The Jeep Grand Cherokee is being redesigned for 2010. Photo / Supplied

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is being redesigned for 2010. Photo / Supplied

Chrysler Group aims to boost global sales with a range of new vehicles its international sales chief Mike Manley says will be "American on the outside with a lot of Fiat on the inside".

Fiat and Chrysler chief executive Sergio Marchionne and his executives have unveiled a two-pronged business plan for the next five years aimed at breathing new life into the American car-maker which, until Fiat cut a deal with bankrupt Chrysler's administrators, had been surviving on a US Government bailout.

Chrysler's dismal US sales in October - down 30 per cent, for a 22nd straight month of decline - underscored the urgency to improve the group's vehicles.

"There is no 'business as usual' at Chrysler," said company chairman Bob Kidder. "There is an incredible commitment and energy for change."

The US car-maker will rework many current vehicles next year while working on new vehicles with Fiat powertrains and platforms for the following few years.

Chrysler expects the strategy to improve sales outside North America to 500,000 units by 2014 from an estimated 144,000 this year. That number would account for 18 per cent of total sales, up from a forecast 11 per cent this year, and include vehicles produced by Chrysler that will be sold under one of the brands of its Italian partner.

"Chrysler products will cover two-thirds of global market segments, doubling the segment coverage it has today," said Manley.

The car-maker will align its engineering arm to the Fiat Group, making the most of common platforms, systems and components between the two companies.

The first important new product - a redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee - is due in the second quarter of 2010. Fiat-based products aren't expected until 2011.

By 2014, the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge nameplates will share three platforms with Fiat, increasing Chrysler's average models per platform from about two in 2010 to three in 2014.

During that period, average volume per platform will increase to 305,000 units from 125,000.

The company's strong Jeep brand will use Fiat-supplied platforms starting in 2013, Manley said. Jeep, for example, will eliminate the Patriot and Compass crossovers after 2012 and replace them with a single vehicle whose platform will come from Fiat.

And starting in 2013, the Cherokee will have a Fiat platform.

The Wrangler also will have a big change in 2011, Manley said.