Source & photo: Belga
Monday, January 3, 2011
Fiat: pas de projet de fusion avec Chrysler pour l'instant
Source & photo: Belga
Thursday, December 30, 2010
USA: nouvelle vague de rappels pour Chrysler et Ford
Source: AFP
Photo: Chrysler
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Fiat Banking on Natural Gas Engines in the US, Thinks Hybrids and EVs Present Too Many Obstacles

Fiat’s comeback to the U.S. with the 500 is just the first piece of a larger puzzle. The company’s CEO, Sergio Marchionne, may give the green light for natural gas-powered cars to be sold in the Land of the Free, as they offer a cheaper way to cut emissions. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Mr. Marchionne noted that electric cars, favored by GM and Toyota, present “too many obstacles” with long recharge time for batteries being one of them.
Another company official, Constantinos Vafidis, who oversees transmission and hybrid development for the Italian maker, said that “natural gas is very suitable for the U.S., especially for public services and goods transportation, where vehicles are refueled from a central base”.
That’s why Fiat wants to target the commercial vehicle segment. The automaker has separated the Ram and Dodge brands last year, thus creating a standalone truck division. In 2012, the range could encompass various vans based on Fiat/Iveco platforms and brought over from Europe.
Natural gas is less expensive to produce, transport and distribute, which makes it an ideal solution for fleet operators. Currently, it costs about $1 less on average than a gallon of gasoline. Also, the additional cost for an engine running on natural gas is $3,000. For a diesel, this amounts to $3,300, while hybrids cost automakers a whopping $8,000.
Having an edge in production costs and the U.S. being the world’s number one provider of natural gas means that Fiat could become a major player in the eco-friendly niche. The Turin-based maker is Europe’s market leader in manufacturing methane-powered cars delivering some 127,000 units last year.
The only problem is that in America, natural gas refueling stations are vastly outnumbered by gasoline stations. There are only 1,300 stations providing natural gas for 110,000 vehicles, compared to 160,000 stations selling conventional fuels. However, this problem could be circumvented if Fiat can convince government agencies and corporate fleets that natural gas is the way to go.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Une fusion entre Fiat et Chrysler pour bientôt
Source: AFP
Photo: Fiat
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Immatriculations d'octobre 2010 aux USA
Source: AFP
Photo: Ford
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
10 Most Stolen Cars in the USA: Honda Accord and Civic Top the 2009 List, No Love for the Koreans or Germans

Do you own a car that's likely to be stolen? Maybe, maybe not. Here is the list that the NICB (National Insurance Crime Bureau) has compiled concerning the most stolen vehicles in America. Honda's 1994 Accord and 1995 Civic along with Toyota's 1991 Camry occupy the first three places ahead of Ford's 1997 F-150 pickup truck and Dodge's 2004 Ram pickup.
If your car is on the list (scroll down), you should make sure to keep that chunk of metal locked down. As in, put a ring on it and don't let anyone near it.
Most Stolen Vehicles in the US in 2009:
1. 1994 Honda Accord
2. 1995 Honda Civic
3. 1991 Toyota Camry
4. 1997 Ford F-150 Pickup
5. 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup
6. 2000 Dodge Caravan
7. 1994 Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size)
8. 1994 Acura Integra
9. 2002 Ford Explorer
10. 2009 Toyota Corolla
The FBI says car thefts were down 17% in 2009 compared to 2008 (794,616 versus 956,846), which is officially the "largest drop in a six-year decline" and the lowest reported in 21 years. Good news for car owners, and clearly indicative of the fact that car thieves are falling by the wayside (or just not up to snuff on their tech).
Most of the cars listed end to end up in chop shops where the sum of their parts is more valuable than the actual car. More serious thieves (those in syndicates with ties to shipping and international trade) still feel fine stealing newer cars that can be re-VIN'd and distributed overseas, so your Escalade and XJR aren't necessarily safe just yet.
You'll notice the majority of the cars on the list are from the 1990's. It turns out these older cars have become more popular, but many people have yet to figure out why. I'd say it probably comes down to the simple fact that they're easier to steal. Many modern cars have keys that only work with one specific car, while other cars simply can't be started without a chip (found in the key fob) nearby.
Joe Wehrle, NICB president and CEO, says, "Through the end of August this year there were 97,655 vehicles that were listed as stolen and not yet recovered. Of that number, only 38 percent had some kind of insurance coverage. So there are a lot of vehicles out there that are being stolen and the owner is left holding the bag with no car and no money to buy another one." Lesson? If you own a vehicle that's likely to get stolen, insure it accordingly and be safe about it.
Here are some of the NICB's tips on how to make sure your car doesn't get got by some shady individuals:
"Common Sense: Lock your car and take your keys. It's simple enough but many thefts occur because owners make it easy for thieves to steal their cars.
Warning Device: Having and using a visible or audible warning device is another item that can ensure that your car remains where you left it.
Immobilizing Device: Generally speaking, if your vehicle can't be started, it can't be stolen. "Kill" switches, fuel cut-offs and smart keys are among the devices which are extremely effective.
Tracking Device: A tracking device emits a signal to the police or to a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles. Some systems employ "telematics" which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle. If the vehicle is moved the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer."
By Phil Alex
Source: NICB
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Fresh /// Chrysler-Fiat: des moteurs partagés
Source: Chrysler & Fiat via European Motor Show Brussels
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Fresh /// Le MultiAir construit chez Chrysler
Source: Fiat Group
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Scoop /// Alfa Roméo: le Kamal de retour?
Source: Alvolante
/// Album Photo Photobucket ///
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Fresh /// Marchionne: Fiat ou Chrysler?
Mais le fait d'être porteur de deux casquettes, et pas n'importe lesquelles, n'est pas chose aisée. L'homme fort de Fiat devrait ainsi annoncer à court terme quelle présidence il compte laisser à partir de 2011. Mais lequel va-t-il choisir de garder et qui pour le remplacer à l'autre poste?
Source: ThePassionCars
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Fresh /// Les Big Three toujours à deux sens
Source: AFP, GM, Chrysler, Ford
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Fresh /// Fiat: un Doblo international?
Source: ThePassionCars
/// Album Photo Photobucket - Fiat Doblo 2009 ///
/// Album Photo Photobucket - Fiat Professional Doblo Cargo 2009 ///
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Report /// Le nouveau Ram en détails
Source: Ram
/// Le plan des produits ///
/// Prévisions de vente ///









