Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is set to unveil its latest five year plan on June 1st and it should provide us with plenty of tantalizing new details.
Unfortunately, FCA has a history of using its five year plans to announce exciting new models only for them to be killed off, forgotten or placed on the back burner. With the company’s big announcement scheduled for Friday, he’s a look back at some of the interesting models the company has promised but hasn’t delivered.
Dodge Dart SRT
In 2014, Dodge unveiled a performance-oriented five year plan which called for an all-new Dart SRT. Set to become the spiritual successor of the Neon SRT-4, the model was slated to feature a high-output turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive. The car was set to be launched in late 2016 but that never happened as Dodge decided to drop the Dart altogether.
Besides the Dart SRT, Dodge announced plans to introduce redesigned versions of the Charger and Challenger in 2018. That’s not happening but both models will receive minor updates this summer.
Maserati Alfieri
Maserati introduced the stunning Alfieri concept at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show and the company announced plans to build a production model a few months later. Scheduled to arrive before 2018, the Alfieri coupe and cabrio were slated to have a V6 engine with outputs of 410 PS (301 kW / 404 hp), 450 PS (331 kW / 444 hp) and 520 PS (382 kW / 513 hp). The entry-level variant would be rear-wheel drive while the more powerful models would be all-wheel drive.
The Alfieri is still missing in action and so is the new GranTurismo which was scheduled to debut around 2018. FCA said that particular model would be rear-wheel drive and have a V8 engine with over 560 PS (411 kW / 552 hp).
Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Jeep basically prints money for FCA so the company has devoted significant resources to the popular brand. However, the automaker still hasn’t delivered a new Grand Wagoneer despite revealing plans for the model back in 2011. The Wagoneer was slated to be launched in 2014 but the company’s second five-year plan pushed the introduction back to the third quarter of 2018.
The full-size SUV was scheduled to arrive one year after the redesigned Grand Cherokee debuted in 2017. Both models still haven’t been unveiled but rumors have suggested they’re finally coming next year.
The Majority Of Chrysler’s Lineup
Chrysler’s lineup is looking pretty bleak these days as the company only offers the aging 300 and the well-received Pacifica. FCA once had grand ambitions for the brand as Chrysler was set to receive an entry-level 100 sedan in 2016 and two new crossovers. The larger of the two crossovers was slated to be launched in 2017 and be offered with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. A year later, the company was going to introduce a mid-size crossover and a new 300.
A Slew Of New Alfa Romeos
Alfa Romeo’s comeback hasn’t been a stunning success and part of this is due to a limited lineup. This wasn’t supposed to be the case as back in 2014, FCA was promising to introduce at least seven models by the end of 2018. So far, we’ve only gotten the Giulia and Stelvio. Among the missing are two compact models, a flagship sedan and a second crossover. Alfa Romeo’s roadster was also given to Fiat.