Chrysler, Nissan Team Up on Trucks, Small Cars

Chrysler builds a good truck — the Ram. Nissan builds a good small car — the Versa. The two companies are now acknowledging their own strengths and tapping the other’s to boost their respective lineups.

In an agreement announced yesterday, Chrysler will build a full-size pickup for Nissan at its Mexico assembly plant. The resulting Nissan truck will replace the current Titan and go into production in 2011.

In exchange, Nissan will build an all-new (“all-new” meaning “not based on the current Versa”) fuel-efficient small car that is based on a “unique Chrysler concept.” It will be sold in North America and will hit the streets in 2010. Just because the agreement says “Chrysler” does not mean the small car will be branded a Chrysler; it could be a Dodge or Jeep.

Currently, Chrysler is still working with Chinese automaker Chery on a global small car. There’s no word on how the Nissan agreement may impact that deal or if the two models will overlap. Check out a number of recent Chrysler small car concepts below and let us know which one you’d like to see make it into production.

Chrysler EcoVoyager Concept

• Odds on Production: 5:1

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Dodge Zeo Concept

• Odds on production: 10:1

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Dodge Hornet Concept

• Odds on production: 5:3

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Dodge Slingshot Concept

• Odds on production: 100:1

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Jeep Renegade Concept

• Odds on production: 100:1
  

Comments

[LM]

I think the Hornet would do the best. It has the most utility value and would compete well in the burgeoning 2-box small car class.

[Paul Grenney]

Renegade, then the Hornet: because they offer next generation MPG, are fun, and bust into a consumer needed segment where there is little American representation

[sczech]

I would say the Hornet, and then the Jeep. One for practicality and then the one for fun. Even the slingshot isn't too bad, if some of the front pieces were rounded off more. I don't understand why the Hornet hasn't been in production already. The success of the Xb, the Element, the Fit, even the Aveo, makes me wonder how US companies don't put more product into this class. I now they are coming, but they should have been here 2 years ago.

[Ken L.]

What I would like to know is what's going to happen to the Armada since it's based on the Titan? Will it be a Chrysler product as well? What about the Pathfinder and Frontier? Aren't those based on a shorten Titan frame? I find that when two competing automaker "Team Up" to build something, one product usually gets lost in the marketplace due to the similiarities. Matrix- Vibe, Dakota- Raider, Quest- Villiager, Passport- Rodeo,etc.

[chad]

zeo is the best out of all of them. Because it's a nice sports car and green. With the electric engine. It's smart because chysler would be a frontrunner in electric car market with the chevy volt.

[chad]

Also why is nissan going over to dodge? Ford could just redesign the titan for them.

[Dave T.]

Ken L.
Hmmm interesting point and it makes me rethink Nissan's objections to the story on the Armada not being built after this generation ends.

[Bowrider]

Another reason why GM should chill out with the badge engineering on the Outlook, Acadia, Enclave, and now Traverse. Don't ruin a successful vehicle by changing the stickers on the assembly line. I would think Ceberus won't allow this to happen.

[ziggy]

Chrysler would have the most success with the Hornet. A class of vehicle that's going to see tremendous growth over the next 10 years. They might as well get a slice of the pie.

[Galvin]

It's clear that Nissan is hedging it's bet to get out of the truck business. I'm sure Dodge would pay a pretty penny to get Nissan's small car technology and ultimately their hands on the infamous VQ engine. Dodge could provide trucks in return. Appears to be a match made in heaven, however I put my money on Goshen over Nardelli any day as Chrysler can't wait to sell itself. In all my life, with the exception of Ken Lay, I've never seen two worst CEO's than Nardelli and Immelt.

[Ken L.]

If the Armada does go away, I wouldn’t be too surprised if Nissan will add an all new uni-body 3 row crossover in the near future, similar to the ones from GM (Acadia, Outlook, etc,) and everyone else these days, to replace the Armada, Quest, as well as the QX56. Since Nissan differentiates itself by being the more “performance oriented” of the imports, that new Crossover SUV would probably compete against the larger X5, MDX, Q7.

[Infosaur]

What this really is about is Nissan will be making a bid to Cerberus for a takeover of the crippled Chrysler. And since Nissan is partnered with Renault it's 1978 all over again