Visually the US Chrysler 300C and Jeep Grand Cherokee gain tweaks to keep them contemporary.
A submission to the US Government leaked the secret model plans of Chrysler and Alfa.
The wholesale restructuring of the US car industry has yielded some little gems of information, some of them from Chrysler.
In its 177-page submission to the US Government on why it and General Motors should get a $34billion handout, Chrysler inadvertently showed off computer renderings of its new 2010 300C sedan and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Chrysler's proposed alliance with Fiat also revealed some details of future Alfa Romeo models, a company which the Fiat Group owns.
As revealed by the Chrysler viability plan, the two new Alfa Romeos will be called the Milano and the Giulia.
The Milano will replace the 147 hatch and goes on sale in Europe later this year as a 2010 model.
The Giulia will be the successor to the 159 sedan and goes on sale in late 2011.
Visually the US Chrysler 300C and Jeep Grand Cherokee gain tweaks to keep them contemporary.
Chrysler says the updated 300C will have a 22 per cent improvement in fuel economy while the Grand Cherokee has a 19 per cent improvement.
The 300C gets new headlights and grille with more definition in the wheel arches.
The interior is less boxy, with a prominent centre stack in the dashboard and sleeker door trims.
The Chrysler document says the next-generation sedan gets improved safety, including a blind spot monitoring system, as well as increased user connectivity borrowed from the 200C concept sedan.
The “uconnect” system has a “smart” phone that can start the car remotely, open the windows and adjust the air conditioning remotely.
The system will also have an in-car camera that can monitor security in the vehicle.
If the car is stolen the phone can disable the car and even locate it via satellite imaging.
The Jeep gains slim-line headlights and a softer grille treatment.
Inside the cabin takes a more up-market look and feel, with better quality trim materials and user-friendliness.
Among some of the technological innovations Chrysler is pursuing with its tieup with Fiat is a two-cylinder petrol engine combining “multi-air” electronic intake valve control system and turbo technology, Tetra-fuel engine capable of being powered by four different fuels CNG, petrol, E100 ethanol and E25 ethanol/petrol blend, electric power steering systems that reduce weight, and a dry clutch transmission it claims is 10 per cent more efficient than any current Chrysler transmission.
