Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne answered several questions related to the American automaker’s quarterly profit/net loss this morning, and when the discussion turned to product – specifically the strong sales of the Jeep Grand Cherokee – Marchionne admitted that the GC’s platform could proliferate throughout the Chrysler/Fiat lineup.
Plans for a Fiat-badged crossover based on a Chrysler-sourced platform have been confirmed for some time, but exactly what underpinnings would be used was open to speculation. The current platform, loosely based on the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, can be modified to accommodate a variety of drivetrains and is currently being produced at the Jefferson North assembly plant in Detroit.
Neither Fiat nor Marchionne have confirmed what kind of vehicle we can expect, but in addition to a Fiat crossover, there’s the strong possibility the Jeep’s platform could be used as the basis for a Maserati CUV.
