akirby Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 How does/did that work? They just randomly contact you and ask if you want to be in a focus group to see a new car from unknown brand? This was from a company here in Atlanta that does these kinds of tests for all types of products. I'm on the mailing list now and I've seen everything from health and beauty products to food and vehicles. I assume they got my info originally from Ford but I don't know for sure. I was hoping we were going to see a new Ford. I also did a focus group back in 2002 on the Aviator right before it was released. We got to drive it plus 2 other competitors - a BMX X5 and an Acura MDX. That was way cooler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomcat68 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I somehow was on a focus group in the early nineties, and Ford chose me to look at the first gen Explorer and the Mazda based Escort before they were new. And we got to drive them! That sold me on the Mazda Escort. I did not like the Explorer, but I knew that it would be a big hit. The Explorer I drove had a 4 cylinder engine and was sloooooooow! But you couldn't argue with the utility when compared to everything else on the market at the time. The only other thing like it was the 4 door Cherokee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I don't think the explorer ever had a 4 cylinder unless it was a prototype. Although the original 4.0L V6 may have felt like a 4 cylinder...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted September 2, 2015 Author Share Posted September 2, 2015 The only other thing like it was the 4 door Cherokee. My friend had one of these and I shocked at how bad the rear seat interior space was on them vs the Explorer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Well, don't forget that everything new that has come to Jeep or Ram since the merger has been via Italy. Can't count that out. Ram Promaster Ram Promaster City Jeep Cherokee (Fiat Compact Wide, shared with Giuletta) Jeep Renegade (Fiat Small, shared with 500X and 500L) Also Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200. And upcoming Jeep Compass and Patriot, and Chrysler 100. But remember, Fiat Compact Wide was completely re-engineered by Chrysler. It's not like they just ran with rebadged products (like ProMaster). The Tigershark 2.4 I4 and ZF 9 speed automatic didn't come from Fiat either. More to the point, Sergio delayed the next Ram and Grand Cherokee by 18 months so he can keep the Alfa project going... we don't know if those 2 cash generating products will maintain their competitiveness in 2018, a few years past their prime. Ram pickup would have been riding on the same platform for 10 years at that point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Is Chrysler 100 still happening? Last I heard it was dead in the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Also Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200. And upcoming Jeep Compass and Patriot, and Chrysler 100. Correct, my post was in response to Fgts saying that Jeep and Ram were running without anything from Italy (hence no mention of the other existing vehicles). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomcat68 Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 I don't think the explorer ever had a 4 cylinder unless it was a prototype. Although the original 4.0L V6 may have felt like a 4 cylinder...... You're right. They stated it had 155 hp and I assumed it was a 4. It felt like a 2 and it would have gone faster if I got out and pushed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 Is Chrysler 100 still happening? Last I heard it was dead in the water. Yes, it is still happening. The original Chrysler 100 is dead... it was going to be a hatchback version of Dart (it went on sale in China as Fiat Ottimo). The new Chrysler 100 will be a sedan, and it will be related to the next generation Dart.. It will take over from Dart as the main volume model in the compact car market for FCA. Dart will become performance focused like the rest of the Dodge line up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehaase Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 I thought the 100 was going to share the Renegade's SUSW platform with the Dodge B class hatchback, instead of the CUSW platform used by the Dart, 200, and Cherokee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovaltine Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 (edited) Which makes me wonder why some call Sergio and Fiat's plan any better than the rape and pillage that occurred under Daimler. Answer: Because Obama and his minions Bloom/Rattner "engineered" the Fiat/Chrysler mash-up in the first place! THAT'S what makes it so "special"! -Ovaltine Edited September 4, 2015 by Ovaltine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 (edited) I thought the 100 was going to share the Renegade's SUSW platform with the Dodge B class hatchback, instead of the CUSW platform used by the Dart, 200, and Cherokee. The next generation of FCA C-segment cars will use SUSW platfrom, so 100 (and probably Dart) is going to be SUSW. CUSW is optimized for bigger vehicles like 200 and Cherokee, even though it came out first on the Dart - this is why Dart is a super heavy weight champion among st the C-segment sedan peer. In order for FCA to meet MPG targets for C-segment cars like 100 and Dart, they need to shed several hundred lbs for the next generation. The solution is to use the lighter SUSW platform but enlarge it to C-segment size, which is what FCA is doing for 2017 Jeep Compass and Patriot. They will be the first C-segment SUSW, follow by 2018 100. Edited September 4, 2015 by bzcat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 ...which is what FCA is doing for 2017 Jeep Compass and Patriot. They will be the first C-segment SUSW, follow by 2018 100. Only going to be one of those, not both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Only going to be one of those, not both. Yeah, I thought that's the market Cherokee was in (C-sized/Escape market)? Or is it closer to Edge than Escape? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Is there a plan to share next gen Cherokee and Utilities for the Europeans too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 Yeah, I thought that's the market Cherokee was in (C-sized/Escape market)? Or is it closer to Edge than Escape? Tad smaller than Cherokee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 (edited) Answer: Because Obama and his minions Bloom/Rattner "engineered" the Fiat/Chrysler mash-up in the first place! THAT'S what makes it so "special"! -Ovaltine The government had a conflict of interest, killing Chrysler would have improved GM's profitability and market CAP. A lot of the treasury team wanted Chrysler to go CH7 so being the lesser of two evils I guess in the end, the opportunists at Fiat won the day.....They weren't game to loan Nardelli $7 Billion in uncertain times.. Edited September 5, 2015 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 Tad smaller than Cherokee. OK, that I can understand.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomcat68 Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 Is there a plan to share next gen Cherokee and Utilities for the Europeans too? The Cherokee out now is on the same platform at the Dart and 200 which is shared with the Alfa Romeo Gulietta. They also plan on the Patriot/Compass, Journey, and Town and Country replacements to be based on this as well. The Dart is also sold in China as a Fiat. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 The Cherokee out now is on the same platform at the Dart and 200 which is shared with the Alfa Romeo Gulietta. They also plan on the Patriot/Compass, Journey, and Town and Country replacements to be based on this as well. The Dart is also sold in China as a Fiat. Thanks, I misspoke above in asking about Cherokee when I meant Patriot I see sharing Utility platform as much more important than the cars.... or at least a higher priority. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomcat68 Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 Thanks, I misspoke above in asking about Cherokee when I meant Patriot I see sharing Utility platform as much more important than the cars.... or at least a higher priority. And I think they realized that they wasted their time making that an Alfa Romeo platform when they decided they will make Alfa all RWD, so unless they start replacing Fiats other than the 500x which I think is also on this, this will sort of become a mostly Chrysler exclusive platform when they replace the Guiletta with some RWD car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehaase Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 I have read on allpar that the Patroit/Compass replacement may go on SUSW and basically be a LWB Renegade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullynd Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 I have read on allpar that the Patroit/Compass replacement may go on SUSW and basically be a LWB Renegade. Isn't the Patriot supposed to be below the Renegade? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-150 Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 Isn't the Patriot supposed to be below the Renegade? I thought Renegade was smaller to go against the Chevy Trax and a potential Ecosport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullynd Posted September 6, 2015 Share Posted September 6, 2015 I thought Renegade was smaller to go against the Chevy Trax and a potential Ecosport. It is, but I thought Patriot replacement was supposed to be cheap. If it's bigger than Renegade and more expensive then it will overlap the Cherokee too much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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