According to Car and Driver, the decision to drop down the Ypsilon-based Chrysler was confirmed by Olivier Francois, head of Chrysler and Lancia, while he was talking to Car and Driver during the 2011 New York International Auto Show.
As Francois explains, the idea was turned down because the American automaker considered that an Ypsilon-based Chrysler represented a close rival for the newly introduced Fiat 500.
The Lancia Ypsilon features two petrol engines, a 69 hp 1.2-liter unit and Fiat’s amazing 0.9-liter TwinAir developing 85 hp. Only one diesel engine will be available in the form of the 1.3-liter Multijet that develops 95 hp. Some time into the future, the Italian automaker Lancia will offer a bi-fuel 67HP 1.2-liter unit that will run on petrol and LPG. All engines features the Stop and Start technology as standard, while the TwinAir is also made available with a DFN semi-automatic gearbox.
Furthermore, Francois reported that a rival for the Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra etc. has been put under review which most of the times is another way to say canceled.
On the other hand, Dodge will have a new model in its range which will be a sedan. Ralph Gilles, president and CEO of the Dodge car brand and senior vice president of design at Chrysler Group LLC, confirmed that Dodge will definitely have a compact replacement for the Caliber model. Gilles says that the Dodge sedan is going to be competitive as far as fuel-economy goes which will draw on Fiat’s expansive bin of efficient four-cylinder engines.
With all these been said, there is no information regarding an official release date for the new Dodge sedan.
Google News