new Fiat caught on camera in NC

[leftfield6]

but it's an SUV!!!



This was snapped on the "Tail of the Dragon", US129 in NC.

Also, this Lancia was caught on camera as well.

[mdrburchette]

Awesome! They've chosen great roads for testing.

[So Cal Mark]

the Lancia looks like a rebadged Chrysler, wonder what it is?

[spidernut]

It is a Fiat Freemont: http://www.freemont.fiat.com/ It looks like a van/SUV crossover.

[So Cal Mark]

the SUV is right hand drive, but I was commenting on the 2nd pic; the Lancia that looks very Chrysler-like

[spidernut]

I agree 100 percent. I think the SUV also looks similar to the recent Dodges (Caliber mixed with the minivan). The lines on the hood and grill are similar. I wonder if they'll be badged as both Dodges and Fiats.

[Redline]

The Lancia Thesis is a re-badged Chrysler 300. A shame, really.

[divace73]

The Lancia Thesis is a re-badged Chrysler 300. A shame, really.

It is a shame, considering what Lancia use to be all about and badge engineering wasn't one of them, bring back the rally days when Lancia use to rule the roost!!!

[leftfield6]

Not sure why the pics are showing up cropped, but here are the direct links to full size photos.

Fiat

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx1qPDoeMus/T ... g_2169.jpg

Lancia

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DW5zHxQBwzQ/T ... g_0218.jpg

[Redline]

The Lancia Thesis is a re-badged Chrysler 300. A shame, really.

It is a shame, considering what Lancia use to be all about and badge engineering wasn't one of them, bring back the rally days when Lancia use to rule the roost!!!

Well, you could argue that Lancia was unique when the Fulvia was winning, but by the time the 037 and Integrale rolled around, they were pretty deep into the Fiat parts bin. Not saying the rally cars weren't superb, and we really should separate Lancia motorsport from Lancia road cars, but the road going Lancias took a very appreciable turn with even the final generation of the Fulvia. Plastic steering wheels, cheap gauges, less metal brightwork etc.

[divace73]

The Lancia Thesis is a re-badged Chrysler 300. A shame, really.

It is a shame, considering what Lancia use to be all about and badge engineering wasn't one of them, bring back the rally days when Lancia use to rule the roost!!!

Well, you could argue that Lancia was unique when the Fulvia was winning, but by the time the 037 and Integrale rolled around, they were pretty deep into the Fiat parts bin. Not saying the rally cars weren't superb, and we really should separate Lancia motorsport from Lancia road cars, but the road going Lancias took a very appreciable turn with even the final generation of the Fulvia. Plastic steering wheels, cheap gauges, less metal brightwork etc.

Sure the later ones were fiat parts bin specials, but what machines they made, 037, stratos, S4, integrale....i'd luurve any one of these, they are alot harder to get in Oz
I know enough time hasn't past but a retro intergale would be nice, it even took somebody else to redo the Stratos

[ga.spyder]

Those pictures were taken on 'Tail of the Dragon',not far from my home.Obviously ,a little mountain testing! I saw the SUV go by and my son said 'Dad,that van was a Fiat!". I told him he was nuts,it was a Saturn and kept driving We have occasionally seen cars with camo panels up here for some secret testing.
I dont quite understand the strategy behind renaming a 300 as a Lancia.It is still a 'Fat' car,wont sell in Europe,and the Lancia badge isnt going to make it a hit here either.Why not bring in some of the Alfa models,which by the way has been put off again! Alfa has some really exciting new models.I wonder if we will ever see them here.

[spidernut]

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/fiat/2011- ... 03909.html

The SUV is a based on the Dodge Journey. I found the powertrain details interesting:

Two latest generation MultiJet II diesel engines: designed and developed by Fiat Powertrain, 4x2 2.0 engine, from 140 cv to 170 cv, with manual gearbox and a max torque of 350 Nm available at 1,750 rpm, and 4x4 2.0 170 cv engine with automatic gearbox.

Interesting.

[baltobernie]

Looks like the end of the world has in fact occurred as predicted. Pinninfarina must be turning over in his grave.

[mdrburchette]

I'm not too keen on the rebadging aspect of the Fiat/Chrysler merger myself, but Marchionne must know something we don't know. Chrysler has been able to refinance and get out from under the government and has turned a net profit for the first quarter of this year. Fiat is sharing drivetrain technology with Chrysler and is able to sell the Jeep in the European market successfully.