Posted by Bob Aldons – Northstar Fiat Alfa

Fiat's Freemont is ready for family... journeys.

Fiat offers drive-away deal on Freemont SUV

Look familiar? It should, because the Fiat Freemont crossover is a rebadged version of the Dodge Journey, albeit with some changes.

New Fiat-Chrysler dealership

The five-seat version is walking out the door right now from just $27,000 drive-away - although the seven-seat version will cost $1500 extra.

Fiat’s Freemont is available in three specification levels: Base, Urban and Lounge. It's powered by either a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine or an economical 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel.

Both engines drive the front wheels via either a six-speed automatic transmission (petrol engine) or a six-speed manual (diesel engine). The diesel, by the way is priced from $32,600 (plus on-roads).

The 2.4-litre petrol engine produces 125kW/220Nm while the diesel is good for 125kW/350Nm, the latter from a low 1750 revs.

Standard equipment levels are impressive across the range and include Uconnect phone with Bluetooth audio streaming, keyless entry and start, child-booster seats, rear-parking sensors, USB & AUX inputs, automatic headlights, auto-tint rearview mirror, active front headrests, alarm with anti-intrusion system and tyre pressure monitoring system. Triple-zone climate control is also packaged with the seven-seat option.

Freemont kicks off a new-model offensive for Fiat. The stylish Panda and Punto models will follow later in the year, following an expansion of the 500 range in June.

Northstar Fiat and Northstar Alfa Romeo commenced business as the franchisee for these iconic Italian brands on February 1st 2013. We're both proud and pleased to finally bring the brands to the Redcliffe Peninsula and now at our new dealership at Morayfield. If we can be of assistance with Fiat or Alfa Romeo enquiries call into Northstar Motor Group at 320 Anzac Avenue Kippa-Ring on the Redcliffe Peninsula, or at 266 Morayfield Road Morayfield, opposite Bunnings. We're only 15 minutes or so from Brisbane Airport and a leisurely drive down the highway from Noosa, Bundaberg, Maryborough, and a short trip from Nambour, Caloundra, Mooloolaba and Bribie Island. We also get a lot of our customers as FIDO - that's not a dog by the way, that's fly in drive out. With cheap airfares, our customers come in from Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Mt Isa and even Sydney, Melbourne and as far away as Perth.

We'll happily arrange a drive home registration and you know the best thing about this? The drive home gives you just the best running in you'll ever get. New engines love a long drive to bed everything in and you'll get the best economy you've ever experienced. Alternatively if you're time or distance poor, check us out online at www.nsmg.com.au or read more reviews at www.mycarreview.com.au . Finally, if you can't come to us, we'll come to your home, workplace or worksite - call Northstar on 1300 NTH STAR or 1300 684 782

Source: http://www.carsguide.com.au

Commentary by Bob Aldons - Northstar Chrysler Jeep Dodge

Sensationalism in press, or electronic media annoys me no end. I've just finished watching the riveting interview between Tracey Grimshaw on A Current Affair with Lindy Chamberlain which talk directly to trial by media and now Haitham Razagui takes my brands to task - with headlines which scream - Jeep Compass, Chrysler Voyager to be dropped.

If Haitham had done some more research and even god forbid, asked some questions of  the PR Department from Fiat Chrysler Group, the journalist would have determined that the vehicles weren't being dropped, but simply that the model line was finishing in favour of some very clever and brand new models in the next 2 years.

Chrysler did something similar with 300C a couple of years ago. "300C finished" was the most popular headline back in 2010 - the last of the then current model 300C had finished production in Austria and dealers had to wait almost 2 years to receive the new generation 300 series due to launch in late July.

All I'd ask Haitham to do is to do more research, chat to people who do know what's planned and cease the sensational headlines. I think the motoring press causes more damage to brand, models and re-sale value by shooting from the hip (or should that be lip) than they realize.

Anyway, jumping down off my soapbox, if you're in the market for any of our brands - Chrysler Jeep Dodge vehicles and Mopar Performance parts and accessories, give the team at Northstar Chrysler Jeep Dodge a call on 07 34808600. Alternatively visit our website at Northstarjeep.com.au and submit any queries  on price or product there.

if you're doing some research on Chrysler Jeep or Dodge vehicles, check out our sister site at mycarreview.com.au. And if all else fails, you'll find Northstar Chrysler Jeep Dodge and Mopar at 320 Anzac Avenue Kippa-Ring on the Redcliffe Peninsula just 15 minutes or so from the Brisbane Airport precinct and a short drive down the highway from Maroochydore and Bribie Island - Don't Hold back.

Off the Compass: The recently-face lifted Jeep Compass is one of the Fiat-Chrysler products targeted for termination in a bid to streamline the product line-up.

Sergio Marchionne outlines plan to reduce overlapping Fiat-Chrysler models by 2014

FIAT-CHRYSLER CEO Sergio Marchionne has outlined plans to reduce the number of overlapping models in the company’s line-up by 2014, naming the Jeep Compass SUV and Chrysler Voyager people-mover among those in the firing line.

Speaking at a recent US media event at Chrysler’s Belvedere assembly plant in Illinois, and in a recent interview with Automobile magazine, Mr Marchionne also confirmed a high-performance SRT variant of the Dodge Dart sedan is under development and an electric Fiat 500 will be introduced to North America later this year.

He told employees at Belvedere there are “a number of candidates” to replace the Compass, although it is not clear whether this was in reference to a replacement product or simply that another vehicle will take its place on the production line.

A smaller, upmarket crossover – rumoured to resemble the Mercedes-Benz R-Class – will supersede the Voyager (known in North America as the Town and Country), while the next-generation Dodge Grand Caravan will continue as Fiat-Chrysler’s people-mover entrant.

Removing the Voyager could again reduce the number of Chrysler products sold in Australia to one – it is the brand’s sole product here until the new 300C arrives in July – although Lancia-based premium light and small cars in the shape of the Ypsilon and Delta could arrive to bolster the line-up by 2014.

While the number of re-badged and duplicated models will be reduced across all brands under the Fiat-Chrysler umbrella in order to boost each brand’s identity, the company is also aiming to cut costs by sharing platforms.

For example, an SUV based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta-derived Compact US Wide (CUSW) platform that underpins the Holden Cruze-sized Dart will replace the Jeep Cherokee (known as Liberty in markets outside Australia).

From top: Jeep Compass; Dodge Dart; Chrysler Voyager.

Dodge’s Caliber crossover (based on twins-under-the-skin Jeep Compass and Patriot) and Nitro SUV (based on the Jeep Cherokee) have already ceased production, but Mr Marchionne has not indicated how the Patriot fits into the equation.

The Compass and Patriot will continue to be built alongside the new Dart in Belvidere until August 2014.

Mr Marchionne suggested the SRT Dart is in the advanced stages of development, saying “the only thing we’re fighting over now is to determine how big an engine we stick in it”.

A prime candidate would be the Alfa Romeo-developed 1.8-litre turbo-petrol engine announced in 2011, which the brand claims has a power output of 224kW and is set to enter production next year.

This would make the Dart the first four-cylinder SRT model since the Caliber SRT4, which debuted in 2006 with a 223kW/353Nm turbocharged 2.4-litre petrol engine and was discontinued in 2009.

But Australia is unlikely to see the SRT Dart as the Dodge brand is set to disappear when stocks of the Caliber and Nitro run out, with the Journey coming back as the Fiat Freemont – although there is a chance for the Dart-based, Chinese-built Fiat Viaggio to be imported.

Regarding the electric version of the Fiat 500, Mr Marchionne said the company will “lose money on every car we make” and admitted it is only being built to comply with requirements in some US states for electrified vehicles, and to familiarise engineers with electric drive trains.

However, by 2017 the company plans to introduce alternative drive trains such as hybrids and compressed natural gas combustion engines, the first of which will emerge later this year in the form of a CNG-powered Ram truck.

Commentary by Bob Aldons - Northstar Chrysler

When I first saw the new 300C in the styling dome in Detroit 2 years ago, I was a little concerned that the car had lost it's mojo.

3 years down the track and pictures and video of the 2012 Chrysler 300C emerging from the USA says that I was wrong. It's funny how time changes your opinions on updated designs and lines. The old 300C was the gangster car, the car that you wanted to be seen in (and heard) that made a statement on who you were.

The MY12 300C is more refined but still manages to encompass that 'look at me' aura that 300C officianados will be happy about, but the more refined of us (LOL) will want to drive just because it looks good. The new 300C will offer 2 engines in the 'entry' model - a 3.6 litre V6 Pentastar engine and a 3.0 litre diesel engine both with an 8 speed automatic transmission. If you want the muscle along with the looks, you'll need to specify the SRT8 which matches the 6.4 litre V8 engine with the same 8 speed transmission.

Rumour has it that the 300C will launch on national television on the evening of July 4th (US Independence day) during the 3rd State of Origin Clash (Rugby League). And even more the launch ad apparently will be very memorable indeed

In the meantime, you can pre-order 300C from Northstar Chrysler at 320 Anzac Avenue Kippa-Ring on the beautiful Redcliffe Peninsula or visit their web site at www.nsmg.com.au Any questions you have can be sent to them via their website If it's more information you're after, then check out www.lovemychrsyler.com.au or www.mycarreview.com.au .

300 not out: The second-generation 300C sedan will re-launch Chrysler in Australia in July.

Having almost disappeared, Chrysler will be back mid-year with new 300C

13 April 2012
By DAVID HASSALL

CHRYSLER as a brand may have almost disappeared from Australian sales charts – it sold just three vehicles nationally last month – but it will return “very strongly” in July when the next-generation 300C in launched.

With the 300C and Sebring Cabrio having been discontinued last year and the Grand Voyager slowing to a trickle – it accounted for Chrysler’s only 17 sales in the first quarter of this year – virtually no fresh Chrysler-badged product will be available for three months.

However, Chrysler Australia corporate affairs director Lenore Fletcher told GoAuto that “there could be a lot of new product” coming after the new 300C make its debut here July.

“We will be back absolutely – and very strongly – with the new 300C in July, and there are other models that we are shopping for,” said Ms Fletcher.

She said a replacement for the slow-selling Grand Voyager large people-mover was unlikely to be one of them.

Coming so long after the 300C was launched in the US late last year, the second-generation large car will be launched with a full range of variants, including a new diesel and the high-performance SRT8.

Left: Chrysler Grand Voyager; Chrysler Sebring Cabrio; Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The new 6.4-litre SRT8 V8 engine, which replaces the outgoing 6.1-litre unit, was first seen in the Dodge Challenger and produces 347kW of power and 630Nm of torque, which represents increases of 30kW and 61Nm, pushing the big sedan from 0-100km/h in less than five seconds.

Base models will be powered by Chrysler’s new 3.6-litre Pentastar petrol V6, which produces 215kW and 350Nm of torque – 32kW and 10Nm more than the old V6 – or the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel that produces 177kW and 550Nm in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, while the 5.7-litre Hemi V8 carries over from the old model and produces 265kW and 528Nm.

In the absence of the 300C and Sebring for most of 2011, Chrysler brand sales dropped 60.4 per cent to just 580 units last year, but the Chrysler Group was saved by its Jeep and Dodge brands, which were up 44.7 per cent and 41 per cent respectively, bringing the group’s sales total close to 12,000 units.

With the Nitro having gone out of production, Dodge sales have slipped 22.9 per cent this year, but Jeep has more than compensated by more than doubling, with a 136.9 per cent increase in the first quarter to 4105 sales.

Chrysler group sales are therefore well on track for a record year, at least since the company built cars locally.

“Jeep is going gangbusters for us, and we can maintain that momentum,” said Ms Fletcher.

“The dealers are very happy because they’re very busy. We’ve just had our best quarter on record and we’ve been setting records all over the place – best January, best February, best March and best sales months for Compass, Patriot and Grand Cherokee.”

Ms Fletcher said the reasons for Jeep’s recent success included the latest “I bought a Jeep” TV commercial, which cleverly and subtly sets out to attract more women buyers to what has traditionally been a male-dominated brand.

“Jeep sales have always been male-dominated, but the ‘I bought a Jeep’ program really appeals to women and has resulted in a turnaround in attitude, so that’s pushing people into dealerships,” she said.

By Bob Aldons - Northstar Dodge

Whilst we don't get the Dodge Challenger down under, there's a great hope that the next generation of Dodge muscle car will be designed in RH drive. Sergio Marchionne has said time and time again that for Chrysler Fiat to be a truly global car company it needs to offer their products to the world.

Here's hoping

2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 Inaugural Edition

Could ride on a new rear-wheel platform

According to a recent report, Chrysler is developing a new Barracuda to replace the Dodge Challenger.

Motor Trend says the model will be significantly smaller than the Challenger and eschew its retro-inspired styling. It could also ride on a new rear-wheel platform that is separate from the one used on the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300. If this pans out, the architecture could be used on several upcoming Alfa Romeos including a sports car, a coupe and a sedan.

We're taking everything with a grain of salt, but the magazine says the ‘Cuda could eventually be sold under the SRT brand.

Source: Motor Trend