sharing the same underpinnings as the Audi A6, the all-new Audi A7 will offer a range of petrol and diesel powerplants, as well as at least one hybrid variant. No four-cylinder models are expected in the A7 range. 
Offering a mix of six- and seven-speed manual gearboxes, plus automatic and dual-clutch S-tronic transmissions, Audi will also offer an S7 variant featuring a 5.0-litre twin-turbocharged V10, which may even be the model pictured. A convertible version is also rumoured to be in the pipeline. Pricing and full specification details will be released closer to the car’s launch later this year or early in 2011.      
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| 2011 BMW 5 Series Hybrid spy photos
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| Spy photos from Munich, Germany this morning show BMW testing its new 5 Series Hybrid. 
The photos confirm reports the luxury marque is indeed planning a hybrid version of its popular large sedan, and lends credence to the possibility of a production model all-electric version of the 5 Series, as seen at this week’s Beijing Motor Show. Dubbed ‘Echo’, the new all-electric 5 Series LWB may well share some of its technology with the petrol-electric hybrid variant pictured. 
Sharing the same body and underpinnings as its conventionally powered sibling, it is assumed the 5 Series Hybrid will share the same powertrain as that shown in the 5 Series ActiveHybrid Concept at the Geneva Motor Show – a turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and 40kW electric motor. A lithium-ion battery pack, mounted close to the rear axle, will power the car’s electric needs. The BMW 5 Series Hybrid is expected to debut in late 2011 as a MY12 model.      . | | |
| Toyota to liven up its image with new top designer
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| Japanese automaker Toyota has looked to English car designer, Simon Humphries to inject some flair into the company's distinctively uninspiring image. 
Humphries' promotion to the top design job following Wahei Hirai's retirement proves the world’s biggest carmaker is looking for a major image overhaul. But the Japanese speaking Englishman – who is now the highest ranking foreigner at the company – doesn't want to make Toyota's look more European, rather he hopes to embrace traditional Japanese aesthetics. “I think they need to be much more confident about their own cultural heritage,” Humphries says.
And President Akio Toyoda wants his new top designer to forge a new look that sees Toyota manufacturing cars that not only fun to drive, but also visually interesting. Humphries, now 43, was forced to put his dreams of creating his own autos on hold after Britain’s car industry bottomed out in the 1980s. 
But with a booming economy, opportunities in Japan were plentiful for the industrial designer, who trained at the De Montfort University in the UK. “There was anything and everything in those days here. For product design work, it was like heaven.“
Humphries previously worked for Sony Corp and other consumer goods designing video cameras, train interiors, golf clubs and even toilets. But when his dream job came up at Toyota in 1994, he never looked back. His career at the automaker has been totally in advanced design, having styled the futuristic Pod concept car in 2001 and the Scion CCX. 
But his most notable success came from a five-year project started in 2001 to create long-term design strategies for Toyota and Lexus. Toyota's “Vibrant Clarity” for and Lexus' “L-Finesse” appear in cars such as the third-generation Prius and the Lexus LS. Humphries hopes to channel the Japanese ability to be innovative. Humphries says the uniquely Japanese curry doughnut exemplifies their ability to reinvent. “Putting curry inside a doughnut, who would ever think of that?” he asks. "For me, that is a real eye-opener. the way they can seemingly combine two normal things to create something that is very, very new.“
Looking ahead, Humphries sees the following trends in store for Toyota design: - More expressive, dynamic front ends, as in the FT-86 sports car concept and iQ compact.
- Minimizing or eliminating the upper grille, as seen in the Prius.
- More customer personalisation of colours and material.
- Smaller, less cluttered instrument panels for the Lexus brand, with controls closer to driver.
CEO Akio Toyoda hasn't left everything to his new designer having already made suggestions regarding the "charm points" in a vehicle such as driver position, cornering visibility and vehicle stance. This has already been translated into design with Humphries moving the steering wheel up higher and closer to the body so that the driver’s shoulders rest naturally against the back of the seat. Design critics say Toyota has a long way to go — but that it’s on the right track. “Design matters now more than ever,” says Imre Molnar, dean of auto design at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. Toyota could continue to generate sales on its reputation for reliability but as rivals like Hyundai and Kia close the gap on those fronts, Toyota has to liven up its aesthetic appeal.
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| Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid gains momentum
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| Since the release of the Carrera GT supercar in 2004 – Enthusiasts have long waited for the next big thing from Porsche. The 2010 Geneva Motorshow gave us what we had all been waiting for, the new Porsche 918 Spyder Supercar. 
Fans were impressed with the advancements in Hybrid technologies that the car displayed, though were left deflated when discovering that the 918 Spyder was purely a Concept and would be unlikely to reach showroom floors. Today, excitement has been sparked after the announcement that Porsche has received more than 900 serious expressions of interest for the 918 Spyder, and it's likely that with over 1000 buyers the new Porsche Supercar will reach the production line. 
"I’m confident that we will soon reach the threshold of 1,000. We need 1,000 seriously interested people to make a sound business case." Porsche’s development chief, Wolfgang Duerheimer told Autonews.
Following Porsches new focus in the development of Hybrid technologies across its range, the 918 Spyder features a Hybrid 3.4-litre V8 Power Plant generating 368kW. Combined with its 2 electric motors producing a total of 160 kW, the 918 should reach 100 km/h in less than 3.2 seconds and go on to a top speed of more than 320 km/h. While these performance figures are (without question) obviously fast, they are not 'stand out' compared to the current top of the line Porsche Turbo S which produces similar performance levels. The appeal of the 918 Spyder lies within its advanced hybrid technologies which allows it to achieve fuel economy figures as little as 3.0L per 100km while emitting only 70 grams of CO2 per kilometre – that's exactly half what the Hybrid Camry achieves! Chances are that if Porsche builds the 918 Spyder, reminiscent of the Carrera GT, it's unlikely we will see any lurking about local showrooms. 
Like Lamborghini, Porsche is now looking to the strong developing sports car market in China, which has become the companies 3rd largest market behind America and Germany. Sales performance in China saw an increase of 13% with 9,900 vehicles sold last year. With such impressive growth, Porsche is planning to double its dealer network by 2012 in China with more than 25 new showrooms expected. . | | |
| Lotus Engineering leads the lightweight future of motoring
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| As many manufacturers concentrate on new efficient technologies to make their fleet greener, Lotus has today demonstrated that its lightweight philosophy is still as relevant as ever. 
Lotus Engineering has concluded that on average a vehicles mass can be improved by 38 per cent at only three per cent cost – which in layman's terms means less is only a little more. Lotus Engineering is the backbone of the Lotus operation with its road-going achievements merely acting as a rolling resume of what the firm is capable of. Dr Robert Hentschel, Director of Lotus Engineering said: "Lighter vehicles are cleaner and more efficient. That philosophy has always been core to Lotus' approach to vehicle engineering and is now more relevant than ever."
In its latest study to develop a commercially viable mass reduction strategy for mainstream vehicles, Lotus Engineering focussed on the use of lightweight materials and efficient design to yield substantial improvements in efficiency. 
As a case study, Lotus Engineering managed the aforementioned 38 per cent reduction in weight, excluding the powertrain, with a benchmark Toyota Venza by using engineering techniques and technologies viable for mainstream production programmes by 2020. After analysing the body of the Toyota Venza which is made from 100 per cent steel, Lotus Engineers suggest using a combination of aluminium, magnesium, composites and high-strength steel to reduce its heft from 382kg to 221kg. The results are much the same for the exterior panels, chassis and suspension, with Lotus Engineers getting creative to remove weight from other sections of the car such as the electrical system – suggesting the use of wireless technologies to replace wiring. Without modifying the powertrain, the end result of this thorough analysis is a substantial 23 per cent improvement in fuel economy. But fuel economy is just the politically-correct side effect of weight reduction, for the more performance inclined individual, the Scuderia and Superleggera philosophy could very well find its way into mainstream motoring, opening a new chapter in affordable performance.. . | | |
| Hyundai i30 at Targa Tasmania CarAdvice Co-Driving
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Ever tried reading pace notes while you're being g-force pummeled in the co-driver's seat of a rally car for five hours? It's the toughest job in the motorsport business and absolutely not for the faint hearted or those who feel queasy while reading in the car, which I certainly do. 
Behind the wheel is definitely the better place to be in a hard-core rally such as Targa Tasmania. When I first drove Hyundai's i30 back in 2007, I came away thinking it was the most sorted small car I had driven in years. 
Plenty of 'go', dynamically sound, stacks of features and a whole lot of fun to drive; the turbo diesel powered CRDi i30 was head and shoulders above its Japanese competition, in every way. 
Much has changed in the three and half years since that launch, Australian buyers have mostly got over any hang-ups they had about the Hyundai badge and the i30 is fast becoming Australia's favourite small car. In February alone, i30 sales rose sharply to capture an impressive share of the small car segment, while globally, Hyundai racked up sales of over 250,000 sales during that same month. And it's not just the i30 that's doing big numbers. It's the same story with almost every other model in the company lineup, from the value-for- money Getz to the super impressive iLoad, which has clearly become the vehicle of choice for telecommunications companies as well as the vast majority of 'tradies' in this country. 
Few would ever consider the base model i30 SX a worthy motorsport competitor, but Hyundai Motor Company Australia believes otherwise, and for good reason. 
Lining up for the start of this year's world class Targa Tasmania Rally will be Hyundai's first factory backed entrant in the event, and apart from a few mandatory features required for competition, this i30 CRDi is the same car as you'll find at your local Hyundai dealership. The Targa prepped car still has only 85kW of power and 255Nm of torque, and while consuming just 4.7-litres/100km, the i30 CRDi wins the prize for the most fuel-efficient car in this year's Targa lineup of over 270 cars. That illustrious company includes a stack of EVO's, STi's, GT3's, Lamborghini's and a fleet the all-conquering Nissan GT-R's. 
But it's not the first time that Hyundai's little hatch has been kitted up for racing. Rally driver, Razvan Vlad and his co-driver Iona Vlad from Perth, drove the i30 CRDi to class victories in two consecutive Targa West rallies in 2008 and 2009. 
That's impressive, when you consider that the i30 rally car had absolutely no engine modifications whatsoever and used the same brake rotors and calipers, which you would find on the standard i30 you would find on the showroom floor. 
In fact, the only modifications on the car besides the safety cage are; racing seats with side impact protection, 6-point harnesses, airbags removed, performance front brake pads and lower springs for a slightly lower ride height. 
In other words, there are no actual performance modifications on this race car, and the drivetrain is stock standard. 
That said open any of the five doors on this particular i30, and you'll see that this is a serious race car. Full-blown Velo racing seats with 6-point harness for driver and co-driver, Sparco Alcantara steering wheel, safety cage and no rear seats. 
There is however a couple of suspended pods for helmets to sit in between the various stages during each leg of Targa. 
The tyres are road legal semi slicks, which provide significantly more grip than standard tread road tyres. Competing in the Showroom Class, Raz is more than confident of the car's ability when he said recently "I know the car inside and out. It is a very balanced car, with excellent brakes and an advanced Variable Geometry Turbo engine. It has been 100 percent reliable and I know it won't disappoint." 
Tomorrow is the first official leg of the rally and I'll be jumping in the co-driver's seat of the i30 CRDi, replacing Iona Vlad (that's a worry given how successful she is in this 'hot seat') reading the pace notes for Razvan. It's been a crash course in co-driving/navigating for me over the last twenty-four hours although, I drove with Raz on a recce of all 8 stages of this opening leg yesterday, only to end up feeling positively crook with motion sickness and worse still, that was at 50 percent or more off race pace. 
Day one will certainly be interesting. I'll consider it a win, if I can simply hold my breakfast down. From this moment on, anyone that ever says anything derogatory about the co-driver's position in my presence, will be promptly strapped into the left hand seat of a rally car on a twisty stage, and told to read 50 pages of pace notes without raising their head. That will be sufficient punishment, I'm certain. So it stands to reason that most important piece of equipment in my Targa Tasmania kit, besides my helmet and HANS device (Head and Neck Support), is a small supply of Travelcalm tablets, in what I hope is a successful attempt to ward off that dreaded feeling of motion sickness. If it all fails, I've got a couple of sick bags as a last resort. 
My principal job tomorrow as co-driver, is to read the twenty-three pages of pace notes to Raz through a intercom system, which connects our two helmets, at precisely the right time (not too fast, not too slow), that will allow him to drive the i30 as fast as possible without worrying about what's ahead over a blind crest, for example. That's not all the co-driver also needs to navigate to the next stage, which on this particular leg can be up to 30 kilometres away from the previous finishing line. Our start time tomorrow is 8:35:30 and the route takes us from Lilydale to Western Creek. 
Stay tuned for an update of the i30's performance on day one.
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| Vauxhall Ampera enters pre-production testing
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| As the Chevrolet Volt nears the completion of its pre-production testing, its European cousin has reached an important milestone of its own as the first pre-production Vauxhall Amperas roll off the line at GM's Pre-Production Operations’ assembly line in Warren, Michigan. 
More vehicles will be added to the pre-production test fleet in the coming months which will be used by engineers both in Europe and the United States to evaluate the progress of its development. 
The focus will be on developing the final vehicle software and controls, fine tuning the vehicles’ driving characteristics, and performing safety and structural integrity testing. "We're right on target for producing the Ampera for European markets later next year," said Andrew Farah, Vehicle Chief Engineer for Ampera. "There's still work to be done, but being able to drive an Ampera off our pre-production line is a great accomplishment for the teams here and in Europe."
The Ampera uses an extended-range powertrain identical to the system used in the Chevrolet Volt which allows up to 65km of pure electric driving before the on-board engine is used to sustain the battery charge. 
The new vehicle will fall under both the Opel and Vauxhall umbrella in Europe, depending on the specific market. d. . | | |
| ANCAP ratings announced
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| The latest batch of crash test results from the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) have been released today. As reported earlier the Great Wall Motors X240 SUV did well achieving a four-star rating whilst the Toyota Camry Hybrid managed a disappointing 4-star rating. 
The winner of the lot was the new 2010 Volkswagen Polo, scoring a 5-star rating. The results for the Volkswagen Polo are not surprising given how well it has performed in other tests. However as our previous article mentioned, the Toyota Camry Hybrid results added another burden to Toyota’s recent troubles. ANCAP Chair, Lauchlan McIntosh, said "the 4-star result for Camry – which is the first of the environmentally-friendly vehicles to come off Toyota's Australian production line – was the same result as the Camry tested by ANCAP in 2007. The Camry Hybrid's stablemate, the Aurion, received a 5-star rating last year and we think there was an expectation that this innovative vehicle would do as well.” Toyota pointed out that ANCAP doesn’t take into consideration a great deal of safety features offered standard on the Camry Hybrid, most of which not available on the Great Wall Motors SUV which scored the same result. 
According to ANCAP tests of the Camry Hybrid, the driver's knees were vulnerable to injury from the steering column. The unfavourable results were evident despite the car’s steering column being redesigned for keyless ignition. The other minor feature which the the Camry Hybrid doesn’t come with is the passenger seat belt reminder, a basic feature that is already available on the Toyota Aurion, Holden Commodore and Ford Falcons. Speaking in regards to the seat belt reminder Mr McIntosh said "around one fifth of all road deaths involve occupants not wearing seat belts so a seat belt reminder is a very important safety feature". . | | |
| BMW Concept Gran Coupé introduced in Beijing
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| BMW has unveiled its potential entry into the flourishing four-door luxury coupe market at the Beijing auto show with its BMW Concept Gran Coupé. 
Combining the comfort of a Gran Turismo with the aesthetics of a high-performance sports car, the BMW Concept Gran Coupé is likely to join the growing fleet of four-door coupes on the market alongside Aston Martin, Porsche and most recently the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break concept. 
Measuring almost five metres long, the BMW Concept Gran Coupé remains spacious even for rear-seat passengers, yet at just 1.40 metres high it retains its coupe-like silhouette – making it up to 100 millimetres flatter than the BMW 5 Series or the BMW 7 Series Sedan. The forward-tilted shark nose visually extends the bonnet ending in the trademark BMW kidney grilles, flanked either side by sharp, rakish air intakes which house LED day time running lights. 
The flared wheel arches each house a unique wheel concept where individual spokes extend in towards the centre of the rim, giving it a three-dimensional quality. Curiously, BMW has not revealed the interior arrangement of its BMW Concept Gran Coupé although it is likely to feature four individual pews like existing models from other brands.       d. . | | |
| GM to spend $850 million on US powertrain facilities
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| General Motors will tomorrow announce plans to invest more than $850 million (AUD$917 million) on upgrading five of its North American powertrain facilities. 
Modernising the plants responsible for the manufacture of engines, transmissions and other powertrain components will also preserve up to 1600 jobs. Sources say that although the news has yet to be made public, the money will be invested at plants in Tonawanda, New York; Bay City, Michigan; Bedford, Indiana; Defiance, Ohio; and St. Catherines, Ontario. The bulk of the money will go towards the aging Tonawanda plant. The Detroit News reported that the money will assist the plants toward developing next-generation engines for the brand’s full-size commercial vehicle (pickup) range. As the United States’ largest car manufacturer, GM is boosting its spending on more fuel-efficient powertrains emissions control laws grow ever tighter. Customer demand for more environmentally friendly, more fuel efficient cars is also said to be driving the change. “There is no doubt that a major differentiator going forward will be powertrain technology,” said Michael Robinet, vice president at research firm CSM Worldwide in Northville, Michigan. “Heavy investment and improved fuel economy will be on every company’s agenda.”
GM CEO, Ed Whitacre will attempt to return the company to profitability as early as this year, a much needed step before the company can make its initial public offering of shares. At this point in time, the US government owns a 61 per cent stake in GM after assisting its July 2009 exit from bankruptcy.
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| Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG sells 1,000+ in Australia
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| 2008 saw the Mercedez-Benz C 63 AMG hit Australian shores and today the German company announced that it had sold over 1,000 of the highly tuned V8 sport sedans and estates. 
The record currently stands at 1,006 sedans and 32 estates, put together they make the C 63 the best selling AMG model in Australia to date. The success has also helped put Mercedes-Benz Australia Pacific into fourth place worldwide (by volume) for global AMG sales. Despite stock shortages, last year Mercedes-Benz grow its AMG sales by 8 per cent, helped along by the limited edition "Edition 63" C 63 sedans and estates (built for Australia only). The Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Mr Horst von Sanden said "So far in 2010 we have posted a 22 percent increase in sales, with the all-new E 63 AMG already having sold more than 100 units and the C 63 AMG is on track for more 600 units. We have convincingly established the C63 as the ultimate prestige sports sedan in Australia by outselling our nearest rival by 66 percent in 2009 and 131 percent in 2010.” The Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG manages 336kW at 6,800rpm and maximum torque of 600Nm. It will sprint from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds. The German sports car is directly pitched against the BMW M3, Audi RS4 and Lexus IS-F. "I sometimes think that AMG stands for 'Australian Market Growth'," concluded von Sanden."
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| Nissan & GE to team up on EV infrastructure
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| Nissan and General Electric (GE) today announced a three-year agreement that will see the pair research the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the US. 
As Nissan prepares to launch its Leaf electric vehicle, the two companies will work to build “smart” charging stations that will communicate with electricity supply companies to regulate the strain on power grids. With US homes operating on a 110-volt system, utility companies and Nissan are working with home and business owners to install 220-volt charging points that will charge electric vehicles more quickly. “Together with Nissan, we will take a comprehensive look at what technologies will be needed in the car, on the grid, and at home or work to make smart charging a reality,” said Mark Little, director of GE Global Research.
Nissan and GE said specific details on future projects under the partnership will be revealed over the coming months. Nissan will debut its electric Leaf hatch in Japan later this year with European and US markets to follow shortly thereafter. When fully charged the Leaf’s batteries allow it 160-kilometre cruising range, Nissan says. . . | | |
| Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG priced from $464,000
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| Mercedes-Benz has announced the Australian pricing for its iconic Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG “gullwing” super sports car, which will start from $464,000 when it arrives in August. 
Even ahead of the actual market launch, more than 40 Australian customers have already placed their orders for the SLS AMG, with Mercedes-Benz Australia predicting demand may soon exceed supply for 2010. As the successor to one of the most iconic nameplates in the history of Mercedes, the new “gullwing” is the first vehicle to be developed completely in-house by AMG. 
"Even in advance of the actual market launch, orders have considerably exceeded our expectations. This shows that the exciting design and extraordinary concept of our gullwing model precisely meet the taste and aspirations of potential customers.” said Horst von Sanden, managing director of Mercedes-Benz Cars in Australia.
"Given the impressive demand we are experiencing for this special car our stock allocation for 2010 could well be insufficient," speculated von Sanden.
It boasts an AMG 6.3-litre V8 front-mid-engine developing 420kW and peak torque of 650Nm, mated to a seven-speed double-declutch transmission in a transaxle configuration. 
Combined with a kerb weight of just 1620 kilograms, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, and has an electronically limited top speed of 317 km/h.
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| Fiat Chrysler Annouce Plans To Further Merge The Brands
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| While Fiat and Chrysler are now one global company, their models have remained distinct from each other. But that’s all about to change. This week Fiat revealed the first step in a grand plan to integrate the two brands across product development, manufacturing, purchasing and other operations. 
As early as 2012, Fiat will begin to assemble two models for Chrysler in Turin, Italy for a primarily US market, including the model to replace the successful Sebring. Chrysler is expected to return the favour by producing two Alpha Romeo SUVs in the US. The compact model will commence assembly in 2012 and the larger model in 2014. The five-year plan also includes: - 2012 – Fiat will build in Italy a new compact sedan, which will be distributed in North America under the Chrysler or Dodge brand.
- 2013 – Alfa is planning a rear-drive that could be built in Canada or Italy.
- 2013 – Chrysler could import from Serbia new, Fiat-built subcompacts for both the Chrysler and Dodge brands.
Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said using existing factories to manufacture both Fiat and Chrysler vehicles was simply more efficient. "The allocation of production between Fiat Group Automobiles and Chrysler will be based on rationalization and efficiency so that maximum capacity utilization is achieved for both organizations and the need to establish new plants avoided," he said.
In order to maximise capacity, the two companies will pair similar models to be produced in the one plant. - The new compact Chrysler or Dodge model will be built in Fiat's Cassino plant in central Italy. This plant will build 400,000 units on the same platform, including the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, the Fiat Bravo replacement and the Lancia Delta.
- Chrysler's new Sebring sedan will be built in the Mirafiori plant in Turin, along with the Alfa Romeo Giulia mid-sized sedan and wagon.
Chrysler will also export vehicles from North America to be sold in Europe under different brands. The Mexico-built Dodge Journey crossover will become a Fiat model in Europe, Ram Truck's Unibody Pickup will be sold as part of Fiat Professional's light commercial vehicles while Fiat's North American range will include a three versions of the 500 all built in Mexico. European dealers will also receive Lancia branded versions of Chrysler vehicles including a Canadian-built restyled Voyager and an American-build new compact sedan and station wagon.
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