Marchionne Confirms Alfa Platform-Sharing Strategy

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV plans to use Alfa Romeo’s new rear-wheel-drive Giorgio platform for future Dodge, Jeep and Maserati vehicles too.

The strategy will help FCA spread Alfa’s development costs over other brands while giving them access to the platform’s superior driving dynamics, CEO Sergio Marchionne tells analysts. His comments follow similar ones by Alfa/Maserati chief Reid Bigland, who suggested the potential for platform-sharing last November.

The Giorgio architecture, which carries Alfa Romeo’s Giulia midsize sedan and Stelvio crossover vehicle, will be used for “the whole Maserati development beyond 2018” and large Jeeps models, according to Marchionne. In addition to Maserati’s next-generation sports cars and sedans, the platform could carry a midsize crossover/SUV positioned below the new Levante, reports Automotive News.

Dodge could adapt a low-cost version of the chassis for everything from its Challenger/Charger muscle cars and an upcoming midsize model to its Journey midsize crossover and Durango large SUV, an unnamed source tells AN. The platform also could underpin the next Chrysler 300 full-size sedan.