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Renault delays decision on merger with Fiat Chrysler

PARIS — Renault has delayed a decision on whether to merge with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, a deal that could reshape the global auto industry as carmakers race to make electric and autonomous vehicles for the masses. The deal still looks likely, but faced new criticism Tuesday from Renault's leading union and questions from its Japanese alliance partner Nissan. The French government is also putting conditions on the deal, including job guarantees and an operational headquarters based in France. The French carmaker's board will meet again at the end of the day Wednesday to "continue to study with interest" last week's merger proposal from FCA, Renault said in a statement. A Renault board meeting Tuesday to study the deal was inconclusive. The company didn't explain why, but a French government official said board members don't want to rush into a deal and are seeking agreement on all parts of the potential merger. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government policy, told The Associated Press the conditions outlined by France's finance minister still "need to be met." France and Italy are both painting themselves as winners in the deal, which could save both companies 5 billion euros ($5.6 billion) a year. But workers worry a merger could lead to job losses, and analysts warn it could bog down in the challenges of managing such a hulking company across multiple countries. And a possible loser is Japan's Nissan, whose once-mighty alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi is on the rocks since star CEO Carlos Ghosn's arrest in November. Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa cast doubt Tuesday on whether his company will be involved in a Renault-Fiat Chrysler merger — and suggested adding Fiat Chrysler to the looser Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance instead. Saikawa said in a statement that the Renault-Fiat Chrysler deal would "significantly alter" the structure of Nissan's longtime partnership with Renault, and Nissan would analyze its contractual relationships to protect the company's interests. If Renault's board says "yes" to Fiat Chrysler, that would open the way for a non-binding memorandum of understanding to start exclusive merger negotiations. The ensuing process — including consultations with unions, the French government, antitrust authorities and other regulators — would take about a year. A merger would create the world's third-biggest automaker, worth almost $40 billion and producing some 8.7 million vehicles a year.

2017 Chevy Camaro Z/28 Nurburgring crash caught on video

A 2017 Chevy Camaro Z/28 prototype crashed Thursday morning during testing on the Nurburgring in Germany. The driver appears to be unharmed, and the Camaro was not severely damaged. You can see the crash happen near the 1:35 mark of the video. Everything is going fine as the camo-clad Camaro accelerates onto the 'Ring. But as the driver goes through a turn the back wheels lock up. The driver then nails the brakes, the front wheels lock up, and he careens into the rail, getting airborne in the process briefly. The driver then navigates the Camaro to the other side of the circuit. A crumpled front fender and maimed aero is the only damage. View 11 Photos Mishap aside, this is an excellent look at what we believe is the track-focused Camaro Z/28. We see the huge wing in back and smaller winglets in front reminiscent of the Corvette Z06's Z07 Performance Pack. The new Z/28 has a throaty, almost buzzy V8 sound. We predict the seven-speed manual transmission from the Corvette, and perhaps the new 10-speed automatic trans from the Camaro ZL1, will be available. This prototype has a huge, gaping grille, blacked out wheels, and an aggressive front splitter. Look for the Z/28 to go on sale next year. A General Motors spokesperson said the company doesn't comment on development testing, but noted that "safety is our overriding priority." Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Image Credit: Brian Williams / SpiedBilde Spy Photos Chrysler Coupe Performance Videos viral video chevy camaro z28

Chrysler 300 could become an electric sedan for 2026

Australian outlet Drive says it got eyes on "insider information" that revealed Chrysler has an electric sedan in development. As has been practice for the Pentastar since long before Stellantis, this Chrysler four-door would be the platform sibling of an electric Dodge sedan, the Dodge version to arrive sometime in 2024, the Chrysler variant about two years later. Nothing in the documents identified the EV sedan as a replacement for the 300, but Drive lays out a trail of circumstantial evidence that points to this conclusion. The documents say the vehicles will run 800-volt electrical architectures, thought to mean they'll also get the most powerful versions of Stellantis' new electric motors making anywhere from 201 to 443 horsepower. And because of that, Drive expects these products to use the STLA Large platform, the platform an electric 300 would sit on. Chrysler's working up a range of new products as part of the numerous brand resets Stellantis committed to. In January, Chrysler CEO Christine Feuell told Automotive News the coming portfolio "will include a number of brand-new products that don't exist today, but also products that are still playing in segments that we're in already," calling out the fact that Chrysler only plays in the large sedan and minivan segments. Then she said, "Our intention is to redefine products for those segments, and they're certainly going to be a vast departure from what's in market today."  The automaker's first EV is expected to be the Airflow, teased during the Stellantis EV day last summer before being debuted at CES in January. With Dodge already making a muscle car, turning that into a product for Chrysler seems like a no-brainer. Thing is, Drive's information and Feuell's comments could be applied to the Airflow. It's on the STLA Large platform, will pack two motors producing a combined 402 hp, and fit a battery capable of juicing a 400-mile range. As far as we can tell, Chrysler has never called it a crossover yet. Not that the nomenclature would matter anyway, since any model name with brand equity can be turned into any other kind of vehicle (see: Aspen, Blazer, Maverick, et al). The Airflow name on an EV makes a logical tie to the original Airflow produced from 1937 to 1940, that original car so named because of its aerodynamic features. But if the Airflow EV hit the market as the new 300, we couldn't say we hadn't seen that trick before.