USA - FCA accepts two more awards, this time the Detroit News Readers Choice Awards 2015.

• The 2015 Dodge Dart recognized as “Best Value”
• 2015 Chrysler Town & Country named “Best Family Hauler” for the 10th year in a row
• 100 judges picked winners in 10 categories in The Detroit News annual “Reader's Choice” awards

FCA US took home two honors today in The Detroit News “Reader’s Choice” Awards. The 2015 Dodge Dart was named "Best Value" and, for the 10th year running, the 2015 Chrysler Town & Country was named “Best Family Hauler” by the panel. This year, 1,033 readers of The Detroit News applied to be a panelist to select their favorite vehicle in each of 10 categories. The final 100 jurors were chosen at random from all who applied. The awards were presented today during the Detroit Economic Club luncheon at Cobo Center.

2015 Dodge Dart – Best Value Award

The 2015 Dodge Dart provides drivers an athletic, stylish exterior design punctuated with signature race track LED tail lamps; a modern, sleek interior design that's well-crafted with high-quality materials and attention to detail; more than 60 safety and security features, including 10 standard air bags; state-of-the-art, easy-to-use technology and ride and handling dynamics engineered for the driver who loves to drive. The 2015 Dodge Dart starts at a U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $16,495 (excluding $995 destination).

In addition to the "Best Value" award, the Dodge Dart tops the compact car segment in total quality, according to the 2014 Strategic Vision Total Quality Index.

“Consumers can choose from more than 290 models when looking at cars on the auto show floor,” said Tim Kuniskis, President and Chief Executive Officer - Dodge Brand and SRT Brand, FCA - North America. “So the fact that the consumers on The Detroit News panel chose the Dodge Dart as the best value at the auto show is quite an honor and third-party validation that the state-of-the-art high tech features, class-leading safety and outstanding ride and handling make the 2015 Dodge Dart a tremendous value.”

2015 Chrysler Town & Country – Best Family Hauler Award

The Chrysler Town & Country provides customers with comfort, safety and innovative features at any budget. The Chrysler Town & Country offers the most innovative seating and storage system with standard Stow ‘n Go Seats, while its award-winning powertrain delivers best-in-class horsepower without sacrificing fuel efficiency. 

The 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine is a three-time “Ward’s 10 Best Engine” winner and produces 283 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. The Chrysler Town & Country achieves an EPA estimated 17 mpg in the city, 25 on the highway. The 2015 Chrysler Town & Country starts at a U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $29,995 (excluding $995 destination).

Recently, the Chrysler Town & Country received its 14th consecutive IHS Loyalty Award in the Non-Luxury Mid-size Van category, extending its own record of consecutive wins.

“30 years after we invented the segment, the 2015 Chrysler Town & Country minivan continues to appeal to consumers seeking versatility and functionality surrounded by style and more than 40 available safety, security and technology features, said Al Gardner, President and Chief Executive Officer - Chrysler Brand, FCA US. “Selected as ‘Best Family Hauler’ by The Detroit News panel is both appreciated and humbling. It is also proof that we continue to listen to our customers and offer them innovative products that help them to define their lifestyles.” 

Alfa Romeo aims to 'play with the big boys', and I think they will be up to the job !

Alfa Romeo will resemble BMW in products and pricing when it offers a full lineup through 2018, executives at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles suggested last week during the auto show here.

The company will reveal many of the revived brand's characteristics when it unveils an Alfa Romeo sedan on June 24 in Italy. The sedan goes on sale in the United States this summer.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne said that other vehicles would follow every six to nine months until Alfa Romeo had filled out its lineup. The new vehicles will be rear-wheel drive, executives said.

THE BELOW PICTURES ARE JUST POSSIBLE PRODUCTS AND ARE NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE ACTUAL CARS THAT WILL ARRIVE, ALFA HAS BEEN VERY GOOD AT KEEPING ALL THIER NEW MODELS A CLOSELY GUARDED SECRET, HERE AT TMW CAN NOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT THEY SO ACTUALLY COME UP WITH.

Asked if the sedan due in June would carry the historic Giulia name, Harald Wester -- Alfa Romeo's global head and the man leading the brand's resurrection -- declined to say. But he said that the Giulia and Giulietta nameplates "are milestones in Alfa's history, which are worthwhile to be reconsidered."

He said the sedan would compete with the performance version of BMW's 3 series. The BMW M3, a high-performance 3 series, starts at $62,950, including shipping.

For U.S. dealers, the next Alfa Romeo is important because it represents the brand's first high-volume vehicle. In November, Alfa Romeo began selling new cars in the U.S. for the first time since 1995. Dealers sold just 91 Alfa Romeo 4Cs during November and December. A 4C Spider convertible, unveiled at the Detroit auto show, is due in U.S. showrooms this summer.

Alfa Romeo wants to reach 400,000 annual sales globally with the redesigned lineup by 2018. The two-seat 4C and 4C Spider are expected to account for only about 3,000 sales per year worldwide.

About 150,000 of the 400,000 annual global sales goal for Alfa Romeo are expected to come from North American consumers, said Reid Bigland, Alfa Romeo's brand head in North America.

Future Alfa Romeo customers -- the brand refers to its enthusiasts as 'Alfisti' -- are car enthusiasts who are more likely to be drivers of high-end German or Japanese sports cars now than to be Alfa Romeo owners before the brand left the U.S., Wester said.

Marchionne said Alfa Romeo will again "play with the big boys" in the premium segment such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW. He said it was not that long ago that the Germans "used to look at Alfa with envy."

That day will return, he said, thanks to 800 engineers working in "bunkers" on future Alfa Romeo vehicles.

He predicted that Alfa Romeo will achieve its product goals -- and have a successful distribution network in the United States -- before a certain electric-powered rival achieves its lofty sales goals.

Marchionne said, "Before Tesla does its stuff, we'll do ours."

Larry P. Vellequette

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Honda launches next generation FCA Concept in Detroit.

As the next-generation Honda FCV Concept makes its North American debut at the 2015 Detroit Motor Show. The Honda FCV Concept showcases the exterior and interior styling evolution of Honda’s next zero emissions fuel-cell vehicle, which is due to be launched in Japan in March 2016, followed by the U.S. and Europe.

The new model will feature a spacious cabin with seating for five passengers, a driving range estimated to be in excess of 300 miles, and an anticipated refuelling time of approximately three minutes at a pressure of 70 MPa. Its fuel cell stack, which fits entirely under the bonnet, is 33 percent smaller with a 60 percent increase in power density compared to that in the outgoing Honda FCX Clarity.

As the next progression in Honda’s dynamic FCV styling, the Honda FCV Concept features a low, wide aerodynamic body with clean character lines. The interior strives to achieve harmony between man and machine by taking advantage of new powertrain packaging efficiencies delivering even greater passenger space than the four-seater FCX Clarity. 

The Honda FCV Concept made its world debut in Japan on November 17^th 2014, followed by an announcement at the Los Angeles Auto Show that Honda will provide FirstElement Fuel, in the U.S, with $13.8 million in financial assistance to build additional hydrogen refuelling stations throughout the state of California in an effort to support the wider introduction of fuel-cell vehicles.

The debut of this latest Concept continues more than a decade of Honda leadership in the development of fuel-cell vehicle technology. The original FCX became the first EPA- and CARB-certified fuel-cell vehicle in July 2002, going on to become the world’s first production fuel-cell vehicle when it was introduced to the U.S. and Japan in December 2002. 

In 2003 the FCX became the first fuel-cell vehicle to start and operate in sub-freezing temperatures, and the first FCV to be leased to an individual customer, in 2005. Honda’s commitment to fuel-cell development was further underlined in 2008 when it became the first manufacturer to build and produce a dedicated fuel-cell vehicle on a production line specifically made for fuel-cell vehicles, and the first to create a fuel-cell vehicle dealer network.   .

USA - Chrysler Group LLC Announces New Company Name: FCA US LLC

U.S.-based Automaker’s New Name Aligns With Global Parent 

December 16, 2014 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Chrysler Group LLC, the Auburn Hills, Michigan-based automaker, today announced that it has changed its company name to FCA US LLC.

The name change is effective immediately and follows the naming convention of its global parent company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA), which officially adopted its new name in October when it listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

The name change to FCA US LLC does not affect the company’s headquarters location in Auburn Hills, Michigan, its holdings, management team, board or brands.

FCA US, together with parent FCA, continues to work toward the business plan presented on Investor Day in May 2014. Additionally, the Company remains proud of its joint heritage. FCA US continues to build upon the solid foundations first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 as well as a rich Fiat heritage that dates from 1899.

FCA US employs more than 77,000 employees worldwide, with 96 percent of its workforce based in North America. FCA US operates 36 manufacturing facilities, including 23 in the United States, six in Canada and seven in Mexico.

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