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New 2028 Chrysler Arrow Cross/Fiat Grizzly Spy Shots.

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Stellantis recently announced three new models scheduled to arrive within the next three years. We already know the first will be the long-awaited Chrysler Airflow crossover. However, smaller and more affordable models called the Arrow and Arrow Cross are reportedly on the way as well. From what we have seen so far, it looks like the Chrysler Arrow and Arrow Cross will be heavily based on the new Fiat Grizzly. Also announced a few days. Today we have new spy shots of the Fiat Grizzly driving around in Europe. Obviously for a commercial shoot. And if probably ly gives us a good idea of what the new Chrysler Compact will look like…

Based on what we’ve seen so far, these new Chryslers appear to have a lot in common with the recently unveiled Fiat Grizzly. The Fiat will be offered in two body styles, just like the Arrow lineup. Even more interesting, the two Chrysler prototypes spotted under camouflage seem surprisingly similar in shape and proportions to the Grizzly models. If that turns out to be true, the new entry-level Chryslers could essentially be rebadged versions of the Fiat Grizzly. In my opinion, that’s not especially encouraging.

Unlike the Airflow, which is rumored to ride on Stellantis’ all-new STLA platform, the Grizzly is reportedly based on the same architecture as the Fiat Grande Panda introduced last year. The Grande Panda is a stylish and modern small car with plenty of character, but it was designed from the start as an affordable global model (AKA “Cheap”). The Grizzly is larger and positioned a bit higher in the market, yet it remains fundamentally an inexpensive Fiat. Which is quite a surprising choice for a new Chrysler in my opinion. (but who am I…)

Power is expected to come from Stellantis’ 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine, an engine that has earned a mixed reputation in Europe over the past few years, to say the least. Hybrid versions are almost certain, and fully electric variants are also likely, at least later. While that may work perfectly well for a Fiat, Chrysler buyers might expect something that feels a little more substantial.

What is perhaps most concerning is that the Chrysler and Fiat versions appear to share a significant number of body panels. If the final production vehicles remain this close visually, Chrysler risks losing an opportunity to create a stronger identity for itself. Brand differentiation matters, especially for a company trying to rebuild relevance in a highly competitive market. In my uninformed and non-professional opinion, I would think linking Chrysler with Lancia would have been a beer idea.

Beyond the front-end styling, which echoes the Grande Panda’s retro-inspired design cues, the Grizzly looks fairly anonymous. It’s competent and modern, but not particularly memorable. That is exactly the opposite of what Chrysler needs right now. The brand has spent years shrinking to essentially a single model lineup, and its future products should be making bold statements rather than blending into the crowd.

The American market is filled with compact crossovers, and consumers already have countless generic choices. For Chrysler to succeed, it needs products with a clear personality and a strong reason to exist. Simply importing a Fiat design and changing the badges may save development costs, but it does little to strengthen Chrysler’s image or help define what the brand stands for in the future.

Of course, these are still early days. Camouflaged prototypes can be misleading, and manufacturers often make significant design changes before production. There is still a chance that the Arrow and Arrow Cross will evolve into vehicles that look and feel like genuine Chryslers rather than lightly modified Fiats.

For now, all we can do is wait and see. Hopefully, Chrysler’s designers and executives understand that reviving a historic American brand requires more than filling gaps in the lineup. It requires creating vehicles that people actually desire, vehicles with a distinct identity and a sense of purpose. The Arrow could still become that car.

It’s early, and there is still hope. Hope that the new Arrow ends up looking and feeling like a proper Chrysler. Whatever that even means these days.

Conversation 9 comments

  1. You’re giving Stellantis too much credit, when they always show up as exactly Stellantis. It’ll be a close match and look cheap as hell, when they should make it look elegant and expensive. Chrysler shouldn’t be the cost leader of their four American brands. Dodge should. And this should start in the upper 30’s with a real powerplant instead of that 1.2L 3cyl. But Stellantis specializes in failure.

  2. The Arrow reminds me of the old Dodge Shadow/Plymouth Sundance. Our family had 5 of those cars. They were inexpensive, very versatile and in our experience, very reliable. If the Arrow is anything like that it will appeal to folks looking for inexpensive transportation. I do wish Stellantis would have brought them back under Plymouth instead of Chrysler.

  3. If I were to be honest, I never imagined a blocky vehicle like this ever being in Chrysler’s lineup. It’s actually more attractive than I originally thought, but it seems a little too blocky in execution to be a Chrysler vehicle.

    After giving it some serious thought, it may not be such a bad move though. The current trend in the industry as far as crossovers are concerned seems to lean toward blockier designs, so this may not be as out of step as we think it is. Significant changes would need to be made to the front and rear for it to transform into a Chrysler (as well as the wheel design), but it will hopefully look much better with Chrysler specific details than we think it will.

    That being said, a Fiat interior will never make the cut, so I’m hoping Stellantis knows that they will need to give the Arrow siblings their own unique interior design. Additionally, the powertrain choices will need to be appropriate for the U.S. market, even if they are different from the powertrains offered in foreign market vehicles.

    I also question the wisdom of offering a fastback crossover in this segment in the U.S. market, but I may be surprised how well it goes over. If Chrysler is supposed to be positioned to offer affordable mainstream transportation to families on a budget, a crossover with a sloping roof may not appeal to those who want the most utility possible from their crossover vehicles. I do see the more traditional crossover sibling performing better in the market than the more stylish/less practical fastback sibling. Maybe young single people who are buying their first vehicle without a family to consider will be drawn to the more fashion forward option.

    Hopefully, whatever vehicles Stellantis adds to Chrysler’s lineup will be reliable, refined, and enjoyable to own. Nailing these attributes will be essential to reestablishing Chrysler in their newly assigned role in the U.S. market.

  4. I finally remember what the Fiat Grizzly looks like in profile. It’s a tall, crossover-style, modern day Chrysler 200 sedan in shape. And will probably receive the same lukewarm reception from buyers.

  5. From what’s been said about the Arrow twins, the front and rear fascias along with wheel choices will be different. The interior is where they will be completely different. No one is clear on engine choices, but my bet is on a variation of the 1.3L Firefly still in production since they have developed a mild hybrid variant of it for South America with a 6AT or they could utilize one of the eDCTs. I wouldn’t be surprised if that is what ended up in the US, but power outputs increased because they could get more out of one powerplant and keep production costs low.

  8. It’s too bad the it doesn’t look like Chysler is going to get unique models anytime soon, but for my ENTIRE LIFE the Chrysler brands have been taking overseas models and simply slapping their badge on them. This Grizzly does look a bit like a Polestar 2.

  9. This also looks to be in the larger side of subcompacts, so it’s probably going to be more spacious than anything else in the class. If Chrysler had a hand in creating it knowing they would get the same platform, it’s likely maxed out in all directions since it’s coming to the NA market. I did hear the length would be at 177 inches overall and none of the other brands have used the SMPs maximum length or track width.

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