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Fiat, Chrysler team up for SUVs

Fiat has vowed to build a new compact SUV to be shared between its Alfa Romeo and partner Chrysler’s Jeep brands from 2012, along with a radical new compact sports car.

The new SUV will be built at Fiat’s Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy, which will be retooled to create what is a first for Alfa to coincide with the production of a Jeep model to replace the Compass and Patriot in that line-up. The Alfa SUV will be aimed at the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, a company spokesman is reported to have said.

Half of the SUV production will be sold in Europe, the other hal will be shipped to North America, Automotive News said.

The Alfa Romeo Mito, along with two minvans – one Fiat, one Lancia – are currently built at Mirafiori. The plant has been in use since 1939.

PLUS BABY SPORTS CAR

And in another sign of the Alfa brand’s ambitious expansion plans, it is reported that a rear-engined, rear-wheel drive sports coupe is on the cards. The car will be smaller than the 8C Competitizione produced in a limited run from 2007 to 2008 and is likely to be called 4C GTA. Chances are it may be revealed at the Geneva auto show in March, 2011.

The car will be a joint project with Italy’s Dallara Automobili and will reportedly be constructed mainly of aluminium and carbon fibre.

The new car is crucial in CEO Sergio Marchionne’s quest to get the ailing Alfa to the 500 000 sales per year mark by 2014. According to Automotive News, 112 000 cars bearing the Alfa insignia were sold in 2010. 
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