With the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) going on this week, we got a chance to check out the scenes over the weekend with a few of our friends, including R/T Life. While Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) really didn’t have a huge debut at the show, the company still brought out a lot of things we haven’t seen in person until now.
The Alfa Romeo brand was the only one to hold a press conference to launch their new very limited edition Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio NRING series for North America. The NRING editions pay homage to Alfa Romeo’s performance at the 73-turn, 12.9-mile, world-renowned Nürburgring track. Giulia Quadrifoglio cinched a 7:32 lap time, earning the claim of the fastest five-passenger vehicle in the world; and Stelvio Quadrifoglio delivered an impressive 7:51.7 lap time that made it the fastest production SUV sold in the United States and Canada. Only 55 of each, will be produced.
Of course, the Jeep® brand showcased it’s all-new Gladiator pickup as it has started hitting select dealers this past week. Jeep not only had several of the trucks on the auto show floor but was giving the public rides in their awesome Jeep off-road course at it’s Camp Jeep Ride and Drive. It was the first time outside the company and the media to get some seat time in its new mid-size pickup. The Camp Jeep event also allowed the public to get a ride in their favorite Jeep vehicles including the Compass, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, and Wrangler.
The Ram brand had several of the trucks on the floor that we had seen in Chicago, during the Chicago Auto Show. That included the amazing 2019 Ram 2500 Laramie Black, 2019 Ram 2500 Power Wagon, and 2019 Ram 3500 Limited Mega Cab Dually. It also featured several models of the all-new 2019 Ram 1500, including the Rebel with the multi-function tailgate.
Even though the Dodge brand was absent from having a huge announcement at the NYIAS, it didn’t stop the brand from showcasing some it’s new products. The new “Stars & Stripes” Special Editions were shown off to the public for the first time, and they look amazing in person. The simple center stripe with an offset mini-stripe looks great without taking away from the car, while the American Flag is showcased behind the front wheels (a modification we have seen on several Chargers already, including some in the FCA Design Studio). The interior is subtle with its bronze stitching and highlighted bronze stars. Dodge also brought out their pair of Sublime Charger and Challenger models that happened to arrive this week at dealerships as well.
The Chrysler and Fiat brands were pushed into the corners of the FCA display. The 35th Anniversary Chrysler Pacifica was showcased, while most of the brand’s attention still on its minivan offering. We still are disappointed that Chrysler hasn’t put more spotlight on its 300 Series lineup, as the car has been outselling the Pacifica in places like the Canadian market and continues to be a firm seller here in the states. The Fiat brand showcased its new turbocharged 2019 Fiat 500X crossover and it’s new 2019 Fiat 124 Spider Urbana Edition. One would think by dumping the Fiat nameplate in North America and rebadging the vehicles as Chrysler’s would strengthen both brands.
