If this release came out on 1 April it would be easier to fathom, but the fact is that Fiat really has taken the Dodge Journey and put a Fiat badge onto it for the European market.
Enter the Fiat Freemont, even its name sounding rather American. Perhaps it makes good sense for Fiat to have some kind of presence in the market for large crossover vehicles, it's just a pity they couldn't have given it more of a facelift at least - or is brand identity not part of the Fiat-Chrysler plan?
Basically the front of the vehicle gets a new bumper and grille and the rear end receives a redesigned bumper and LED tail lights, but it still doesn't look very different to its Dodge cousin. Making matters worse is that the press release states that the Freemont has its "own distinctive and original style." Expect the same kind of badge engineering when Lancia launches its new 'Chrysler 300C', among other new entries expected soon.
The Mexican-built Freemont will make its journey, if you'll excuse the pun, over to Europe during the second half of this year after staging its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
In case you've never read anything about the Dodge Journey, here's a rundown of what the Freemont has to offer.
With its relatively large dimensions, it offers seven standard seats, with the third row said to be quite roomy and capable of folding down flat. The cabin has a few new design elements and gadget fundis will appreciate the advanced infotainment system with a large colour touchscreen.
All versions will offer an extremely high specification level, with standard fair including three-zone automatic climate control.
Initial models will have front wheel drive, with power coming from two versions of Fiat's 2.0-litre MultiJet diesel engine, offering outputs of 104kW and 126kW.
Later on, the more powerful of the two engines will also be available with four-wheel drive and then Chrysler's 205kW 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 petrol engine will also be available.
According to Fiat, the vehicle's dynamic ability has also been improved with the aid of Fiat engineering, which has developed and introduced a special suspension and steering configuration for greater accuracy and directness. Driving comfort is further guaranteed by significant improvements to passenger compartment soundproofing.