FIAT needs a better portfolio in NA

[Yawn]

The niche idea is not working in NA... They need to bring something else here... Sales are off 30% for the month.. The 500x sold only 324 for first full month?!?!?!  I know the Honda HRV is in a different product group but it was also just released and sold 7700...

What do you all think? Or give it more time??

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2015/07/01/135251-fca-reports-june-2015-u-s-sales-increased-8-percent.html

[ifcar]

The release seems to be claiming that 500X sales are inventory-constrained, but we'll see in a few months whether that's true.

The other issue is that that market class went from empty to saturated really quickly as everyone jumped in -- there are only going to be so many people who want a crossover that size.

[12,000 RPM]

Shit is a dead end. Every market Fiat is trying to enter is oversaturated. And the "500ication" of the line up is a huge mistake. Fiat is not Porsche and the 500 is not a 911. The 500 itself is pretty much DOA at this point.

My inner "greedy Jalopnik teenage armchair auto exec" wants them to bring over the Panda with the 1.4T. My gawd that would be a hoot. Hell they could just do a 3 banger 1L with a turbo. Etc. But that wouldn't sell, nor would the regular one. Americans hate subcompacts and they are all generally outside the locus of value Americans want. The Compact Wide platform is a bit of a joke as well.... heavy as hell (which means shit fuel economy) and not very spacious. Pretty much death sentences in its segments.

FCA needs a K-car/Neon moment for its small cars. Thankfully the 200 is picking up much of the slack. But they miscalculated a bit with that CW platform. It seems optimized for the 200, while the market is hot for cars and SUVs in the Dart's size range.

[ifcar]

FCA needs a K-car/Neon moment for its small cars. Thankfully the 200 is picking up much of the slack. But they miscalculated a bit with that CW platform. It seems optimized for the 200, while the market is hot for cars and SUVs in the Dart's size range.

Like the Cherokee, for instance?

[2o6]

The Panda is too small! It would basically be a 5-door 500.

[Payman]

Basing the design of every model on the 500 is stupid. What if I don't like the 500? If the new 124 Spider has a 500 themed front end, I'll lose it. 

[Raza]

I still really want a 500 Abarth.

[Payman]

The Panda is too small! It would basically be a 5-door 500.

... that doesn't look exactly like a 500, which makes it appealing. I'd also like to see the Punto here.

[Payman]

I still really want a 500 Abarth.

Me too. What I really want is a 124 Abarth Spider.

[Yawn]

I still really want a 500 Abarth.

Yes same here.. They have the Linea which is horrible and ÆGEA as well. If they sold the ÆGEA here it would probably do a sales nose dive like the Kizashi.. http://aegea.fiat.com.tr Most likely FIAT will have to develop a specific model for NA.. .The 124 will sell but won't be a huge mover..  i don't think the Panda or Punto would be huge movers either..

[ifcar]

Yes same here.. They have the Linea which is horrible and ÆGEA as well. If they sold the ÆGEA here it would probably do a sales nose dive like the Kizashi.. http://aegea.fiat.com.tr Most likely FIAT will have to develop a specific model for NA.. .The 124 will sell but won't be a huge mover..  i don't think the Panda or Punto would be huge movers either..

I remember hearing -- might be wrong on this -- that the 500L was developed with the U.S. in mind. It instead ended up underperforming here and beating sales expectations domestically.

[cawimmer430]

Time to bring back the Fiat 130 Sedan - retro style this baby and off a gorgeous coupe while we're at it (although it would probably never surpass the beauty of the original 130 Coupe). 

[12,000 RPM]

Like the Cherokee, for instance?

Yea, thats like the 1 hit. They are 2 for 5 I guess.

The Panda is too small! It would basically be a 5-door 500.

One can dream

Fuck a 500 Abarth. I want a Panda Abarth 4x4. My gawd the holeshots.

[68_427]

[cawimmer430]

Fuck a 500 Abarth. I want a Panda Abarth 4x4. My gawd the holeshots.

This? 

[Madman]

Time to bring back the Fiat 130 Sedan - retro style this baby and off a gorgeous coupe while we're at it (although it would probably never surpass the beauty of the original 130 Coupe). 

I never understood why Fiat never brought their bigger cars over here back in the old days.  The biggest we ever got were the 124 and later the 131.  Why didn't Fiat ever sell the 125, 130, 132 and Argenta in the land of "bigger is better"?  Maybe if Fiat had a more complete product portfolio in North America, they would have stood a better chance of surviving over here.

[cawimmer430]

I never understood why Fiat never brought their bigger cars over here back in the old days.  The biggest we ever got were the 124 and later the 131.  Why didn't Fiat ever sell the 125, 130, 132 and Argenta in the land of "bigger is better"?  Maybe if Fiat had a more complete product portfolio in North America, they would have stood a better chance of surviving over here.

The question is - would they have sold?

What cars would they have competed against? Ford Falcons and Plymouth Valiants?

[Byteme]

When will the new 124 spider go on sale? 

for those not familiar with it.  it's the 2016 Miata derivative that was originally suppose to be an alfa, IIRC.

[Payman]

When will the new 124 spider go on sale? 

for those not familiar with it.  it's the 2016 Miata derivative that was originally suppose to be an alfa, IIRC.

Latest word is that it will have entirely different body design, MultiAir 1.4l turbo, debuts at Frankfurt and LA auto shows later this year.

[Madman]

When will the new 124 spider go on sale? 

for those not familiar with it.  it's the 2016 Miata derivative that was originally suppose to be an alfa, IIRC.

I'm guessing for the 2017 model year.  Expect a launch sometime next year.