Chrysler’s new mid-size sedan could be Fiat or Nissan Altima based

Posted: Jul 31, 2008
Filed under: Chrysler, Fiat, Nissan

Chrysler is working on a new mid-sedans that will replace the current Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger. A new team has been assembled for the emergency overhaul called ‘Project D’ and will only concentrate on the new mid-sized sedans.

The cars aren’t expected to arrive until 2011 as a 2012 model year but are already eating up a big chunk of Chrysler’s engineering and design resources. According to MotorTrend, Chrysler is approaching the project in three different ways.

The first is to develop its own new platform; to use a platform from either Fiat or Nissan’s mid-size Altima with different sheetmetal; or use its Fiat or Nissan connection to do the whole Volkswagen Routan based on the Chrysler minivan thing.

MotorTrend says that Dodge will get the mid-size sedans while the Sebring will only be available as a convertible.

 

Source: MotorTrend

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  • DadzBoyz
    Using another company's platform. That worked so well last time (i.e. the cars they are trying to replace). They took the Lancer platform, that the EVO uses, and put the current garbage on top. They need to develop their own flexible platform that they can use for B and C cars and small crossover SUV/SAV/whatever they're calleds. If they use their own platform, it would make it a bit easier to incorporate that GE hybrid system that they announced.
  • justmatt
    I disagree. The current car is such crap it needs to be canned. Chyrsler has proven that they are only able to design one hit wonders (300, Neon, PT Crusier) and can not make a sustainable platform from which to develope and refine. I do not think that the current models have Mitsu origins. I may be wrong, but I really don't think so. I am pretty sure Mitsu would be in better health if that was the case.
  • DadzBoyz
    justmatt,

    The Avenger, Sebring, Sebring Convertible, Caliber, and Journey are all based on the Mitsubishi Lancer platform. Three quarters of the way into development DaimlerChrysler (pre sell off) divested itself of it's Mitsubishi ownership. In other words, they worked with Mitsu on the platform, sold off their share of the company, took the platform, and ran with it as their own. Mitsubishi makes nothing from the platform as it was a "joint" development and the parties each kept their own versions. Incidentally, from my understanding the extent of DaimlerChrysler's contribution to the development was the funding, not so much engineering.
    So, what they're using now is, in essence, another companies platform which is what they are looking at doing now.
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