A new Chrysler and Jeep range will go on sale in 2011 with up to 70mpg and sub-100g/km of CO2 from one model.
And the vehicles will be sold to fleets through the fleet team at Fiat Group UK under its new head Simon Wheeler.
Chrysler and Jeep brand director Nigel Land said although Chrysler has a small fleet team, they would not be considering fleet business seriously until later in 2011 when the product line-up will be more appealing.
The new Chryslers will actually be re-badged Lancias, giving the brand access to the latest European technology and putting an end to speculation about the Italian brand appearing in the UK for the foreseeable future.
The first new Chrysler product will be the Delta – a sister car to the Alfa Romeo Giulietta – whose CO2 emissions will be as low as 114g/km using Fiat’s 1.6-litre diesel engine.
The Delta has a longer wheelbase than the Giulietta and has sliding rear seats allowing extra leg room for rear seat occupants.
Later in 2011 Chrysler will launch the Ypsilon small car, and is talking about achieving close to 70mpg and CO2 emissions lower than 100g/km.
This suggests the car could use Fiat’s new ultra-efficient TwinAir two-cylinder petrol engines.
But the first of the new models will be a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which will use a new V6 diesel engine and come with air-suspension and a Land Rover-style Selec-Terrain system for off-road driving, available early in 2011.
The Jeep Patriot compact 4x4 will be revised with lower emissions from a new 163bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine, although even lower emissions will become available from a 136bhp version due in the summer.
By then a new Jeep Compass small 4x4 will be launched, with a Grand Cherokee-look front end.
The company says the Patriot and Compass will sell alongside each other, with the Patriot as an entry-level model competing against cars like the Nissan Qashqai, and Hyundai IX35, while the Compass will be targeting cars like the Ford Kuga and Volkswagen Tiguan.
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