Reviewed by Karl Peskett.
Fiat Chrysler’s CEO, Sergio Marchionne, has made his last official five-year plan announcement, outlining each of the vehicle division’s plans up until the end of 2022’s fiscal year. And there’s a lot to get through. So, let’s get to it.
Jeep will bring back the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer nameplates, as well as two new seven-seat SUVs. There will be new versions of the Jeep Renegade and Jeep Cherokee (which will probably happen closer to 2020) and a ute version of the Wrangler called the Scrambler.
This means two new Jeep models every year until 2022. Some of those include plug-in hybrids, and there will be a Level 3 autonomous SUV before 2021.
The Chrysler brand will become a people mover brand, with the Pacifica MPV continuing on, almost as a vehicle for the Waymo brand, Google’s autonomous car division.
Fiat will continue in Latin America given the popularity of its products there, but in Europe the brand will be shaved of most of its products, except for the Panda and the 500 range of small vehicles. Marchionne said that Fiat “needs to play in a more exclusive area of the market”, and thanks to the region’s heavy regulations, it will be more of a niche brand.
Alfa Romeo, though, has created the most excitement, with the announcement of the 8C sports car returning as a 700hp mid-engine coupe, targeting a 0-100kmh time of 3.0-seconds. To fund this it will leverage the popularity of SUVs, creating a smaller crossover below the Stelvio, and a larger seven-seat SUV above it.
And don’t expect too many more diesels from FCA – the company will phase them out in Europe by 2021, and you would logically assume that more markets will follow.
Remember the Maserati Alfieri concept car? Well that beautiful shape isn’t going to waste. Instead, Maserati will create an all-electric version in both coupe and convertible, as well as a plug-in hybrid option.
The same drivetrains look likely to end up in the Quattroporte and Levante SUV. These vehicles will also get Level 3 autonomy by 2022.
But sad news for Viper plans – Marchionne says the Dodge Viper is not in the five year plan. There was no denial that it would never happen, so there’s still some hope.
It’s a big plan, and it includes a doubling of profit, so when Marchionne finally bows out, there will be plenty of big wheels in motion, in more ways than one.
A cheap Bugatti?
Can’t afford a Bugatti Chiron? You’re not alone. Which is why there’s a budget version that you can get in Australia right now. The catch is, you’ll have to build it yourself.
Lego has created a 1/8th scale Bugatti Chiron, complete with moveable engine parts and gearbox. With 3,599 parts, it may take you a couple of days to put together, but there’s no doubt this is a Bug that you won’t want to squash.
And at $599, it’s a fair bit cheaper than the real thing.
Have a good look at your hoops
It’s now winter, which means there are certain things you need to check on your car. Water levels, oil levels, wipers and, most important, your tyres.
They literally prevent us from dying, simply by keeping us heading where we want to instead of into a tree. Each contact patch is about the size of your hand – not a lot considering how they keep us on this side of the grave.
So here’s a fun thing for you to try: go and have a look at some of the tyres on cars of family and friends and examine how much tread they have.
The matchstick test is one of the easiest and most reliable – the head of the match is the minimum depth of tread you need for your tyres to be effective – but what’s concerning is how many cars don’t pass. Does yours?
A local tyre shop relayed a story recently. A lady came in and asked what the furry stuff on her tyres was. The tyre fitter was mortified when he saw what it was: the canvas.
Her question? “So, is that bad?”
The real issue is people just aren’t being educated on tyre safety. Usually, critical information like this was passed down from parents to children. But kids growing up just aren’t given this knowledge.
So why isn’t such information included in the driver’s licence test, or even in schools? A couple of simple photos are all that’s needed. One with tyre wear on the outsides, and one of tyre wear in the middle. What causes the difference between the two? Under-inflation and over-inflation.
Another question to be asked would be how often should tyres be checked for pressure? And, clearly, asking if you see canvas what should you do? This impressionable early stage can make a real difference.
The lady in the tyre shop was told that she was very lucky to have made it there without the rubber exploding. But the message didn’t get through. After she complained that she didn’t have enough money to buy four new tyres, they should only fit two. But, while she did that, she went off to the local electrical store and bought a new Samsung phone.
Priorities, people.
Not everyone can afford the high end brands, but there are plenty of good brands out there that are affordable. Regardless of tread pattern, compound or price, make sure you look after your tyres. Rotate them regularly, look at them every now and then and please, please, keep checking those pressures.
After all, doing just that could make a difference to life itself.
