The greatest hits of Fiat Chrysler’s Marchionne era
From U.S. muscle to perky superminis, FCA has produced some wonderful cars of all shapes and sizes under Sergio Marchionne. Here are some highlights.
The tragic loss of Sergio Marchionne ends an era for Fiat, bidding farewell to a man who changed its fortunes so thoroughly that it could afford to save the failing Chrysler brand by the end of the 2000’s.
First and foremost, Marchionne was there to make the best business possible, and some cars in this list reflect that.
However, that’s not to say that Fiat Chrysler brands haven’t also had the opportunity to produce some of the most unique, convention-burning cars on the market.
For both the sensible decisions and the eccentric moments, here are some of FCA’s greatest hits under Sergio Marchionne.
Fiat 500
>The re-introduction of the 500 could well be Marchionne’s greatest achievement. Releasing this new-retro model when such cars were at their peak was a brilliant move, and the car continues to sell almost a dozen years after its introduction.
Ferrari 458 Speciale
>The last of a magnificent era, the 458 Speciale will likely be the last of the naturally-aspirated V8 supercars from Ferrari. This car is going to be priceless someday.
Alfa Romeo MiTo
>Based on the Fiat Punto, the MiTo takes the slightly dull Fiat and turns it into a new breed of car to wear the Alfa badge. It’s an extremely pretty supermini, and a good choice if you want to separate yourself from the hordes of Punto owners.
Dodge Challenger Hellcat
>The Chrysler brands – especially Dodge – seem to have been empowered to go slightly mad during the Marchionne era. The 697bhp Hellcat is a truly steroidal muscle car, and things only got crazier with the 2017 Demon, which added another 100 ponies.
Abarth 695 Biposto
>Imagine the Hellcat/Demon treatment being sprinkled onto a Fiat 500. Here’s the result. The 695 Biposto isn’t all about the figures, but putting a 187bhp engine into a well-sorted Italian city car is certainly something of a fever dream, and one we’re eternally glad happened.
Jeep Renegade
>Jeep has certainly benefitted from Marchionne’s leadership, coming out of its shell and into the 21st century. The Renegade is a great example of that, and since reaching most markets in 2015, half a million have been sold. You can’t argue with sales!
Alfa Romeo Giulia
Ferrari LaFerrari
>Since the F40, Ferrari has made a once-per-decade habit of strutting its stuff with an epic hypercar. The LaFerrari is its hypercar for the 2010’s, combining the iconic V12 with a KERS hybrid system. To put it simply, it works – and works incredibly well.
Jeep Grand Cherokee TrackHawk
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There are plenty of SUV’s that stake their claim to performance, without being able to live up to it – but the TrackHawk definitely can. Not only does it house the 697bhp V8 from the Challenger Hellcat, but it also has a degree of agility it has no right to have.
Fiat Fullback
>Marchionne’s Fiat has a knack for synergising with other manufacturers, and the Fullback is a great example of that. In all respects, this capable pick-up is a Mitsubishi L200 with an Italian badge.
Alfa 4C
>Alfa knows how to make something beautiful, but its chances to work its magic on something mid-engined have been limited. The 4C is a shining example of why we need more of the ideal sportscar layout from the marque.
Dodge Durango
>Based on the Grand Cherokee, sales of the third generation Durango are going up and up in the US. There’s also a 475bhp SRT version, to continue the theme of crazy SUVs!
Abarth 124 Spider
>Based on Mazda’s MX-5, the 124 Spider is a brilliantly perky little sportscar. The turbocharged MultiAir engine is punchier than the MX-5’s range of motors, and its raucous exhaust note is a winning merit too!
SRT Viper
>The decision to split SRT’s nameplate away from Dodge was questionable, but there was nothing bad to say about the last Viper. It didn’t sell well, but it is arguably the best of these burbling V10 brutes.
Ferrari SF70H
>Ferrari went through the Formula One doldrums in the late-2000’s and early-2010’s. Marchionne re-structured the team when he entered the world of Ferrari in 2014, and the Mercedes-challenging 2017 car was the fruit of his labour.
Ferrari FXXK
>Essentially the LaFerrari Le Mans car that should have existed, the FXXK is the ultimate track day car. It serves as yet another way for Ferrari to captivate high-octane millionaires through their XX and Clienti driving programmes.
Chrysler Pacifica
>The SUV is taking over America just like everywhere else. However, the minivan isn’t giving up the fight, and the Pacifica has sold a shade under 200,000 units in less than two years.
Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale
>The GranTurismo is a very effective grand tourer. Amplify its strengths with the addition of lightness and race car bravado, and you’re onto a winner.
Alfa 8C
>Named as a tribute to the iconic 8C racing car, this should have been an epic European sportscar. In reality, it was more of a muscle car with a svelte Italian coupe shape – but that’s more than enough for us, and the 500 owners.
Ferrari 812 Superfast
>Name most other cars ‘Superfast’ and you’d be laughed out of civilised society. Ferrari’s 812 is one of very few cars on this earth deserving of the title, housing a 6.5-Litre V12 with 789bhp; powerful naturally-aspirated production car of all-time.
