Report: Next Chrysler 300 May Adopt Pacifica Architecture
Marchionne reveals big plans for the Chrysler and Ram brands
Sales for Chrysler were down 19 percent during the first four months of the year, but fortunately, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is making some big changes to the brand. One of those changes may include a successor to the Chrysler 300 that uses the Pacifica minivan's architecture.
Speaking at FCA's plant in Windsor, Ontario, CEO Sergio Marchionne toldReutersthat the next Chrysler 300 sedan could share its underpinnings with the Pacifica. He also said the Windsor plant is "capable" of making a front- and all-wheel-drive Chrysler 300 in the future, although he clarified that FCA hasn't yet committed to such a version of the sedan. The current rear-wheel-drive 300 is produced in Brampton, Ontario.
Marchionne also announced that FCA will officially stop producing the Chrysler 200 by the end of this year or early 2017. FCA still wants to secure a partner that can take over production of the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart, allowing the automaker to focus on big-ticket items like trucks, crossovers, and large cars.
One of FCA's high-margin vehicles is the Ram pickup truck, its best-selling vehicle in North America. The next-gen Ram will go on sale by January 2018, Marchionne also announced. Recently, we heard FCA is also mulling a midsize Ram pickup to expand the brand's reach in the truck market.
Source: Reuters
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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