New logo for Fiat and Chrysler after merger

You mentioned Jeep, so let's start there. The Jeep brand's latest launch, the compact Cherokee is based on a FIAT platform, and is selling like crazy in the USA. The next Jeep model, a B-segment SUV will be not only be FIAT-based, but also will be built in Melfi in Italy for sales worldwide.

Chrysler's newly-launched 200 is also on a FIAT platform: the same one as Cherokee (it's modular, and can accommodate different sizes of vehicles), its first version was in the Alfa Giulietta.

What Chrysler is bringing is a set of powertrains that suit the US market: 8 and 9-speed autos, a superb family of lightweight V6 engines. (These weren't ready for the launch of the Dodge Dart, which hurt sales a lot). Also from Chrysler is the UConnect "smart" in-vehicle entertainment system which is the best on the market. Larger engines and on-board computing are areas where FIAT was weak, so it's a good match. In turn, Chrysler sucked at economy - FIAT provided their MultiAir infinitely adjustable valve-control system to Chrysler, which has greatly improved their fuel efficiency.

Take Jeep again: they had superb offroad drivetrains, but they had no modern car architecture to use these in. Chrysler group's only modern car design was the 300, an E-segment luxury model. FIAT provided them with tried and tested, modern, Mid-size, Compact and Sub-compact architectures that were cheap to build, lightweight, safe, efficient, and reliable.

But "technology" doesn't just mean car designs. FIAT is a world leader in robotic automation, and runs Europe's most automated car manufacturing facility (at Pomigliano d'Arco near Naples). The programmes and techniques at work there have been rolled out across all of Chrysler's US plants. FIAT's World Class Manufacturing quality programmes have revolutionised Chrysler's manufacturing. An example is the new 200 - Chrysler claim that making one of the new cars requires 67% less energy than making the old model did. A lot of that saving is down to FIAT's know-how in manufacturing, and down to using a FIAT platform that's designed for efficient manufacturing. (And quite a bit is down to how poorly developed Chrysler's facilities had been under the previous owners, but they've gone from worst to best in a single leap)

You're mistaken about the Maserati Levante's engines. All petrol engines are Maserati-designed and built by Ferrari, as they are in the Quattroporte (on which Levante is based). The raw aluminium block castings come from Chrysler, but are finished, bored and have their heads built in Italy. The diesel is from VM Motori, made in Italy. The transmission is from ZF. When you compare the weights and performance of the Levante and Grand Cherokee, it'll be clear that the Maserati is not just new sheet metal on the old frame, because it's not on the same frame at all. Also, the staff at Grugliasco in Turin will be very surprised to hear you say that the Maserati Levante is not being made there, because they're already setting up the production lines for it... (There is no capacity at any Jeep facility to make this model, even if they wanted to.)

Alfa's SUVs, like all other Alfa vehicles, will be built in Italy. This isn't just for branding, but because Chrysler's US sites are capacity constrained, and FIAT, like every other European maker, has lots of spare production. There is at least one Alfa SUV in the product plans, and there's talk of a second one.

All of that is public knowledge - it's easily discovered from press releases and investment briefings. Why a professional journalist would still represent the merger as "Chrysler know-how saves FIAT" is beyond me, unless they're just not doing their research. Yes, in hindsight, the timing was fortuitous for FIAT, because it got them out of a bind when the arse fell out of the European market, but FIAT was profitable before they bought Chrysler, and Chrysler was a dead duck. If Chrysler is worth anything today, it's because FIAT stepped in when they did. Nobody else dared to.