Compacting Market: Chrysler Needs a Small Crossover
...and the Tipo hatchback would be a great place to start!
Fiat Tipo-based Chrysler 100X Design. (Ryan Dodd).
A change has been occurring in North America for several years now. Passenger cars have fallen out of favor with consumers as crossover, SUV, and pickup sales have exploded thanks to their increased practicality by way of higher ground clearance, all-weather capability, and easier access to cargo. The increase in crossover sales has been covered extensively by many automotive publications, including by Mopar Insiders. Looking past the decline of passenger cars, it is not hard to conclude that a brand needs crossovers, SUVs, and pickups to survive – key components that are currently missing from the Chrysler brand.
Right now, Chrysler is surviving on only two models: the 300 sedan and the Pacifica minivan. Rumored to be joining the Chrysler lineup in the near future is a midsize three-row crossover to replace the dated Dodge Journey in showrooms, a large three-row crossover based on the Pacifica’s architecture to compete with the likes of the Traverse, Enclave, and Pilot, and eventually a smaller MPV similar in function to the highly-advanced Portal concept.
Missing from these plans is a compact crossover to satisfy the customers turned off by the off-road-focused Renegade and Compass crossovers. While midsize crossover sales have seen sales increases at the expense of sedans, the small crossover segment provides much more opportunity. For example, in the United States last month, the Explorer and RAV4 were the best sellers in the midsize and small SUV segments, respectively. However, the RAV4 sold 41,093 units while the Explorer sold 22,782; even the best selling midsize crossover sold only around 55% of the volume of the best selling compact crossover. So clearly, there are more sales opportunities to be had in the small SUV segment than in the midsize segment, especially if Chrysler can include an appealing blend of utility, efficiency, and capability, all at a low cost and without stepping on the toes of the Renegade and Compass. I believe this is where the Tipo comes in.
To read the complete article, click here.
...and the Tipo hatchback would be a great place to start!
Fiat Tipo-based Chrysler 100X Design. (Ryan Dodd).
A change has been occurring in North America for several years now. Passenger cars have fallen out of favor with consumers as crossover, SUV, and pickup sales have exploded thanks to their increased practicality by way of higher ground clearance, all-weather capability, and easier access to cargo. The increase in crossover sales has been covered extensively by many automotive publications, including by Mopar Insiders. Looking past the decline of passenger cars, it is not hard to conclude that a brand needs crossovers, SUVs, and pickups to survive – key components that are currently missing from the Chrysler brand.
Right now, Chrysler is surviving on only two models: the 300 sedan and the Pacifica minivan. Rumored to be joining the Chrysler lineup in the near future is a midsize three-row crossover to replace the dated Dodge Journey in showrooms, a large three-row crossover based on the Pacifica’s architecture to compete with the likes of the Traverse, Enclave, and Pilot, and eventually a smaller MPV similar in function to the highly-advanced Portal concept.
Missing from these plans is a compact crossover to satisfy the customers turned off by the off-road-focused Renegade and Compass crossovers. While midsize crossover sales have seen sales increases at the expense of sedans, the small crossover segment provides much more opportunity. For example, in the United States last month, the Explorer and RAV4 were the best sellers in the midsize and small SUV segments, respectively. However, the RAV4 sold 41,093 units while the Explorer sold 22,782; even the best selling midsize crossover sold only around 55% of the volume of the best selling compact crossover. So clearly, there are more sales opportunities to be had in the small SUV segment than in the midsize segment, especially if Chrysler can include an appealing blend of utility, efficiency, and capability, all at a low cost and without stepping on the toes of the Renegade and Compass. I believe this is where the Tipo comes in.
To read the complete article, click here.
