The Latest: Fiat Chrysler CEO says 3 new SUVs in the works | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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The Latest: Fiat Chrysler CEO says 3 new SUVs in the works

DETROIT - The Latest on the North American International Auto Show in Detroit (all times local):

9:45 a.m.

Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne says three new SUVs are in the works, including sporty versions from Alfa Romeo and Ferrari and a Chrysler based on the Pacifica minivan.

Marchionne told reporters after an updated Jeep Cherokee was unveiled that Alfa Romeo will add a three-row large SUV by 2022. It will be larger than the Stelvio, Alfa's first SUV.

The company also has developed an SUV based on the Pacifica minivan underpinnings but hasn't decided whether to produce it, he said. It could come in 18 to 20 months.

A new Jeep Wrangler pickup truck will debut early in 2019, and the Ferrari brand is working on an SUV that likely will go on sale around the start of 2020, he said.

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9:50 a.m.

Jeep relatively slow sales growth in Europe is "shameful" and needs to be improved, Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne says.

Marchionne says he's "really ticked off" about it and is planning to push for faster growth this year.

For the first 11 months of 2017, Jeep sales rose 2.6 per cent to 96,077 over the same period in 2016. That left market share in the European Union unchanged at 0.7 per cent even though the overall market grew 4.1 per cent, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.

Marchionne says he replaced the brand's European manager and the company will campaign for stronger sales this year. "We need to get the machine started. It's the laggard in the system," Marchionne told reporters after the Jeep Cherokee compact SUV was unveiled.

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9 a.m.

When Fiat Chrysler's Jeep brand unveiled a revamped Jeep Cherokee compact SUV Tuesday, it came toward the stage from about 10 feet above, with the driver making a perilous trek down a jagged set of stairs.

The bright-red Cherokee came to a stop at a precise angle to show it off to reporters, and the driver had the difficult task of bringing it to a halt without full view of the black steps. It was a manoeuvr also designed to show off the SUV's off-road ability. It was far less risky than other auto show stunts over the years that included driving through glass walls and lowering trucks from the ceiling.

When asked how she knew when to stop, the driver replied: "It's a secret."

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8:45 a.m.

The Jeep Cherokee compact SUV is getting a big update to better compete in the hottest part of the U.S. auto market.

The 2019 Cherokee unveiled Tuesday will get styling tweaks, a new engine, suspension improvements and engineering changes that save 200 pounds and improve gas mileage.

The updated version gets a new 2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine with 270 horsepower and technology that shuts it down at stoplights to save fuel. A polymer tailgate is among the changes that help save 200 pounds.

Fiat Chrysler wouldn't say the exact on-sale date for the revised Cherokee. Fuel mileage and pricing also will be released later.

News from © The Associated Press, 2018
The Associated Press

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