A few years ago, Italian auto giant Fiat was very close to partnering up with General Motors. However, that deal went sour at the last minute and a few years after that, Fiat bought a big chunk of Chrysler in its quest to have a large slice of the American market.

More recently, the company was in the news announcing that Fiat is looking to partner up with Mazda or Suzuki, which would not only help expand Fiat’s reach into the Asian market, but also co-develop future small car platforms and technologies together.

Not content with sitting idling by, waiting for deals to happen, Fiat/Chrysler are constantly seeking alliances to further its growth.

The latest round of news from the 2012 Geneva Auto Show is that Fiat is “open to Volvo talks.” Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne expressed that he is “interested in talking to everyone that wants to talk with me.”

Volvo, which is now owned by the Chinese auto firm Geely, wants to expand itself in the small car segment in developing markets which makes Fiat an good fit because it already has plenty of small cars in its line-up. This tie-up could prove very beneficial for Volvo, to offer a new small car, without going through the expense of designing and engineering a complete new vehicle itself.

Fiat will benefit by finding a route into the Chinese market, which is currently the fastest growing economy in the world.

As for future drive-train technologies, Marchionne says; “There’s still lots of unexplored technology with combustion. Future drive-trains need to be cheaper and more cost effective.”

While Fiat is to introduce its first electric car later this year, the 500e (shown above), it only did so because it pooled technology from a host of companies already in the electric car field and thus saved cost of developing a complete new system themselves.

When asked if Fiat was in talks with PSA Peugeot Citroen, Marchionne denied the claim saying, “I would not like to be GM. The integration for the cost does not go far enough and would not have met our requirements.”

Fiat was at one point in talks with GM to take over Opel-Vauxhall and Saab, and Marchionne confidently said he could have “found a solution for the brands.”

Will Fiat and Volvo become partners or will they form an alliance with Mazda or Suzuki? Only time will tell.

[Source: Autocar]

Earlier, we reported that Ford CEO Alan Mulally had been awarded $58.3 Million worth of company stock for meeting company performance targets. Fiat/Chrysler‘s Sergio Marchionne, on the other hand, has declined a salary and bonus for the work he’s done for Chrysler Group in 2011.

Although Marchionne is compensated for his work at Fiat S.p.A, this is the second straight year that he declined salary from Chrysler, only accepting reimbursements for cleaning, utilities, security expenses, as well as insurance and association fees at his condominium near the Chrysler headquarters in Detroit. According to filings with the US. Securities and Exchange Commission, costs were on par with or less than the charges had Marchionne stayed in hotels.

Performance figures have shown that Chrysler has outperformed the U.S. auto market for 2011, an increase of 24.3 percent compared to the 10.3 percent industry average. What’s more, Chrysler refinanced the $7.6 billion in loans from the United States and Canadian governments.

[Source: Autonews]

Ford CEO Alan Mulally has been awarded shares of stock worth $58.3 million in value for his key role in the automaker’s turnaround in 2009.

According to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, this top executive award is part of an incentive plan that’s tied to Ford’s 2009 performance. Mulally hit nearly all of his performance targets that year.

Ford Spokesman Todd Nissen explains, “Our compensation philosophy is to align the interests of our leadership with those of our shareholders. Ford’s stock was $1.96 a share at the time of the 2009 awards, and is over $12 a share today. That is a more than 500 percent increase, which benefits all stakeholders in the Ford turnaround.”

During UAW negotiations last year, Mulally’s compensation package had gone under scrutiny when Bob King, the union president, judged Mulally’s $26.5 million pay package as “morally wrong” when some Ford workers received a more modest wage of $15 an hour. However, the talks settled when Ford workers received contracts with signing bonuses higher than what GM or Chrysler offered.

From 2006 through 2008, Ford suffered $30.1 billion in losses. Yet despite Ford shares trading as low as $1.01 in November 2008, Ford opted not to go down the path of a federal bailout. Under Mulally’s leadership, Ford rebounded to earn $29.5 billion in the past three years.

In 2010, Mulally’s compensation increased by 48 percent to $26.5 million and last year, Ford awarded Alan Mulally with $56.6 million in stock. A proxy report will reveal Mulally’s compensation for 2011, including salary and benefits. No doubt, he’s making money like a boss!

[Source: Autonews]

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is open to the possibility of a partnership with another automaker to help Chrysler-Fiat’s ailing sales in Europe, with Suzuki and Mazda being cited by the CEO as viable options.

Speaking about the possibility of new partners, Marchionne said, ”We’re not looking, but we are open [to offers],” at a discussion with reporters at the Geneva Motor Show,”We talk to everyone,” he added. The recent GM-Peugeot partnership in Europe leaves Fiat scrambling for viable European partners, and demonstrates that others are joining in on the idea of teaming up to turn a profit in financially unstable Europe. Marchionne is still hopeful that the Peugoet, GM alliance won’t prevent him from making deals with either company in the future, saying ”All [auto makers] could join Fiat to help it in Europe.”

Marchionne went on to say that Suzuki and Mazda seem to be like minded companies to Fiat, and either would make a fine partner to help the brand expand into Asia. Fiat has already struck up deals with Tata Motors in India, and Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. in China, but needs more distribution possibilities to help grow the brand.

Exporting European built vehicles is high on the list for Marchionne as a way to shave off some excess inventory, and a new joint venture with an Asian based company might help Fiat open up some new dealerships who could take these extra cars off the companies hands.

The only company Fiat-Chrysler CEO said would not be compatible as a business partner was Germany’s Volkswagen AG.

[Source: Market Watch]

Famous fashion designer John Varvatos has teamed up with Chrysler to create a one-of-a-kind 300S that will be auctioned off with proceeds benefiting the Stuart House, an organization that serves and protects childhood sexual abuse victims.

Known for his high fashion menswear, Varvatos reached out to Chrysler to see if they would be interested in sponsoring his annual party in LA that benefits the Stuart House. Without thinking twice, the American automaker offered a 300S for Varvatos to customize and auction off, so the award-winning designer went to work.

This year, Varvatos teamed up with online auction house Charitybuzz.com, where the John Varvatos Stuart House Online Auction is running now until March 20th. Those interested in putting in a bid for the 300S will be getting themselves a very unique vehicle, with plenty of bespoke customizations that resemble Varvatos’ clothing style.

Valued at $40,000, the custom 300S features 20-inch wheels from Mopar in a Satin Carbon finish while, as expected, much of the upgrades are in the lush interior: woven “Black Waffle” leather; flat-woven heather fabric; contrast silver fabric with texture on the seat piping, headrest, and floor mat binding; a black leather-wrapped instrument panel, console lid, and door armrest; satin chrome finishes, and a black two-tone steering wheel with accent 360 ring.

Check out a video of John Varvatos talking about the custom 2012 Chrysler 300S below.

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Back in 1989, the TC by Maserati was released and was supposed to be Lee Iacocca’s triumphant model for Chrysler. Instead, the Italian-designed two-seat convertible only sold 7,300 units before it got the axe a mere two years later.

The original TC by Maserati was based on the economy K-Car platform by Chrysler and most automotive enthusiasts have opted to not even mention it since it disappeared. But now reports are coming in that the TC by Maserati could be making a (hopefully) triumphant return now that Fiat-Chrysler is one company and Maserati is its corporate cousin.

The story will be published in the upcoming April issue of Car and Driver with the magazine reporting that it’ll be making a debut in 2014. According to the report, the new TC by Maserati will based on the 2013 Dodge Dart, which itself is based on an Alfa Romeo. It appears that it’ll be powered by a 0.9L two-cylinder, turbocharged engine from Fiat with 87-hp. This will be the first American car sporting the small powerplant.

However, with an estimated price of $35,000, we feel that this new TC by Maserati could share the same fate as its predecessor. The publication has the new TC by Maserati as one of its “25 Cars Worth Waiting For”, but with a price tag over $30,000 and so little performance, we’re not sure if it has a place in the American market.

But with all rumors, we’ll take it with a grain of salt until official news breaks from Chrysler.

[Source: Fox News]

February treated the auto industry well this year, at least for the most part. The majority of automakers saw sales increases over the same month last year.

Chrysler was the big winner, reporting a 40 percent sales increase over February of last year. Even GM posted a tiny 1.1 percent gain over last year despite suffering from poor Cadillac and Buick sales. In fact, industry sales grew 16 percent overall compared to last year.

Cars made in North America grew the most, by 17 percent, while European manufactured vehicles saw the smallest increase — only 2 percent.

Last month’s sales numbers were nothing short of striking, but one of the most interesting developments came from the muscle car battle Chevrolet and Ford are waging against one another. The Mustang finally beat the Camaro in sales with 7,351 units to Chevrolet’s 6,923.

The next question is how long those numbers will last, given that the new 580-horsepower ZL1 Camaro is being released and is said to be the best bow tie-bearing pony car yet.

Among the other companies with impressive growth, Mercedes-Benz sub-brand Smart saw a 59 percent increase. British luxury brand Jaguar enjoyed a 48 percent boost, and while Volkswagen and MINI enjoyed 43 and 42 percent increases respectively. Even econo-box manufacturer Kia saw a 37 percent sales jump over last year.

Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne isn’t one to sit idle. The head of both automakers recently said that he is actively searching for possible automotive alliances.

Marchionne has always been a firm believer that automakers should collaborate in sharing development and production costs. ”We’re on the move,” Marchionne said on the sidelines of an industry event in Brussels, “We can be an active partner everywhere around the world.”

The CEO is not limiting himself to any automaker partnership either, stating that they will look at every viable option, even though there might not be many left in Europe. As for Asia, Suzuki and Mazda are among those that Marchionne is looking at, but won’t limit himself to these saying “there are many opportunities to look at.”

Marchionne also addressed the possible partnership between General Motors and Peugeot saying, “It’s crucial that the European situation is dealt with. If the hypothetical GM-Peugeot deal goes ahead, I hope they will take on the question of overcapacity. They must do it.”

The CEO also acknowledged that this year could see decline of volume in Europe and said that even the most optimistic of forecasts for new vehicles sales in Europe are flat through 2014.

[Source: Automotive News]

Subaru replaced Honda as the top-rated automaker by Consumer Reports today, in a bit of an upset.

Not only did the Japanese automaker known best for its efficient all-wheel drives take the top spot, but did so while the previous champion fell by several points over last year’s ratings.

The victory, then, is due not only to an improved Subaru line, but also to declining quality on Honda’s part. According to Consumer Reports, Subaru’s overall standing improved after all their vehicles met or exceeded average reliability ratings, something that saw a boost with improvements to the Impreza WRX models. At the same time, the Honda Odyssey and Civic both fell short of their predecessors, costing the company points in their standings.

In fact, Honda didn’t even take second place this year — Mazda managed to win that spot with similarly improved models.

Honda loyalists may bemoan the latest results, but at least Toyota stoics can take solace in the fact their perennial list-finalist still won five of the top 10 picks.

Finally it’s also worth mentioning that despite coming in last place, Chrysler improved eight points this year, compared to Subaru’s two-point climb to victory.

In celebration of the smaller company emerging victorious, click through our gallery of the pugnacious Impreza WRX below.

GALLERY: 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX

Fisker Automotive announced today that former Chrysler head Tom LaSorda will replace the company’s namesake, Henrik Fisker, as the new CEO.

Fisker first called LaSorda to join the team as an observer and to assess the company as a whole. After two months of evaluation,He asked LaSorda to become CEO. Fisker meanwhile announced his intent to “build the brand globally” and make it his personal task to push sales in foreign countries. In lieu of his previous position, Fisker named himself the company’s executive chairman.

LaSorda seems like a safe choice to further the brand: As a 32-year veteran of the automotive industry, he knows a thing or two about running car companies. “I am delighted to be assuming such a central role at this exciting time in Fisker Automotive’s history,” LaSorda said.

With financial troubles recently plaguing the company, Fisker might need a boost to keep afloat. The company also announced this morning that the Fisker Surf, which is a hatchback Karma, will debut at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, and be ready for delivery by early 2013 at the latest.

While the company’s future is unclear, it seems that the California start up is doing everything in its power to keep from failing.

Based on the C-Evo platform from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback, the American-twin 2013 Dodge Dart will only be available in a four-door body style.

During an interview with Chrysler Canada president and Dodge brand CEO Reid Bigland, he noted that sedans make up 90 percent of the compact segment, and are 25 percent of the overall Canadian new-car marketplace. “We’re going to go right up the middle of where the demand is. Right now, the evidence is overwhelmingly on a four-door sedan.”

Reading between the lines, Reid Bigland’s “right now” suggests the possibility of new layouts in Dart’s future. What’s more, Bigland also acknowledged that the success of the hatchbacks or coupes available for the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra and the Mazda3 have helped the cars become top sellers.

When asked about Dodge Dart’s predecessor, the Caliber Hatchback, Bigland defended, “I don’t think the Caliber soured anyone on hatchbacks. There’s a functionality edge with the hatchbacks, no doubt.”

GALLERY: 2013 Dodge Dart

[Source: Globe And Mail]

Discuss this story at the Dodge Dart Forums

It’s time to update your look with a few of the new items from Chrysler’s “Imported from Detroit” collection.

Boasting fresh new graphics, these new items include clothing, outerwear, hats, tote and messenger bags and some stuff for the kids too. Everything in the collection was made in America and all are adorned with the “Imported from Detroit” logo.

“The ‘Imported from Detroit’ theme continues to generate a conversation throughout this country and we are proud to share that message through this new collection of clothing and accessories,” said Saad Chehab, President and CEO – Chrysler Brand, Chrysler Group LLC.

Prices start at $5 and a portion of the proceeds from the IFD collection will be donated to four Metro Detroit charities. Visit the Chrysler online store to do some shopping.

GALLERY: Imported From Detroit Clothing Line

Election season is upon us and that means one thing, more mudslinging than a figure-eight demolition derby.

The auto industry bailout will certainly near the top of the many contentious issues Republican candidates vying for their party nomination will latch into. That desperate move by the government between 2008 and 2009 is still sparking hot debates and dividing opinion, though overall sentiment is still negative according to a new Gallup poll.

It found that 51 percent of those surveyed still disapprove of the $85 billion rescue effort, with only 44 percent saying they approve of the decision.

As might be expected, that division grows when examined between political parties. Republicans showed 73 percent opposition to the bailout while 63 percent of Democrats supported it.

Sentiments are, however, improving over the general opinion displayed in 2009 when the branding iron was still hot and tax dollars spent on saving big business felt closer and more real.

Three years later, the U.S. treasury could still lose money on the bailout if GM stocks fail to recover, but it seems that some of the public who were quick to cry out have forgotten or become complacent.

Still, the issue around supporting Chrysler and GM is one that the Republicans are likely to leverage against Obama during this year’s race when the number might slide back toward more negative territory.

How do you feel about the bailout? Tell us in the comments section or find us on Twitter.

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

10. One Touch Convenience

Thinking of putting down a minivan owner? You may want to think twice. Minivans are among the most useful vehicles on the road. Take a look at some of these reasons why owning a minivan can be a life-enriching experience.

Everyone’s been in front of their car door or trunk, with the same dilemma. With your hands full, how are you going to open the door without dropping everything to get your key? Well, vans like the Nissan Quest require one touch to open the side doors or the back hatch. Thanks to innovations like Nissan’s smart-key technology, you won’t even have to take the key out of your pocket! It’s the next best thing to having your own doorman! (Check out our review of the Nissan Quest here)

10. Mini Cooper S Clubman

Cars can be bad for your health, and we’re not just talking about tailpipe emissions. The Ecology Center has published a list of the least and worst toxic vehicles from 2011-2012 after testing 205 different models with the aid of an x-ray fluorescence analyzer.

The tests consisted of scanning interior components such as the seats, dashboard, carpets, headliner, and door trim, and identifying the elements in each material. Based on the size of the item and the amount of contact a person would have with it, the numbers were crunched and the car given a score from a scale of 1-5, with a low score showing the chemicals being tested for weren’t detected, while a 5 would indicate high levels of the chemicals were detected.

Items commonly found in car components include elements like bromine, chlorine, antimony, mercury and lead.

Coming in as the 10th worst pick is the MINI Cooper S Clubman with an overall score of 2.84. The Cooper S Clubman is the MINI for those that wish to have a little more room than the standard Coopers. The Clubman is 9.4 inches longer overall than the standard MINI with a 3.2-inch longer wheelbase.

American automaker Chrysler is reportedly considering which upcoming model will replace the Dodge Challenger. The newest rumor to sneak out is that Ralph Gilles, Chrysler Design Chief and head of the new SRT division, is looking to roll out a modern Barracuda.

It is believed that if a new-generation Barracuda was to replace the Challenger, it would be lighter and smaller but will be rear-wheel drive. Presently, Chrysler and Fiat together are developing a new platform that’s smaller than the current Charger/300s. And unlike the current Challenger which was made long in order to mimic the 1970 to 1974 Challenger’s proportions, the new Barracuda won’t be such a literal interpretation of its classic models.

“Ralph’s always wanted to do a new Barracuda,” one well-placed source told Motor Trend.

It would even be more interesting to see if Chrysler brands the new Barracuda as an SRT model, like the upcoming Viper, rather than a Dodge vehicle.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Chrysler has announced the withdrawal of its Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) loan from the U.S. Department of Energy.

A loan signed in 2007 by former President George W. Bush, the ATVM program was designed to provide financial aid to companies to pursue development of advanced, high-mileage power train technologies in order to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

Chrysler first applied for this federal loan shortly after it restructured from its 2009 bankruptcy. Initially a $7 billion proposal, distribution of ATVM loans have critically stalled as politicians argue about the program.

It seems that Chrysler is tired of waiting, having applied more than two year ago. Sergio Marchionne was outspoken of his displeasure. When Chrysler made the decision to withdraw, the ATVM had already cut its loan proposal to a figure of $3.5 billion, half of what Chrysler initially desired.

“Why am I bothering if the loan was going to be either rejected or sharply reduced,” he said.

Despite Marchionne’s disappointment does not, however, mean the company will abandon eco-friendly technology. In fact, Chrysler laid plans to fund its own research and development for hybrids, plug-ins and other advanced technologies.

“The company remains confident in its strategy to bring competitive, fuel-efficient vehicles and technologies to market on schedule. This decision will not impact Chrysler’s ability to achieve its previously announced business plan targets.”

“I am disappointed that Chrysler withdrew its Section 136 application. I regret that the DOE and Chrysler were not able to come to an agreement that clearly would have benefitted American workers and manufacturers,” said U.S. Representative John Dingell.

Dingell took notice of Chrysler’s strong performance in 2011 and it’s sales figures that improved better than the industry average. Chrysler has also repaid its U.S. and Canadian loans in full and even created 9,400 new jobs. Simply, John Dingell believed that Chrysler “would have been a perfect candidate for the loan program.”

Finally, Dingell said, “Although Chrysler has withdrawn its loan application, DOE must start acting decisively so we can fulfill the President’s goal of out-competing the rest of the world.”

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

If you buy a Dodge Dart and get the sneaking suspicion that it feels like someone was drinking when they put the thing together, you just might be right.

Brian Ahlert, 41, of Janesville, Wis., was returning from work at the Belvidere, Ill. plant responsible for manufacturing the Dart when he was arrested for drunk driving. The incident occurred last Saturday at 8:04 p.m. according to GazetteXtra.com.

He was pulled over after witnesses reported his 1995 Chevy Lumina was “all over the road.” When police caught up to him, Ahlert was driving 40 mph in a 55 mph zone.  He told police he had been drinking all day during his shift at the Chrysler plant.

This isn’t the first, or even second time in recent memory that we’ve reported on Chrysler employees being drunk on the job. Last summer, news cameras caught workers at a Detroit plant drinking and getting high while at work.

Apparently, this was Ahlert’s fifth drinking and driving offense, we’re just grateful nobody got hurt.

While it’s a huge stretch to assume that Alhert’s behavior is common where he works, we hope the others in charge of making Dodge’s new flagship economy car are of sounder mind.

[Source: Janesville Gazette]

The Viper is one of the rare vehicles to adorn a new logo for each major redesign, sporting “Sneaky Pete” on the original, and “Fangs” on the second gen. For the new 2013 Viper, the first under the SRT badge instead of Dodge, the “Stryker” logo has been designed to celebrate the new direction.

Chrysler designer Vince Galante is the talented artist behind the logo, providing the graphic depth and dimension while retaining the sinister look and “evil grin” of the original snake. A young designer still in his 20s, Galante revealed his Transformers and Thundercats influences,  ”I never looked at images of the Thundercats while I was doing the new Logo, but after the fact, I realize that the new design has some elements of those graphics, but more intentionally has some lines that reflect the new Viper.”

Chosen from nearly 20 variations of the Snake badge, head of SRT Design Mark Trostle said, “Vince actually brought his pencil sketch to both Joe (Dehner) and me to review. We both said, ‘That’s it.’ We knew Vince had created a new icon. The new Stryker badge is the most refined, sinister looking and beautiful badge yet, just like the shape of the car.”

Expect the next generation SRT Viper at the New York International Auto Show in April.

GALLERY: Stryker Logo

The 2012 Chrysler 300 and its mechanical twin, the Dodge Charger are both recognized as Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) after also earning a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA.

The American full-size sedans each received full marks in front and side crash tests and earned a commendable four-stars in rollover. However, the combined five-star overall rating for the two models exclude the high performance SRT8 versions.

Offering more than crash safety, the mechanically identical 300 and Charger both offer active safety equipment as well, including all-wheel drive, auto high beams, adaptive headlights, adaptive cruise control with forward collision warning, blind-spot sensor, and rear cross-path detection.

The IIHS bases their ratings for both vehicles on their performance in front- and side-impact crashes as well as a rollover test.

GALLERY: 2012 Chrysler 300c

GALLERY: 2012 Dodge Charger Blacktop

Today we took a first-hand look at the most powerful of the four vehicles Mopar doctored up for this year’s Chicago Auto Show, the Mopar Chrysler 300 ’12.

In case you don’t recognize that name — it’s actually just a dressed up Chrysler 300, albeit with a price tag that jumped about $10,000 over the entry-level Hemi 300. For $49,700, you get a somewhat sinister black-and-chrome color scheme helped by blue pinstripes that set the car’s lines back in sight. 20-inch glossy black rims complement the matching grille and paint job.

The 300 ’12 interior is full of black leather with blue stitching to match the striped outside. The seats also get blue Mopar emblems embroidered in them, though they look gaudy in a car at that price.

You won’t find any engine changes here, the same 5.7-liter Hemi V8 making 363 horsepower is mated with a 5-speed automatic transmission, but it’s going to feel more punchy off the line thanks to a more aggressive differential. Drivers may also notice improved handling thanks to a stiffer suspension.

Have a look at our gallery and tell us what you think in the comments section below.

GALLERY: 2012 Mopar 300 ’12

During the closing speech at this year’s National Automobile Dealers’ Association convention in Las Vegas on February 6, former president George W. Bush said he’d bail out US automakers again in a heartbeat if he had to.

Speaking in front of some 22,000 dealers from the US and around the world, the former president (shown above visiting the GM plant in Fairfax, KS while still in office), said that although he was a firm believer in the free market economy and corporations having to pay for consequences resulting from bad decision making; he also believed stepping in to save Chrysler and General Motors was the right thing to do.

“Sometimes circumstances get in the way of philosophy,” he said, yet if it came down to saving the US auto industry, “I would make the same decision again.”

While still in office, Bush pushed through a rescue package of some $25 billion in emergency aid; $4 billion set aside for Chrysler, while some $13.4 was allocated to GM. This was followed by an additional $60 billion from the Obama administration in 2009.

Chrysler paid back its loans last May, six years ahead of schedule and posted a net profit of $183 million for 2011, it’s first time in the black since 2005. GM, so far has paid back about $23 million of the money it borrowed, though some 26 percent of the company is still owned by the US Treasury.

Bush’s speech at the NADA convention was littered with humor, including remarks that he missed some of the perks of being C-in-C. “I had to stop at some of the stoplights coming from the airport,” he said, jokingly.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

It was only a matter of time until Fiat‘s small car DNA seeped into Chrysler‘s veins and morphed a small car capable of competing with the Ford Focus and Honda Civic, the Chrysler 100.

Truth be told, that already happened with the Dodge Dart, which we reported on during the Detroit International Auto Show last month. That said, it’s still significant that the company is going to launch something new in that segment, considering they haven’t really appealed to the compact market. That is, unless you call a PT Cruiser appealing, which we flatly refuse to do.

The 100 will borrow underpinnings from Fiat, just like the Dart, though this one will be a five-door instead of a sedan that looks a lot more like the Alpha Romeo Giulietta (pictured above).

Speaking of looks, the car spied by Road & Track has some interesting touches we didn’t see when the first concept debuted at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. For example, we can see that the rear door handles are hidden, not something common to American cars. It also looks as if the head and tail lights will sport LEDs.

We don’t have details, but the fact that there will be a Dodge and Chrysler version of essentially the same car will position the company nicely to offer product differentiation. The Chrysler will likely be more comfort-oriented, leaving the Dart open as a sportier version for younger consumers.

[Source: Road & Track]

One-upping its own Super Bowl from last year wasn’t going to happen for Chrysler, but that didn’t stop the once-beleaguered automaker from continuing to spread its Imported from Detroit message.

Replacing Eminem in this year’s spot is the gruff-voiced Clint Eastwood, extolling the virtues of America, pushing through the tough times and moving into the future in a spot that aired during the big game’s half time and appropriately named “It’s Halftime in America.”

Watch the ad below:

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