FCA & PSA 50/50 Merger Agreement

[Frank McGank]

This is true, but all it takes is the right car. And by car, I mean crossover. Because no one is buying passenger cars any more. But getting back on point, one high-level pure luxury vehicle that generates excitement and is not a cynical badge-engineered stop-gap could do the trick. The anti-Cimmaron.

Also, the Stellantis name stinks.

Luxury SUVs seem to be taking over the traditional role of luxury saloons. Things like the Bentayga, Escalade, Range Rover, Merc G. Chrysler could make something in that bracket, built off the Dodge Ram chassis but with entirely new styling and a legitimately good interior. More specifically targeting the Escalade clientele. If they can keep it under the magic 6 figure mark, it probably could steal Cadillac’s lunch. A Xover is simply too pedestrian.
It’s too early and definitely too radical to try dusting off the Imperial name and going straight for the Maybach S class’ and the Rolls Ghost’s jugular, though. Same reason Cadillac decided not to build the Sixteen/bring back names like Fleetwood and ElDorado, and why the new Linc Continental is just a Taurus. The big 3 just don’t have the panache to stand on equal footing to world luxury marques like they did 50 years ago. The days of Duesenberg and Packard are long gone, unfortunately.

 

[Robin]

God GM really ran those two (and Holden) into the ground, didn’t they. How can you possibly make the 3rd best selling marque in Europe operate at a loss? How can you run them so poorly that even FRENCH management is an improvement?

I know! It's beggars belief that a marque you can see every 10 seconds when out and about could not be run profitably for decades and decades. PSA taking over was a real embarrassment because it was like being bought out by the poorer cousin but they have managed to keep the brand pretty similar to the way it was before and yet now it's made a profit in 3 years! Lunacy from GM.

 

[Frank McGank]

I know! It's beggars believe that a marque you can see every 10 seconds when out and about could not be run profitably for decades and decades. PSA taking over was a real embarrassment because it was like being bought out by the poorer cousin but they have managed to keep the brand pretty similar to the way it was before and yet now it's made a profit in 3 years! Lunacy from GM.

The dumbest part about it is they now have zero presence in Europe, Africa, or Oceana. And their only presence in Asia are the tidal waves of Buicks they sell in China. Buicks that, need I remind you, are almost all based on Vauxhall/Opel designs. They’ve basically tripled down on the sales of Silverado and its stablemates in north america carrying the entirety of the conglomerate.
GM hasn’t so much shot thmselves in the foot as they have systemically and methodologically sawn it off because they can’t possibly see the connection between feet and the ability to walk. GM should’ve been allowed to go insolvent in 2009.

 

[Tornado]

Feels like only yesterday when GM paid Fiat a substantial amount of money to not merge with them after already giving Fiat a new automotive platform that they still use to this day; and now Fiat gets to play hanky panky with Opel/Vauxhall again anyway.

 

[05XR8]

https://www.motoring.com.au/chrysler-300-srt-put-on-hold-128061/

Given recent reports overseas claiming that Chrysler is set to be terminated under the newly-formed Stellantis group (a merger of FCA and Groupe PSA), the Chrysler 300 – as the American brand’s only model offered in Australia – could be nearing the end of the line Down Under.

The Chrysler 300 SRT sedan is powered by a potent 6.4-litre HEMI V8 (350kW/637Nm) that drives the rear wheels through a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.

After sealing a deal with NSW Police in 2017 to supply highway patrol cars until the end of 2021, Australia is one of the few countries in which the V8-powered Chrysler 300 is still available in showrooms.

But that could soon change, and we should know more when Stellantis releases further details on the ramifications of the merger on January 16.

 

[05XR8]

408 lands with petrol, hybrid and electric drivelines

Peugeot debuts new high-riding fastback, expected to go on sale in 2023

goauto.com.au