Great news for fans of full-size pickups (utes) with Fiat-Chrysler global boss Mike Manley and local chief Clyde Campbell both confirming utes are on their minds for Australia. The questions are when and which model?
Most obvious is the current Dodge Ram which Mr Campbell admitted is officially imported to Australia in left-hand-drive and sold in very small numbers for use on mining sites (not public roads). However the current Ram models are not built in right-hand-drive and, with a constant order bank of 30,000 units, there isn’t capacity to build the popular pickup for Australia.
“I never say never but I think it’s more likely you’ll see us with a right-hand-drive pickup in Australia in the next model generation,” Mr Manley told Car Showroom during his visit to Australia for the launch of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta diesel.
But here’s the curve-ball for the Chrylser-Jeep-Dodge-Fiat-Alfa Romeo conglomerate: Which brand will get the pickup?
“Branding is the open issue and that’s up to our regions,” Mr Manley said. “So Fiat (commercial) vans in the U.S. could be (badged as) Ram and (Ram) pickups into Europe and Asia could be Fiat Professional.”
Perhaps overshadowing that great news for Australian ute buyers is Mr Manley’s enthusiasm for a Jeep pickup model. “Given the position of Jeep on a global basis, a Jeep pickup could have more potential than a broadened Ram offering,” Mr Manley said.
The worldwide head of Jeep, Mr Manley wants at least one version of the Jeep model sold in every segment to be ‘Trail Rated’ (suitable for ultimate off-road conditions). “We need that to be a credible Jeep and the other models will follow”, he explained
In that context, the ‘breakover angle’ of four-door utes will always challenge tough off-road agility.
“A four-door Grand Cherokee (pickup) version with a short tub could be a possibility, but some of the new platforms being developed with Fiat are very flexible which gives us better capability,” Mr Manley revealed.
According to Mr Manley, the sales success of the local Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge range since Mr Campbell’s management team took the helm has opened doors for future products.
“In some segments, Asia-Pacific is our biggest SUV market outside North America and that’s why it’s important as we develop new models to fully develop right-hand-drive from the beginning,” Mr Manley said. “Doing it (right-hand-drive development) then, the incremental costs are quite low.”
BRAD LEACH
