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By Deni Afffgty

A source at Fiat said that Chrysler will discontinue sales of the Dodge Journey in Europe and instead will market minivan, the Fiat brand. According to these sources also said that the minivan version of Fiat's major will be called the Freemont, and will replace another Fiat minivans, the Ulysse. Fiat Ulysse stop production this month because of sluggish sales, last year, Fiat Ulysse sold only 1956 units.

Fiat Freemont is an important part of the plan-Chrysler CEO of Fiat, Sergio Marchionne to cut development costs and increase capacity utilization at factories car with cross selling vehicles from Fiat Group and the Chrysler group brands. Freemont Fiat officially became a rebadged version (brand rate) of the Dodge Journey at the auto show in Los Angeles Motor Show, last November, to be little change in the exterior design, a revised interior and suspension are modified. Freemont carrying diesel 2000 cc Fiat engine that produces maximum power up to 170 hp, this is the first application of the Fiat engine in Chrysler vehicles (currently Journey 2,000 cc diesel engine 140 hp supplied by Volkswagen AG).

Fiat hopes Freemont will have greater sales potential than Ulysse because it will offer all-wheel-drive, which is not owned Ulysse, in addition, Freemont diesel engine is more powerful than the current Journey and its sales will be supported through more 5000 Fiat sales network in Europe, which is far larger than Chrysler, so they can offer more potential sales. Freemont Fiat will be exported to Europe from the Chrysler plant in Toluca, Mexico, who build the Dodge Journey and the Fiat 500 for North America. The plan, Fiat will debut Freemont at auto show in Geneva in March 2011, then followed by the launch of its sales in Europe in June 2011.

Fiat Freemont is actually a "right machine designed to meet the diverse needs of families and looking for a spacious car, comfortable and versatile to serve the fast pace of daily life or leisure weekend. The vehicle combines the flexibility and functionality with its distinctive and original style. Dimensions (length of 489 cm, width 188 cm and 172 cm height) provides excellent interior space, helped by the best in its class wheelbase (289 cm).

Fiat Freemont ensure maximum space, comfort and versatility due to its 7-passenger seating with a real third row seats spacious which are easily accessible when the doors open 90 degrees. The third row seats can be folded with a flick of disappearing under the floor and create a platform for regular load. The second row seats are mounted higher than on the forehead, while the third row is highlighted in relation to each other by giving maximum visibility to all passengers.

[http://popularcar.us/dodge-journey-minivan-fiat-freemont/]

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By Megan M Perry

The recent rise in SUVs has left minivans somewhat in the lurch. Since SUVs are generally much bigger, more comfortable and capable of hauling greater weights, minivans have been left behind in recent years, despite their many considerable advantages. In addition to being generally more fuel efficient and less prone to rollovers, their simple construction, sturdy weight, and on-road reliability makes them much less expensive to insure. They also tend to be less likely to be involved in accidents, both because they handle well and because of key psychological effects that minivans and SUVs have on their drivers. As such, minivans offer a considerable advantage over many other types of car when it comes to auto insurance.

The number one reason that minivans are less expensive to insure is that they are much more resistant to sustaining damage in minor accidents. Minivans are small, low and compact, enabling any force incurred in a crash to be distributed over a wide area, dissipating the energy and minimizing the damage. Additionally, while more prone to rollover in a sharp turn than comparable sedans and hatchbacks, the concentration of weight deep within the body means that minivans are difficult to roll over, and their shape allows for a very solidly reinforced roof to prevent passenger injury during a rollover. Lastly, since most minivans offer excellent view and large amounts of room with good restraints, passengers within the vans are also less likely to suffer injury in the event of a crash. The passive and non-aggressive nature of minivans also helps the driver to be courteous and minivan drivers have consistently been shown to be more courteous and cautious than other types of drivers.

Of course no two minivans will have the exact same insurance rate. Older minivans will tend to require less insurance, because they have a lower value and are more likely to be totaled than repaired in the event of an accident. Additionally, vans with greater safety features tend to require lower insurance rates, since the passengers are less likely to be injured and thus file a claim. Basic models cost less to insure than more complex ones, and models intended to carry cargo will be less expensive to insure than those which carry passengers.

Therefore, if insurance costs are a factor when purchasing a minivan, it would be a good idea to purchase a used vehicle with a good safety record, safe restraints, and moderate usage. Many popular van models have changed very little over the years, allowing you to get a van that looks and feels almost like a new one yet is much less to insure. Additionally, older vans will have a known crash record, allowing you to choose a vehicle which is easy and inexpensive to insure and repair.

Megan Perry is a writer who enjoys sharing her knowledge and advice with a variety of different readers in a number of different subjects and fields. For more information about insurance, Quazen offers readers information on some of the cheapest minivans to insure.

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Are-Minivans-Affordable-to-Insure?&id=6422153