Fiat-Chrysler Compact WIDE Architecture

Fiat's Compact Architecture is being adapted into the appropriately named Compact Wide for the American market.  By 2010 its expected over 900,000 vehicles in the Fiat group, including Chrysler, will be underpinned with this new chassis.  700,000 units are expected to use it in the U.S. and 300,000 in Europe.

The initial test subject is the Alfa Romeo Giulietta sport hatch.  One would expect this to be the groundwork for many Jeep soft roaders as well as well as replacements for the Caliber, Avenger and PT Cruiser...if they survive.

Fiat has set the Audi A3 and 1 Series BMW as a benchmark for greatness with its new architecture.

"In developing the Compact architecture, we looked for best-in-class performances in terms of handling and steering response, weight-to-power ratio; noise, vibration and harshness, active and passive safety," Stefano Re Fiorentin, Fiat's head of advanced engineering, said at the Fiat's testing grounds in Balocco, 40km west of Milan.

Suspension arms and cross members are made of aluminum to keep the weight down.  Up front are McPherson bits and dual-link setup in back.  Fiat aims to capture best in class for power to weight ratios.  Compact Wide is setup to accept both FF and F-AWD drive-trains with a transverse engine.

 

If Chrysler hasn't bitten the dust by 2014 we could be seeing some compelling product in the future.