this looks to me like zero innovation, just following the herd.

 

Too little, too late IMO.

I can't think of an FCA product that would get me to sign the dotted line.
Challenger? Too bulky and unwieldy compared to the Mustang and Camaro, which will both be more reliable anyway.
Charger? Maybe...a RWD V8 sedan would be fun, and the segment is sorely lacking options.
Pacifica? I don't have a family.
Grand Cherokee? Not really an off-roader anymore.
Wrangler? Probably the most appealing, but the price vs reliability is a hard sell when I could go get a 4Runner.
RAM? Probably FCA's most reliable offering and receives the most R&D and QC...however it doesn't offer anything to me that I can't get from Ford or GM. My F-150 rides perfectly smooth enough for me, don't need coils.

And none of these vehicles hold their value compared to the competition. Go hang out on the /r/askcarsales subreddit. It's clear that FCA exists to make money off subprime loans. You can roll a lot of neg. equity into a RAM or Journey and get yourself underwater easily. Couldn't do that if they weren't giving rebates and incentives like crazy. Nissan does this to an extent as well, which is why you see a lot of newer Altimas in the *cough*rougher*cough* areas of town.

 

Except that FCA doesn't really have a captive financing arm

 

It's on the way. Marchionne just announced one, two days ago. Looks like he's also on the countdown to retirement.

http://www.businessinsider.com/fiat-chrysler-to-establish-captive-finance-arm-2018-6?r=UK&IR=T

 

I'm aware of that, but they don't currently, so clearly FCA doesn't exist only to "fuel subprime loans".