Cherokee as a FIAT?

9800 Views 35 Replies 20 Participants Last post by dawhitesTH, Aug 21, 2014

checkers

Discussion Starter · Oct 9, 2013 (Edited)

4

Right we know underneath the Cherokee rides on FIAT bones but thats not what I'm talking about. What I'm talking about is selling the Cherokee in Europe as a FIAT...

heres how my thinking goes...

Dodge Journey, right piece of junk. Europe thought so too when the Journey was released there in 2010. The Journey sold a pithy 6,000 units through 10 months in Europe, but when the FIAT branded version of the Journey, the FIAT Freemont was released and quickly romped the Journeys 6,000. Consider FIAT requested 15,700 Freemonts for 2011, they were only expecting to sell 13,000. Thats the power of branding, FIAT is still selling the Freemont at about 4,000 units per month...

So where I'm going with this you may be able to see, If the Cherokee is looking for global success, or at least european success wouldn't it be better off branded as a FIAT...

compare that with the Journey who really only sells well in North America, actually if you subtract US and Canadian sales from the Journey the Freemont outsells it by ~13,000 units per year.

Charts courtesy FIATgroupworld

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develmann

· #2 · Oct 9, 2013

While that's probably true, they specifically want to expand the JEEP brand. Fiat already has good sales internationally, they are now trying to expand other Chrysler names. I suppose they could do the GM thing and have the same car with different bodies and nameplates. I don't think cannibalizing one division's sales is a good idea like that, but it's something they might do.

Dodge has always had a hard sell in the international market. Its really had a tough time domestically over the last 10 years. I think there is room for Jeep to grow better than their Dodge cousins. Jeep has a history of off-road prowess and adventure, sort of like Land Rover. Dodge is a brand of car, Jeep has an idea behind it.

CherokeeFanatic

· #3 · Oct 9, 2013

I wouldn't mind seeing the Cherokee badged as a Fiat for other nations, it might actually look a bit along the lines of a luxury SUV since Fiat is a premium brand

limey-g

· #4 · Oct 9, 2013

Well my 2012 dodge Journey R/t has been an excellent vehicle, zero problems .
Only been to the dealership for maintenance .
Geoff

Fat Tony

· #5 · Oct 9, 2013

CherokeeFanatic said:
I wouldn't mind seeing the Cherokee badged as a Fiat for other nations, it might actually look a bit along the lines of a luxury SUV since Fiat is a premium brand

I would guess since its fiat it woul dhave more chrome trimmings on it. This is always the case...

KCSpider

· #6 · Oct 10, 2013

I'm from Italy (moving to US soon) and I can tell that while Dodge brand has never been so popular (almost impossible to find a Dodge dealer), Jeep is well known and appreciated, so I think the new Cherokee won't need a Fiat logo on it to sell.
Two cars magazines here already took a First Drive Test of the new Cherokee (US model) and they said good things about it.
Many ppl posted bad comments about the look, but that was expected.

http://www.quattroruote.it/notizie/...cherokee-32-v6-le-nostre-impressioni-di-guida

http://www.alvolante.it/primo_contatto/jeep-cherokee-5-base

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Moab

· #7 · Oct 10, 2013

CherokeeFanatic said:
I wouldn't mind seeing the Cherokee badged as a Fiat for other nations, it might actually look a bit along the lines of a luxury SUV since Fiat is a premium brand

In Europe, Fiat is regarded as anything but a premium brand. Fiat is very much a mainstream brand, along the likes of Volkswagen, Opel, Toyota, etc.

Reactions: 1

checkers

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 10, 2013

Ok so Jeep is well regarded in Europe, do you guys see the potential for Cherokee to be sold as a FIAT alongside the Jeep Cherokee.. I'm thinking along the lines of the relationship the baby Cherokee (We still dont have a name) and FIAT 500L will share.

Cherokee bones under something from FIAT? And it doesn't even have to be FIAT specifically, it could be sold under Alfa or Lancia badges..

Bronco B.

· #9 · Oct 10, 2013

I can see FIAT badging on the euro version of the cherokee in Europe rather than the Jeep brand. It will probably look slightly difference, maybe a little better dressed but still very much a cherokee.

Fat Tony

· #10 · Oct 11, 2013

Wasn't Fiat and Chrysler having some sort of dispute behind closed doors?

checkers

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 11, 2013

Fat Tony said:
Wasn't Fiat and Chrysler having some sort of dispute behind closed doors?

they still are... They're both on the brink, toxicly codependent. FIAT needs Chryslers cash, but Chrysler needs FIAT tech to make any cash...

LOL Chrysler has been funding FIAT's DtD ops for some time now...

Luckily Jeep is a highly valued brand that could be sold to another company if Chrysler does go belly.

brianch

· #12 · Oct 11, 2013

I think Jeep wants to expand JEEP into Asia and Europe.

So I dont think they would want it to be branded Fiat or any brand for that matter.

jimmy

· #13 · Oct 11, 2013

cheerokeen said:
I think Jeep wants to expand JEEP into Asia and Europe.

So I dont think they would want it to be branded Fiat or any brand for that matter.

It will be better if they expand on the Jeep brand and not rebadge vehicles to Fiat. But being owned by Fiat, they just might do that, unless Fiat has some different agenda. It would be better if they make world vehicles all under a single badge

checkers

Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 11, 2013

jimmy said:
It will be better if they expand on the Jeep brand and not rebadge vehicles to Fiat. But being owned by Fiat, they just might do that, unless Fiat has some different agenda. It would be better if they make world vehicles all under a single badge

I'm thinking the Cherokee is sold as a Jeep in Europe alongside a FIAT model with Cherokee bones underneath... It would likely be neutered in terms of capability...

CherokeeFanatic

· #15 · Oct 11, 2013

Good point, chances are they have altered it for that market, i highly doubt both European and American Cherokee's only difference will be more and bigger cup holders for 'mericans.
what could we expect their specs to be like?

KCSpider

· #16 · Oct 12, 2013

2

Im 100% confident the Cherokee will be sold as Jeep (for sure with diesel engine too, because the most of SUVs are sold with that engine here).

There are rumors of an Alfa Romeo SUV since ages, it seems it should be finally ready for the end of 2014.
It will share parts with the Cherokee but being an Alfa it might end up to be a more Sport than Utility Vehicle.
These are the spy photos (the front is Jeep)

http://www.gentemotori.it/alfa-romeo-spy-suv/

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checkers

Discussion Starter · #17 · Oct 16, 2013

KCSpider said:
Im 100% confident the Cherokee will be sold as Jeep (for sure with diesel engine too, because the most of SUVs are sold with that engine here).

There are rumors of an Alfa Romeo SUV since ages, it seems it should be finally ready for the end of 2014.
It will share parts with the Cherokee but being an Alfa it might end up to be a more Sport than Utility Vehicle.
These are the spy photos (the front is Jeep)

http://www.gentemotori.it/alfa-romeo-spy-suv/

yes, this is similar to what I was thinking... It definitely bears markings of the Cherokee... It shouldn't be to hard to tart the platform up for sportiness, its already under the Dart R/T...

sanghill

· #18 · Aug 19, 2014 (Edited)

2014 FIAT TrailHawk.
Just re-badge your ride to whatever you want to call it.
Can a FIAT be Trail Rated?
Just stirring the pot.
Editorial comments are encouraged.

sanghill

· #19 · Aug 19, 2014

Where should I put the FIAT badge? Above the camera lens or below?
The FIAT 500L surrounds the camera lens with the "500L" badge.
Looks really bold.

TedB

· #20 · Aug 19, 2014

I'm sure that the name JEEP is well regarded in Italy as thousands of them were used to defeat the Germans in WW2. Probably a great many Italian farmers, and other, bought the surplus after the war. The same can be said of Britain. I see no need to rebadge the Cherokeet as a Fiat.

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