Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has revealed the company's long-term product plans for four of its main brands. While the presentation left out Chrysler and Dodge, it gave a good look at what is in store for Jeep, Ram, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati.
For Jeep, the plan is for two new product launches per year. That will give the company 10 plug-in hybrids by 2022 and four fully electric models. The off-road automaker will also have all of its vehicles electrified in some way by 2021.
Brand head Mike Manley told investors that Jeep will be expanding the lineup to include a new sub-Renegade A-segment crossover. It will also add a new three-row Grand Cherokee and see the return of the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. The last three will come to North America, but the smallest model may not. Two of the upcoming products will be China-only.
Jeep is also planning a subscription service, dubbed Jeep Wave, that would let users have access to different Jeep models and vehicles on demand. Much like Volvo's new Note program.
Manley said that he wants to see Jeep sell one in 12 utility vehicles globally, up from one in 17 now.
Ram is bringing the Ram TRX to production. That model is based on a concept off-road Ram that used a 6.2L supercharged V8. The Ford Raptor-hunter is aimed at raising the brand's average transaction prices. FCA noted that the Raptor sells for US $28,000 more than an average F-150 and it wants a piece of that dune-hopping pie. Ram is also bringing a new HD pickup in 2019.
The mid-size truck market will also see a return of the Ram brand, although Manley, who is also the head of Ram, wouldn't say if it would wear the Dakota badge the truck wore as a Dodge.
Ram is also bringing a new version of the ProMaster City by 2022, but the larger ProMaster won't see a significant update.
Maserati is getting more models, including a crossover and electric vehicles. The brand is adding a midsize SUV that is yet unnamed, as well as a 911-fighting Alfieri sports car. Maserati is looking at doubling global sales to reach 100,000 per year by 2022. Expect new models of the Levante crossover and the Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans by 2022.
The Maserati models will include more electrification. That means fully electric versions of the Alfieri as well as the new models of the Quattroporte and Levante. Maserati says they will have a three-motor all-wheel drive system with 50 percent more power than their current counterparts. Maserati quotes a top speed of over 300 km/h and 0-100 km/h in two seconds for the electric Alfieri.
For Alfa Romeo, a new compact crossover is coming, along with a new full-size model that will see an EV version. The 8C supercar will return as a hybrid model with a carbon chassis and more than 700 hp. A new GTV coupe will offer 600 hp and seating for four. The not offered in North America MiTo will go away.
As part of the presentation, FCA also announced that most of these brands will be dropping diesels. That's as regulators clamp down on emissions following the 2015 diesel emissions scandal. Jeep, Alfa, and Maserati are all dropping diesel engines in favour of electrification. The same change was not mentioned in the Ram presentation, and that brand is likely to keep the diesel in at least the heavy-duty truck market.
FCA did not give presentations on the Fiat, Dodge, and Chrysler brands, although it is not clear what the significance of that is. FCA has said that it is not killing the Chrysler brand.
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