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Toledo continues fight for Jeep Wrangler production, despite mayor's death

Where will the next-generation Jeep Wrangler be built? That's an open question, but it's one that the city of Toledo, OH desperately wants to be the answer to. The city suffered a major blow, though, with the death of Mayor Michael Collins earlier this month. Collins had been the city's biggest champion during talks with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, before suffering a fatal heart attack on Feb. 6. But Collins' tragic death isn't dampening the city's desire to carry on as the home of the Wrangler. "The mayor's passing is tragic. But on Monday, when I came to work, I knew exactly what I needed to do and exactly what needed to be done," the city's director of development, Matt Sapara, told the Detroit Free Press. According to the Freep, Sapara said Toledo and the state of Ohio have delivered an outline of a development plan that would give FCA the ability to buy an extra 100 acres to expand the factory. This is to help accommodate FCA's targeted output of 300,000 to 350,000 next-generation Wranglers, up from the 240,000 the factory can make now. "Our target in the proposal is to provide a way to increase the production capacity to a number that allows Fiat Chrysler to meet its business model," Sapara told the Freep, adding that the land could be available later this summer. FCA, meanwhile, has shown a somewhat ambivalent attitude towards Toledo production, with CEO Sergio Marchionne openly discussing the pros and cons of continuing to build the Wrangler south of the Michigan border. "We are going to take a very hard look at this without ignoring what these guys have done," Marchionne told the Free Press at last month's Detroit Auto Show, adding that he'd like to keep production there, provided the cost of retooling is comparable to relocating to another facility. Related Video:

Maserati and Lamborghini pull out of Iran

Daimler is out, Toyota is out, Porsche is out, Hyundai, PSA Peugeot-Citroën are out and when it comes to selling cars in Iran, now Maserati and Lamborghini are out, too. The definitive pullouts of those last two automakers are said to be reactions to a press conference held by a group called United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI). The group highlights businesses that sell in both the US market and Iran, and works to get those businesses to choose one market or the other.
UANI said it had sent letters to Maserati and Lamborghini about their dealings in Iran, but that the letters went unanswered. Mark Wallace, head of UANI and a former US ambassador to the United Nations, held a press conference in October of last year that referenced the two companies. Apparently Lamborghini contacted Wallace just after the press conference and told him "they were out, they weren't doing any business in Iran anymore."
Discussions with Maserati then took place, and the Italian automaker said it had been out of Iran ever since Fiat announced it was leaving the country in May 2011. UANI said Maserati had been in talks with an Iranian distributor, however, and that distributor was continuing to use the Maserati name. The carmaker has since cut all ties with Iranian interests and has prevented its name from being used, adding that its new models will not be able to be sold there because they won't pass regulations the country's regulations.

2016 Fiat 124 Spider to debut this year

Those enthused by the prospect of a nimble little convertible but not enamored with the styling of the latest Mazda MX-5 Miata (shown above) have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Fiat version. And now we know it's going to break cover later this year. According to Edmunds, which spoke with the Fiat brand's North American chief, Jason Stoicevich, the Fiat 124 Spider will debut later this year either at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September or the LA Auto Show in December. It is expected to begin reaching dealers in 2016. Fiat has yet to confirm whether it'll offer the 124 in North America, but the chances are looking good. "There is a ton of heritage behind that," Stoicevich told Edmunds. "I think that just kind of puts the bow on the showroom for us and fills it out completely." The roadster would bolster a Fiat US lineup that's made up of versions of the 500: the original hatchback, open-roof 500C, electric-powered 500e, and 500L and 500X crossovers. Fiat offers other models overseas, but is said to be preparing a change in direction even in Europe, aligning its portfolio in two pillars built around the 500 and the Panda. Though the 124 will be based on the MX-5's platform and be built alongside it in Japan, the Italian brand will give the convertible its own bodywork and styling. The Italian version of the MX-5 was originally earmarked to wear an Alfa Romeo badge, but Fiat brass decided that Alfas needed to be developed in-house and built in Italy. The decision was then made to give the Fiat brand the convertible instead, though details on what form it will take and what engines will be offered remain a mystery. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club View 30 Photos News Source: EdmundsImage Credit: Mazda LA Auto Show Frankfurt Motor Show Fiat Convertible 2015 LA Auto Show fiat 124 spider fiat 124