Marchionne Says Jeep Grand Cherokee Platform Could be Used on New Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Maserati SUVs

Launched in June, the new Jeep Grand Cherokee has enjoyed a massive success, as sales last month were up 291% compared to October 2009. So it comes to no surprise that Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat and Chrysler, is considering the use of the Grand Cherokee's architecture on a variety of new models including Fiat, Maserati and Alfa Romeo SUVs, and possibly for a future Chrysler variant.

"The [Grand Cherokee] architecture has legs. It's important for us to tap all of the hard work that has gone on inside Chrysler on the new Grand Cherokee," said Marchionne during a conference call on the Chrysler Group's Q3 financial results. "It has a level of solidity and resilience that we have underestimated."

Marchionne added that the Grand Cherokee's platform, which was developed with Chrysler's former partner Mercedes-Benz, is capable of handling more powerful engines.

If a decision were to be made, all versions of these SUVs could enter the market as early as 2012 with production to most likely take place at the Jefferson North plant, which already runs two shifts, but can easily accommodate a third should the need arise.

The Detroit plant is an obvious choice as it has shown critical progress in the quality of assembly. "I'm delighted with the performance of the Jefferson plant here in Michigan" Mr. Marchionne added.

The same plant is also used for the trial production of the 2011 Dodge Durango, which is also based on the new Grand Cherokee and is scheduled to go on sale next month.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Detroit News & Automonews

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Car Wallpaper >> Maserati Birdcage Fast Car

Maserati Birdcage Fast Car Turing

Maserati Birdcage Fast Car Wallpaper

Maserati Birdcage Fast Car Picture

Car Review >> Maserati Granturismo S Best Car

Women and men in sharp suits, because it shows the guy knows how to dress, and he is more inclined to take them to nice restaurants than sloppy food joints.

The Maserati Gran Turismo is a bit like a suit. The exquisite cut and tailored in a way that makes the wearer feel as secure as the latest Double O Seven makes in his Tom Ford.

The Gran Turismo S is basically the same stuff, just better. It not only makes the wearer look good, but also transforms him into an entirely new man, a sportsman himself.

The key to this increased flexibility is the engine. Displace 4.7 liters (versus 4.2 in the GT), GT S has much more grunt (40bhp and 30nm torque). Couple with the latest DueSelect gearbox, which is similar to Maserati's Ferrari F1 Superfast transmission, shifts are smooth and very, very quick with the changes taking only 100 milliseconds.

The front brake dics has been expanded and made use of a special "dual-cast" technology clamped by powerful six pot callipers. The suspension was also tuned to be a little more sporty than the 4.2 GT's.

Sum of all hardware is an entirely more intent machine comes to life at the touch of a button labeled Sport.


When activated, the transmission goes into quick shift mode and exhaust system releases. The shift mode and exhaust system releases. The smart smoking is now a smug race suit. The combination of beeps barreled motor sound with the anger firing on all gear is bound to have an effect on the driver.

Suddenly the drive home will be a lot more exciting. One is Daniel Craig running away from a pursuing Alfa Romeo in the tunnel, except unlike Aston Martin in the opening scene of the latest Bond film, Quantum Of Solace, the Maserati has its doors intact.

Also intact is the GT S's ambitions as a grand tourer. Measuring nearly 4.9m (longer than a BMW 5 series) with a corresponding long wheelbase, its ride quiet and serene.


Although twisty roads is not a problem, but prefer long sweeping corners, where power and size afford it plenty of pace and poise.

When Sport is deactivated, the engine calms down considerably (the deep V8 Rumble are still satisfyingly audible) and shifting morph from being a fast and angry that something that is much smoother, if not entirely smooth as in a conventional automatic transmission.

Fast Car >> Maserati MC12 (Maserati Corse 12-Cylinder), Racing Car 2005

Maserati MC12 (Maserati Corse 12-Cylinder), Racing Car 2005

Maserati GranSport MC Victory 2006

To celebrate winning the 2005 FIA GT Manufacturers' Cup, Maserati has launched a new limited edition model of the Maserati GranSport.

The Maserati GranSport MC Victory will be officially launched at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, and will be on the market from May, with only 180 uniquely numbered units produced.

As well as boasting finer standard equipment than the Maserati GranSport from which it derives, the new Maserati GranSport MC Victory offers a variety of new features that clearly link it to the Maserati MC12, celebrating its driving dynamics.

Maserati Trofeo Light 2003

The new Maserati Trofeo Light will make its race debut this coming weekend in the Daytona 24 Hours (Florida,) at the opening round of the American Grand-Am championship.

The Trident marque will field two cars for the endurance race which starts tomorrow, Saturday, 31st January, at 13h00 local time (19h00 C.E.T.) The Risi Competizione team has a crew made up of Germany's Ralf Kelleners, the American Anthony Lazzaro and Italy's Matteo Bobbi. Scuderia Maserati of Washington's driver line-up consists of Italy's Fabrizio De Simone and the Americans, Stephen Earle, Emil Assentato and Nick Longhi.

Maserati MC12 GT Versions

Maserati has designed a new road-going Grand Tourer known as the MC12 from which a GT racing version has also been developed. The result is that 37 long years after its last victory in an international championship (1967, Cooper Maserati F1, South African Grand Prix), the Trident is returning to the track.

The Ferrari Maserati Group's wealth of knowledge and technological excellence have been poured into the design of the new car. In addition to this, its styling was developed in the wind tunnel from a Giugiaro idea by the Maserati technicians with the fundamental contribution of Frank Stephenson, the Ferrari Maserati Group's own Director of Concept Design and Development. The European type-approved version of the new car goes on sale after the summer.

2011 Maserati Gran Cabrio

2011 Maserati Gran Cabrio Front View

2011 Maserati Gran Cabrio Side View

2011 Maserati Gran Cabrio Rear View

Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini Abandoning LA Auto Show

Here's an unsurprising stat for you: 60 percent of all vehicles sold in the U.S. that cost over $100,000 find homes in New York, Florida and California. The majority of which are parked in garages in Manhattan, Miami and Los Angeles, respectively. So the revelation that Bentley, Ferrari and Lamborghini won't be attending next month's LA Auto Show is -- at the very least -- surprising.





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