Marchionne gets Nasty, Tells VW Boss Piech to go and Fix SEAT Instead of Eyeing Alfa Romeo

Speaking at the J.D. Power and Associates International Automotive Round-table in San Francisco, Fiat Group and Chrysler LLC CEO Sergio Marchionne bluntly reiterated that the Italians won’t sell Alfa Romeo to the Volkswagen Group, or anyone else for that matter.

“As long as I am CEO of Chrysler and Fiat, Mr. Piech will never have Alfa Romeo. It's hands-off. I told him. I will call him and I will email him”, Marchionne said.

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Marchionne: Fiat and Chrysler Could Merge into a Single Entity in a Few Years

Speaking at the J.D. Power and Associates International Automotive Roundtable, Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne today told reporters that the two companies could merge into a single entity based in the U.S. in the near future. Until then, Chrysler first has to refinance its government loans and launch an initial public stock offering, but Marchionne hopes that both will happen this year.

“Who knows? In the next two or three years, we could be looking at one entity. It could be based here”, said Marchionne. The companies are considering various “alternatives and scenarios. First we need to integrate them operationally and then look at governance”, he added.

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2012 HRHamann Fiat 500

The partnership meant Fiat putting cash into Chrysler and would retool a Chrysler plant to produce Fiat models to be sold in the US. Fiat also provided engine and transmission technology that could allow the introduction of new and fuel-efficient small cars. At a time when larger and more global rivals such as Toyota, Volkswagen and Renault-Nissan are competing on the market, Fiat and Chrysler are uniting their efforts to become a viable competitor.

As far as the competitors go, the main rival would be the newly redesigned Ford Ka, with whom the 500 shares basic underpinnings. With so much in common, how is it possible to split the two apart? Well firstly, the new Ford Ka slightly annoyed me by evolving into nothing more than a baby Fiesta, rather than a perfectly serviceable model in its own right. Secondly, the Fiat 500 does everything just a little better than the Ka. It handles better, feels nippier and looks a lot better than the characterless shell the Ka has become. The only downside is that the 500 is slightly more expensive, but remember that you're paying for style here people!

2012 HRHamann Fiat 500

The exterior styling 2012 Fiat 500

Soave has been with the North American Volkswagen team for several years, but Fiat recently hired her to take control of the brand in the United States. She is a first-generation Italian-American with a lot of her family still in Italy. She commented, "This is not just a job for me, it is a passion and very near and dear to my heart." She showed a photo on the large screen, of her as a small girl standing on the hood of a Fiat back in Italy.

The exterior styling is basically unchanged from the past few years of the European model. Like the Mini-Cooper, it is considered "retro" and looks very similar to the little 1957 model that opened the press conference. Changes that are not obvious to the eye are abundant, however. These include a redesigned body structure that meets American regulatory requirements for crashworthiness. The cabin is quieter, in response to US customers demand for quietness. The floor, trunk, and instrument include new sound-deadening materials. There are new body and door seals as well as hydraulic powertrain mounts that help minimize engine vibrations.

The exterior styling 2012 Fiat 500