After the Dodge Dart was resurrected, succeeding the Neon nameplate, all eyes shifted focus on the Chrysler brand and its upcoming 100 sedan. Until now, Fiat-Chrysler themselves were adamant that this diminutive model will be a compact car, but an Allpar report suggest to expect lesser metal.
As it happens, recent intel from Fiat-Chrysler ramps up the rumor mill to full swing - the 2017 Chrysler 100 sedan won’t share its platform with the Dodge Dart (PF), but the all-new Jeep Renegade and its sister model from Italy - the Fiat 500X crossover.
If this turns out be true, then what happened to the compact promise of Al Gardner from the May, 2014 FCA Investor Day presentation? Whereas the Dart’s platform is the Compact US Wide (CUSW), both the Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X are underpinned by the group’s Small US Wide 4x4 architecture, which is related to the GM Fiat Small platform (SCCS), a metal skeleton that debuted back in 2005.
According to the previously mentioned report, this change of heart (and size) would allow the Chrysler 100 sedan to be smaller and lighter, which equates to better handling characteristics and gas mileage. Furthermore, it wouldn’t resemble a sort of badge engineered Dodge Dart with a chintzy front grille.
The 2015 Chrysler 200 sedan is also underpinned by the Compact US Wide platform.
If its smaller 100 sedan brother, slated to debut in 2016, will use the same skeleton as the relatively new Chrysler 200, then there will be way too little details to differentiate them, especially price-wise.
Below we’ve attached a video from 2013, depicting an Alfa Romeo Giulietta body shell utilized as a test bed for the 2017 Chrysler 100 sedan. Tells us we’re not mistaken, but the wheelbase doesn’t appear to differ from the compact platform of the standard Giulietta. Gang, we have a mystery on our hands...
It would be ludicrous to change architectures in the middle of research and development duties, which is why we recommend to treat this story with a grain of salt. Now how about that upcoming 2017 Jeep C-SUV (Compass / Patriot replacement) and the highly-anticipated Hurricane twin-scroll turbo engine?
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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