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Chrysler unveils new Dodge Trazo compact car for Latin America

 
3 4,007 views Oct 29, 2008

2008 dodge trazo concept 020

Could the Trazo be Chrysler's answer to the global small-midsized sedan question?

Could the Trazo be Chrysler's answer to the global small-midsized sedan question?

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Chrysler LLC launched into a new segment in Latin America today, with the introduction of the new Dodge Trazo at the São Paulo Motor Show. The Dodge Trazo C1.8 will be offered as a low-cost four-door sedan focused on fuel efficiency in select Latin American markets, including Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. There has been unconfirmed speculation that the new Trazo could possibly enter the U.S. market also, where Chrysler desperately needs more small cars.

The Dodge Trazo will be available with a 1.8L DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder gasoline and an E100 ethanol-capable engine with both automatic and manual transmissions

The new Dodge Trazo is being built by Nissan for Chrysler, with the two companies both announcing their partnership earlier this year. The car will be reportedly built at its Japanese factory in 2009 for the 2010 model year.


The supply agreement is the second product exchange between Chrysler LLC and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Nissan affiliate JATCO has been supplying Chrysler with transmissions for various front-wheel-drive vehicles since 2004. The two companies are also reportedly keen to explore further product-sharing opportunities.

This latest announcement contradicts previous speculation that Chrysler could be producing a compact car next year based on the 2006 Dodge Hornet concept, which would then be marketed as a premium hatch against the likes of the Mini Cooper and BMW 1-series. However, earlier this year Chrysler's vice president for international purchasing, Thomas Hausch, confirmed plans to build a compact car based on the 2006 Dodge Hornet concept, meaning that another car could be in the works in addition to the Nissan-Chrysler agreement.

Dodge Trazo Concept

HI-RES GALLERY: 2008 dodge trazo concept 020



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Comments (3)

  1. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 10/29/2008 2:38pm PDT

    Gotta be one of the worst re-badges ever, hope the North American Versa based Dodge looks better or it will fail as badly as the awd Avenger/Sebring
     
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  2. ma_JMB avatar JMB Posted: 10/29/2008 5:54pm PDT

    ^ Agreed. I absolutely LOVE the Nissan-esque Trazo badge on it...

    How do you even know it's Dodge? I would think there is a new brand called Trazo that sells Versas.
     
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  3. ma_NaBUru38 avatar NaBUru38 Posted: 10/31/2008 7:27pm PDT

    This rebadging is similarly terrible to those perpetrated by most big automotive groups.

    Here in Uruguay, a few Tiidas can be seen on the streets. Dodge has almost no presence here, so we surely won't notice this car at all.
     
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