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What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

9838 messages,  Last post on Feb 07, 2013 at 10:28 PM

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#9041 of 9838 Re: Alfa dodge [ateixeira] by michaell

Nov 01, 2010 (8:31 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Nov 01, 2010 8:10 am)
They may pitch it against the Mini Cooper.
 
It will be interesting to see how Chrysler / Fiat will market this ... they may try to compete with the new 2012 Focus, or, as noted above, they may look to position it as a 'premium' car and price to compete with MINI.
 
The second scenario may work better with the Fiat badge .. I don't see folks cross shopping a $23K MINI against a .... Dodge with a similar price point.
 
Also, is Chrysler planning on building this in NA someplace? If not, the exchange rates will kill them if they import it from Italy. Much like the Astra coming from Belgium, GM, couldn't price it competitively. The Focus will be built in Mexico, IIRC.

#9042 of 9838 Yes... by iluvmysephia1

Nov 02, 2010 (6:40 am)

the car is going to be built at Chrysler's Belvidere, IL, plant sometime in 2011. Earlier than not, I haven't been able to garner any hard evidence of what a finished business product for sale will look like. They now have me enthralled. I was in a pursuit of a 2012 Scion FR-S, but after seeing this car and how it drives (0-60 in 7.8 seconds is plenty quick for me) and handles and how it looks, I am now in chase after this baby.
 

 
Looks good in white. My first new Dodge? Right now it's looking like a very strong possibility. I've already done the research for you, but I encourage you ta do it fer yer own silly self. The best reviews are from the land of the UK, these people are the ones that like myself love smaller cars. They drive smaller cars, they know smaller cars. You've all heard that the Europeans need smaller cars because of the narrow European streets and such? Truedat smack baby.
 
The second scenario may work better with the Fiat badge .. I don't see folks cross shopping a $23K MINI against a .... Dodge with a similar price point.
 
michael, you're right. But it's not because the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is not a great rig, it's because the American people are so headstrong over big pick-em-up trucks that they don't know any better.
 
The competitors for the Giulietta are the VW Golf, Ford Focus and even the VW Jetta. This car is small but not insignificantly small. Alfa Romeo is offering a few 4-cyl.'s with it, one that is getting the writers giddy like a schoolgirl crush is the 170hp TurboMultiAir from Fiat. Dodge needs to bring the Giulietta over with the 170 horsepower TurboAir. It is supposed to deliver fuel individually to the ports that are selected by the ECU to need it in just that instant. This car will get the elusive 40mpg, folks. One review said that they got 49mpg in their test driving session.
 
Until a competent all-electric car comes up I have officially switched my craving for a 2012 Scion FR-S to one of these. And in the shade of white above would be twice as nice. Doesn't this car look hot in white? Red is good, too, for this car. Love red cars like Sammy Hager loves red.
 
Like I said, the Veloce model of Alfa Romeo Giulietta comes fully equipped with all the Bluetooth stuff, foglights, red stitching on black leather interior, gearknob and steering wheel, on and on. I went to the Alfa Romeo Giulietta main site to configure a Giulietta fer meh-self. Came to $21,995 British pounds. Translate that to a Dodge-ified Giulietta? Your guess is as good as mine. Perhaps $21,995 is more than Americans would want to pay for this car. I would pay it happily, though. The 6-speed is said to work smoothly and competently, too. Here's an excerpt from an article I have read, to get the UK "feel" for the car.
 
Could it be love at first sight? Meet the stunning Alfa Romeo Giulietta – an all-new Ford Focus-rivalling five-door hatch which replaces the ageing 147. And Auto Express was the first behind the wheel, to see if the newcomer can live up to its classic namesake from the Fifties.
 
Designers have once again drawn from the 8C Competizione supercar’s DNA, so if the MiTo supermini isn’t your cup of tea, then you’re unlikely to fall for the Giulietta, either. But it’s definitely a striking piece of design, aimed at those looking to stand out from the usual VW Golf and Ford Focus crowd.
 
A bold grille uses the classic Alfa shield design, while both the head and tail-lights employ LEDs to create an upmarket look. Our model was fitted with the optional Sports(here's the Veloce stuff I was talking about) pack, which adds bigger 17-inch wheels, side skirts and darker headlamp surrounds, plus slightly firmer suspension settings. A hidden handle for the rear doors gives the car a sportier three-door look, too. The luxurious cabin outclasses that of the Vauxhall Astra, while only the Golf can match it for quality of materials.
 
A row of toggle switches lifted from the 8C gives a sense of occasion, and the fact that the Giulietta is aimed at families is emphasised by the open layout of the dash rather than a driver-oriented design. With the back seats in place, the 350-litre luggage space matches the Golf’s.
 
There are a few surprises, too. Specify sat-nav and the pop-up screen comes pre-loaded with both a visual G-meter and a race car-inspired display showing throttle input and turbo boost. Under the skin, the Giulietta sits on the Fiat Group’s new Compact platform. A sophisticated multi-link rear suspension set-up makes extensive use of aluminium – something Alfa claims saves 10kg over its competitors.
 
Back to my own comments on the beautiful new Dodge.
 
This car has more strongly captured me than Toyota has with their new Scion FR-S. This Dodge Alfa Romeo Giulietta has more of what I'm looking for, and really, what I already have in my 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS. So I am going to be really hard to please, here, I don't need a new car. I am trusting in Dodge to not water this pup down such that I must drop it like a Hines Ward pass from Ben Rothelschild.
 
I encourage you to look up pictures of the LED taillights while you're doing your research, all of you all interested in this beautiful new Alfa Romeo. I really didn't like that grille of the old Alfa like this one is based on from the 50's, but now it looks so cool to me. I'd love one of the older ones. Only finding one in cherry shape might be tough. Price? I really dunno what it might be priced at. I'll get back to you on that, if I can pull myself away from all the research being done on this car. Hey, Dodge, you wanna sell more of these cars? Offer a 10 year and 100,000 mile Warranty! Incidentally, I just read on one of the UK car websites that Dodge is seriously considering bringing the Giulietta over in it's exact same form that I show you above in white! I kid you not. The point of contention from Alfa Romeo purists is gonna be the Alfa grille. Dogge designers would be wise to carefully design that of their own validity, that is, showing respect to the Italians that designed the original grille for the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. It is beautifully mixed in to this new Giulietta's design and I for one would really love it to stay put. Fully. Completely. Only that probably won't happen, nor can it happen per the international laws of automotive copywriting, eh?
 
Or can it happen? This just in from my research. Chrysler may get one of these Giulietta's and also Jeep may get one. What? Found it in my research!

#9043 of 9838 diesel option by morin2

Nov 02, 2010 (11:17 am)

Looks nice - but I'd like it much more if it becomes available with a turbodiesel option. E10 fuel is bad enough but if we have to go to E15, then I'll replace the fleet with diesels - and this would be a nice one to get a tdi-like powerplant.

#9044 of 9838 An up close and personal look... by iluvmysephia1

Nov 02, 2010 (1:12 pm)

at the Alfa Romeo Giulietta's 6-speed shifter.
 

 
That puppy just looks like an invitation to rowing there, don't it?

#9045 of 9838 Re: An up close and personal look... [iluvmysephia1] by ateixeira

Nov 02, 2010 (1:50 pm)

Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Nov 02, 2010 1:12 pm)
I hope if Dodge brings it they'll keep it like that, and just charge a higher price, rather than water it down in to a pathetic rental car, a shell of its former self.

#9046 of 9838 Yeah this car... by iluvmysephia1

Nov 02, 2010 (6:22 pm)

looks awesome to me. It would certainly be bucking Dodge tradition to do that, to charge more. By charging more, juice, do you mean something like $22,995 or words to that type of effect? If they offered a Alfa Romeo Veloce 5-door hatch outfitted like I have described I would pay up to about $24,000 for it here in Nevada. It is really fun to watch the UK reviewers take this car out for a spin, Alfa Romeo has done a great job with it. One reviewer called it the best Alfa Romeo in the last 25 years and another reviewer called it the best Alfa Romeo in their 100 year history.
 
I have even read a review from a credible source that says that Dodge intends to keep the car very similar, in body shape at least, to the one I have been describing. What I don't know is how the mechanicals and interior and options will be played out by Dodge. I think we're probably looking at something around $22,995 for a premium hatch like the Veloce. Really would be surprised to see them price it any higher than that or it won't sell. It will probably price closer to $21,000 and unfortunately offer less than the Veloce, too, but I'm gonna be positive about this car, it is a positive little energy burster, that it is. The 6-speed gearshifter looks like a fun operation in this car.
 
The following information helps explain the reason that the Guilietta is being chosen by Sergio Marchionne as the Dodge Caliber replacement here for the States.
 
However, the next question centers around the drivetrain of this 2012 Dodge compact based on the 2010 Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Fiat plans to acquire a 15% higher stake in the Chrysler Group but one of the stipulations is that Chrysler has to offer at least one vehicle that offers 40mpg or better. Dodge and Chrysler have nothing to fulfill that requirement right now but the Alfa Romeo Giulietta in the European market has five engines that offer 40mpg or better and two of those offer better than 50mpg. The bad news is that three of those five engines (and the two 50+mpg engines) are diesels and the US market isn’t as diesel-friendly as consumers in Europe, so we are less likely to see an oil-burning 2012 Dodge compact.
 
The good news is that the other two engines are both 1.4L MultiAir 4-cylinders and when the 2011 Fiat 500 reaches dealerships later this year it will be powered by a 1.4L MultiAir engine that is built in Dundee, Michigan. The 2010 Alfa Romeo Giulietta powered by the 1.4L MultiAir I4 offers 168 horsepower and 180lb-ft of torque while yielding 40mpg with a manual transmission and 45mpg with the twin clutch (automatic) transmission.
 
http://www.huliq.com/10281/2012-dodge-compact-be-based-alfa-romeo-giulietta
 
A source who asked to remain unnamed with Chrysler told me that over the past few months, the engine and transmission testing people at Chrysler’s test facilities have been logging major hours, testing a variety of these new Fiat engines. The engines being developed and tested could very likely be the engines that will help the 2012 Dodge compact based on the 2010 Alfa Romeo Giulietta reach the 40mpg rating needed for Fiat to invest more money in the Chrysler Group
 
There's that 168hp (I've been calling it 170hp from articles I've read but it is 168hp) MultiAir I have my eyes on with a 6-speed shifter to row gearing for it.

#9047 of 9838 Re: An up close and personal look... [iluvmysephia1] by oregonboy

Nov 02, 2010 (7:22 pm)

Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Nov 02, 2010 1:12 pm)
A metal shift knob? No, thanks. Not unless I lived in the far south.

#9048 of 9838 Re: An up close and personal look... [oregonboy] by kyfdx HOST

Nov 02, 2010 (7:27 pm)

Replying to: oregonboy (Nov 02, 2010 7:22 pm)
You wouldn't want one there, either.... metal gets hot!
 
I like leather, though wood and plastic seem to do the trick, as well...

#9049 of 9838 Here is said metal shiftknob in another picture... by iluvmysephia1

Nov 02, 2010 (8:18 pm)


 
Every time I see this pic it gets me all excited to want ta jump in and drive. These interior materials are very Mitsu Lancer-like. Nothing extraordinarily fancy but enough to look good and get the job done. A car is not defined by it's interior, it's defined by it's value, looks, reliability and performance. That according to iluvmysephia1, so you know you can trust it's validity. Once the Pomeranian and Chow Chow jump in a few times you can call off all the cameras and show for the new car's interior, anyway...right? I thought so. Right.
 
If we can pick and choose options to fine minutia, I would pass on the NAV package. Not necessary. I would value a decent stereo over a NAV pak, any day of the week. Including Sunday.
 
And this jumping back in from the Autobloggreen article.
 
Jeff Schuster, J.D. Power and Associates' director of global forecasting, points to the possibility that Dodge may not be the only brand to receive this upcoming 40-mpg model. Schuster believes that Chrysler could get a version, and, are you ready for this, the mighty Jeep brand might as well. Suppliers and consultants familiar with the project say that the vehicle will roll off the lines at Chrysler's Belvidere, IL plant late next year. Yesterday, Chrysler formally announced that it will invest $600 million to retool its Belvidere plant. Reports claim that this retooling will ready the site for production of a new generation of Fiat-based, fuel-efficient vehicles.
 
Automotive sweetness and spice and everything nice.

#9050 of 9838 Re: An up close and personal look... [kyfdx] by bumpy

Nov 03, 2010 (6:48 am)

Replying to: kyfdx (Nov 02, 2010 7:27 pm)
You wouldn't want one there, either.... metal gets hot!
 
Aluminum does, titanium not so much. I use a cloth glove on those really hot or cold days.

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