Mazda and Fiat Sign Deal for New Alfa Romeo Spider, will be Made in Japan from 2015

Last May, the Fiat Group and Mazda revealed that they signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the joint development and production of a new roadster for the Alfa Romeo and Mazda brands.

Today, the two companies announced the signing of the Final Agreement, which stipulates that the Japanese carmaker will produce an open-top two-seater sports car at its Hiroshima plant from 2015.

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Fiat-Chrysler CEO Marchionne Uses Racial Slur for New Alfa Romeo Engine

Alfa Romeo’s return to the U.S. market, which is supposed to revive the historic Italian brand that’s currently on life support, has been announced more times than we can recall, only to be postponed time and time again.

In our 2013 NAIAS review we wrote that, compared to GM and Ford, not to mention foreign carmakers, the Fiat-Chrysler Group presence was underwhelming and we were wondering where Alfa Romeo was.

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Fiat 500 Abarth Tenebra and 500 Cativa Concepts on Display in Detroit [Live Photos]

It may not be a standalone brand yet, as reports have suggested, but the 500 family is nevertheless expanding rapidly with five-door minivan and crossover offsoots.

That’s not to say that Chrysler’s Italian partner has left the standard, three-door 500 alone: after introducing the 160HP 500C Abarth and the all-electric 500e at LA last November, today it unveiled two design concepts at the 2013 North American International Auto Show.

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Fiat 500 Abarth Tenebra and 500 Cativa Concepts on Display at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show

It may not be a standalone brand yet, as reports have suggested, but the 500 family is nevertheless expanding rapidly with five-door minivan and crossover offsoots.

That’s not to say that Chrysler’s Italian partner has left the standard, three-door 500 alone: after introducing the 160HP 500C Abarth and the all-electric 500e at LA last November, today it unveiled two design concepts at the 2013 North American International Auto Show.

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Fiat 500X Crossover Planned

Fiat is lining up a replacement for the Fiat Sedici. The new model will become the fourth variant of the Fiat 500 range, and is expected to be called 500X. Jeep will launch a sister car targeted at North American and European markets.


A Fiat source told Automotive News Europe that the new model will have a blend of SUV and hatchback styling. Its wheelbase of around 4200mm will make it the longest model in the Fiat 500 family and it will share Fiat’s small vehicle architecture with the 500L and Punto.

The 500X will join the 500 hatchback, 500C convertible and the 500L four-door hatchback. The Sedici is currently built alongside the Suzuki SX4 in Hungary. It is expected Fiat will build the 500X in Mirafiori, Turin and will be the first of the new-generation 500s to be produced in Italy.

The move to Mirafiori is part of a €1bn expansion of the plant. Fiat plans to build 280,000 crossovers a year with production beginning in December 2013.

Jeep’s sister car, codenamed B-SUV, will be built in Poland for European markets and in Toluca, Mexico for America and China. Fittingly, both Jeep and Fiat models will be offered with two and four wheel drive. The latter configuration is likely to be borrowed from the forthcoming Panda 4x4.

It is thought a Trail Rated version of the Jeep will be offered, which is important to the American market. The certification ensures models are able to perform in five categories of off-road conditions: traction, ground clearance, manoeuvrability, articulation, and water fording.

The Fiat 500X and Jeep B-SUV will be available with Fiat’s MultiJet diesel. A 900cc TwinAir unit and a 1.4-litre four-cylinder are expected to form the petrol line-up.

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Fiat to Launch Dodge Dart as the New Viaggio in China, Hatchback Version May Replace Bravo

At next month's 2012 Beijing Auto Show, Fiat will whip the covers off a new compact sedan model named the Viaggio before it begins producing the car in China in July, ahead of its market launch later in the year, according to a report from Autonews Europe.

The new sedan, which is named after the Italian word for Journey, will be a rebadged version of the new 2013 Dodge Dart sedan that will reach U.S. dealerships this May with a starting price of $15,995 (€12,100 / GBP 10,100).

The Dart is based on a modified version of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta's platform. It measures 4,672mm (183.9-in. long, 1,830mm (72-in.) wide, 1,465mm (57.7-in.) tall and rides on a 2,703mm (106.4-in.) wheelbase.

In theory, it competes against C-segment sedans like the Ford Focus and VW Jetta, but it's actually longer and wider than some D-segment saloons such as the new BMW 3-Series.

In China, Fiat's version of the Dart will be offered with its 1.4-liter petrol engines in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms, which will be built locally.

The Viaggio will be the first model to be produced from Fiat's joint venture with China's Guangzhou Automobile Group at a new factory with an initial annual output of 140,000 vehicles, which could rise to around 250,000 cars.

Fiat hasn’t had much luck with its Chinese joint ventures as the Italian company dissolve its money-losing partnership with Nanjing Automotive back in 2007, while another attempt to cooperate with Chery Automotive the same year failed to go through.

The Italian automaker aims to sell up to 300,000 cars a year in China by 2014 from less than 1,500 in 2011, as it tries to offset its loses in Europe due to the ongoing economic crisis.

Autonews said that according to Fiat sources, aside from the sedan model, there are plans to produce a five-door hatchback version of the Viaggio/Dart, which could be exported to Europe as a replacement for the Bravo.

PHOTO GALLERY

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