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Chrysler offers double-clutch automated manual Getrag transmission
2008-09-26 13:23:00 Ford of Europe has already shown a double clutch automated manual transmission for production and now it's Chrysler's turn. This unit should look familiar to readers of the DrivingEnthusiastiast network - it's a direct relative of the Getrag unit used in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. What about the North American market? Chrysler developed this for production with a diesel engine that won't be offered in North America, and there will be no equivalent engine developed or offered in North America. So we likely won't see this transmission for some time. But this offering still contributes to the development of the technology, which the state-of-the-art in transmission design today. Chrysler Press Release follows: Chrysler LLC Expands Use of Fuel-saving Dual-clutch Transmission Technology Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring are the latest vehicles available in markets outside North America with Chrysler’s new dual-clutch transmission ...
Chrysler Gets into Electric Car Race
2008-09-23 22:20:00 From CNET News.com: Struggling automaker Chrysler on Tuesday unveiled a line of electric cars scheduled to start shipping at the end of 2010. The surprise announcement brings Chrysler in direct competition with General Motors, which last week showed off the Chevy Volt, an exten
Chrysler makes progress on the sale of the Dodge Viper business
2008-09-15 04:33:00 Chrysler LLC has drawn interest from international and North American parties for the possible sale of its high-performance Dodge Viper sports car line, Vice Chairman and President Jim Press told reporters on Wednesday. Chrysler in late August announced it was exploring the sale of the Viper sports car business as part of its effort to generate cash and ride out the deepening U.S. auto industry downturn. The Viper is a low-volume V10-powered sports car first produced in 1992. “We have been approached by outside individuals who want to work with us to buy the asset and sustain Viper going forward,” Press told reporters after an Automotive Press Association event. Press said it would not be necessary for Chrysler to retain any stake in the sports car line. It sounds like Press is not a fan of the “halo car” marketing approach. He is turning Chrysler into Toyota. High volume, fewer brands and models, focused on quality and efficiency. Chrysler says parties inte...
Chrysler offers buyouts to 13,000 hourly workers
2008-09-14 02:55:00 From the article: “Chrysler LLC will offer buyouts to more than 13,000 hourly workers in Michigan, in the latest wave of job-reductions sweeping the hard-hit auto industry. Chrysler did not disclose a specific reduction target on Friday, but company officials said they wanted to eliminate at least 2,000 jobs, representing the number of idled workers collecting wages in the Chrysler jobs bank. All automakers are struggling in the U.S. market, which has sunk to its lowest level in more than a decade. But Chrysler has contracted more than any of its major rivals. Its sales through August have fallen 24 percent, or more than double the overall market’s decline.” Chrysler offers new round of buyouts - detnews.com
Video: Autoline?s McElroy interviews Tom LaSorda
2008-08-31 21:20:00 From the interview: “Experts in Astronomy have studied collapsing stars for years. The phenomenon of Hypernovas is very rare but extremely destructive since they morph themselves into light-swallowing black holes. Meanwhile, experts in the automotive industry have been watching their own collapsing star, or more appropriately, collapsing Pentastar in Chrysler. Some analysts believe that the venture capitalists at Cerberus bit off more than they could chew when the firm purchased the troubled automaker last August. Now faced with a depressed truck market and a four-cylinder lineup that just isn’t selling the way it should be in our $4-a-gallon gas world, some fear that Chrysler will implode like a Hypernova with its brands and pieces swallowed by other industry giants. That is not a fear of Tom LaSorda. Chrysler’s Vice Chairman and President insists that Cerberus is committed to the company and believes it can be profitable thanks to a future portfolio of energy-eff...
Chrysler Considers Sale of Gas-Guzzling Viper
2008-08-28 17:17:00 With the U.S. auto market increasingly focused on practicality and fuel-efficiency, Chrysler LLC announced yesterday (Wednesday) it was entertaining offers for its Dodge Viper sports car. “We have been approached by third parties who are interested in exploring future possibilities for Viper,”…
By: Jutia Group
AutoWeek reports Chrysler may sell the Viper business
2008-08-27 17:31:00 AutoWeek reports that Chrysler is exploring "strategic options" for it's Viper product line. This means that like Ford (Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover, and perhaps Volvo) and GM (hummer), the Viper business would be sold lock, stock, and barrel to another company. Chrysler has already said that it has no Viper product in the pipeline past 2012 and that the Viper would probabaly be allowed to die a slow death as finances allow after that. This new plan, if executed, would sell the Viper business to a third party and then support it with technology and engineering support. The news comes as an unpleasant surprise to Viper owners and enthusiasts, who always believed that the Viper business was profitable and would continue. More information: (<right click> and <option in new tab>) Autoweek Article: http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pb-cs.dll/article?AID=/20080827/FR-EE/808279989/1508/newsletter02&-nbsp; More on DrivingEnthusiast.net network: Road Test: gen 2 V...
Cool Concept Cars: The Chrysler Thunderbolt
2008-08-19 07:01:00 Chrysler had many a celebrated concept car during the 1940s and 1950s, but none so much as the Thunderbolt or the Newport phaeton, collected together for this article from SIA #28, May-June 1975. Rather than clutter the story with yet another viewpoint on the milestone cars, the editors convin
The Future of GM, Ford, and Chrysler: Nothing?s Certain
2008-08-07 16:22:00 As my MBA students know from personal experience, I spend too much class time discussing GM, based on my own work experience there in the 1980s, as well as my ongoing research on that company and the U.S. automotive industry. It saddens and angers me that so many opportunities were not pursued, or not exploited ...
By: Total Trust
2009 Dodge Challenger high-res images and full specs
2008-07-19 15:00:00 Now available on http://www.Challenger.DrivingEn-thusiast.net: 50 super high-res images of the SE, R/T and SRT8 models, along with full detailed specifications and other information. Follow the link to our Challenger site and then go to the "Production!" section from there. 2009 is the year the Challenger reaches it's stride: there is a heavily revised base V-8 Hemi in the R/T, a V-6 in the SE, and the SRT8 gets the 6-speed manual and limited slip diff it needed in 2008. Samples follow:
Ford, Chrysler "Power" Rides Face Difficult Road Ahead
2008-06-10 15:39:00 Posted By:Phil LeBeauChrysler is not playing up the Challenger's HEMI engine as the classic muscle car returns. Who can blame them. The HEMI was a hot selling point a few years ago when gas was cheap and buyers clamored for power. Read More Topics:Alternative Energy | Energy | Economy (U.S.) | Automobile IndustrySectors:Oil and Gas | Automobiles and PartsCompanies:Ford Motor CompanyMEDIA:PHOTO Permalink
By: Behind The Wheel
Chrysler extends June incentives on most Dodge vehicles
2008-06-06 08:00:00 Chrysler extends June incentives on most Dodge vehicles Chrysler's Let's Refuel America campaign may not be increasing the automaker's sales figures, but that's not stopping Chrysler from extending the program on most Dodge vehicles. From now until the end of June, Dodge will be offering increased incentives on most its vehicles — with the largest incentives being placed on the company's thirstiest vehicles. In addition to cash back or the Let's Refuel America deal, Dodge will be offering both incentive programs on some of its vehicles. The biggest deals can be had on the Dodge Ram, with customers able to choose from as much as $5,000 cash back or $3,000 cash back and the Let's Refuel America gas card. Durango buyers can choose from a similar scheme, with the gas card coming with $1,000 cash back. Almost any Dodge vehicle powered by a V8 will see some combination of cash back and the $2.99 gas guarantee. Dodge's smallest vehicle, the Ca...
Chrysler is just as good as Toyota, at building cars that is
2008-06-06 04:09:00 Chrysler is just as good as Toyota, at building cars that is Chrysler's sales numbers may be in the tank, but the Michigan-based automaker has at least one thing to be proud of. A new report has found that Chrysler is tied with Toyota for production efficiency, and the Auburn Hills-based automaker even snagged the title of most productive North American plant for its Toledo, Ohio Jeep facility. According to the Harbour Report, it takes Chrysler just 30.37 labor hours to produce a vehicle, tying Toyota's mark. General Motors and Ford also saw improvements — now taking 32.29 and 33.88 labor hours per vehicle, respectively — but not enough to take the number one spot. Chrysler's Toledo South plant — which manufactures the Jeep Wrangler — also took the honor of most productive plant, requiring just 13.57 labor hours per vehicle. Number two on the list was GM's Oshawa, Ontario plant — which builds the Chevrolet Impala — at 15.1...
New SEVAS R66 on CHRYSLER 300C
2008-06-06 00:04:00 New SEVAS R66 on CHRYSLER 300C Originally uploaded by GREATONE!About the Chrysler 300CBy John EvaThey say that if you want to make a long lasting impression then you should make an impression during the first time. Indeed, the Chrysler 300C was bale to make a big scene upon its release. In fact, in a street where there is a wide array of vehicles, you won't find it hard to spot this model in an instance because of sophisticated look that would draw your eyes to look at it.The Chrysler 300C is the performance version of the 300 but with a Hemi V8 and it is powered by an automatic transmission. Its engine is competent enough in shutting down valves and fuel injectors for vacant cylinders. This is especially helpful to preserve gas during operation which set this model apart from other vehicles on the road because of this unique feature which save fuel therefore helping the owner in their expenses an the whole economy as well. It is also mounted with 18' wheels and SmartBeam headlamp...
Chrysler Efficiency Catches Toyota: Now Change Perceptions
2008-06-05 15:51:00 Posted By:Phil LeBeauIt's a major achievement Chrysler should rightfully be proud of. But it also highlights the next challenge for them, as well as GM and Ford: closing the "perception gap." First, here's the good news for the Big 3 on assembly plant efficiency. Read More Topics:Labor Unions | Marketing | Energy | Japan | CEOs and CFOs | Economy (U.S.) | Asia | Automobile IndustrySectors:Oil and Gas | Automobiles and PartsCompanies:Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Toyota Motor Corporation | General Motors Corp | Honda Motor Company, Ltd. | Ford Motor CompanyMEDIA:PHOTO | VIDEOPermalink
By: Behind The Wheel
J.D Power releases 2008 Initial Quality Study
2008-06-05 03:10:00 Any rationale to explain how Jeep came in dead last?
Chrysler cuts non-production contractor payments by 5 percent
2008-06-04 20:15:00 Chrysler cuts non-production contractor payments by 5 percent It was revealed today that Chrysler cut its contractor fees by 5 percent for services not related to car production, effective June 1st. The reduction will last for at least one year. About 80 contracts will be affected, for services involving office workers, custodial and information technology services. In a statement, the automaker said the move is "part of Chrysler's ongoing efforts to reduce its cost footprint in a highly competitive marketplace." Chrysler will allow each supplier to decide how they will achieve the savings, according to company spokesperson Kevin Frazier in an Automotive News report. The numbers of affected workers was not revealed. The move allows Chrysler to reduce costs without incurring the type of public outcry a pay cut to unionized assembly workers would generate. Put simply, reducing pay to contractors is a heck of a lot easier than slashing hourly pay to UAW workers.
Chrysler Jeep Renegade Concept looks like Halo 3 Chief Spartans Vehicle, do
2008-06-04 08:48:00 Chrysler has a fair few concept cars and this one is apparently the third release in the way of final sketches, below we have a few images for you to look at. Before I go into the car itself, does anyone think that the Jeep Renegade Concept looks like Chief Spartans car from Halo 3 ...
By: Product Reviews
Chrysler May sales down 25%
2008-06-03 23:57:00 Highlights from the press release: - $2.99 Gas Guarantee increases showroom traffic, runs until July 7 - Fleet sales reduced more than 40%; Retail sales move closer to industry trend - Fuel-efficient Jeep(R) Patriot sales accelerate to new monthly record - New Dodge brand lineup embraced by consumers - Chrysler Aspen sales continue to grow - ‘New Day’ Value Package models continue to resonate well with consumers Chrysler LLC Reports May 2008 Sales; Let’s Refuel America $2.99 Gas Guarantee Continues to Gain Retail Momentum - yahoo.com
UPDATE: Cerberus denies selling Chrysler, GMAC majority stake
2008-06-03 07:11:00 UPDATE: Cerberus denies selling Chrysler, GMAC majority stake Update: Cerberus has denied selling any of its stake in either Chrysler or GMAC. A spokesperson told Automotive News the report by the Financial Times newspaper is not accurate. "Cerberus hasn't sold a nickel," the spokesman said. Original Story [Inaccurate]: Cerberus, the investment firm that famously bought Chrysler from Daimler last year, has sold "significantly" more than half of its stake in the automaker today. Cerberus might remain the largest shareholder, but it will no longer be the majority owner. Cerberus also shed most of its stake in the former GM financial arm, GMAC. Cerberus invested some $7.9 billion to buy 51 percent of GMAC in 2006. The company paid nearly the same amount, $7.4 billion, for an 80.1 stake in Chrysler. The deals have turned into flops due to the credit crunch and high oil prices, according to the Financial Times. According to the Times report, nearly 90 invest...
Basketcase Rescue: Chrysler Cordoba Racecar!
2008-06-03 00:00:00 By Jen Dunnaway Editor Dwaine got a junk '76 Cordoba for free, then let it sit for a period of several years. But when the time came to transform this promising project, he worked fast, gutting the interior and fixing...
By: CarDomain Blog
Media mix-up over Chrysler equity stake?
2008-06-02 23:57:00 From the article: The Financial Times had reported that the private-equity firm sold more than half the equity it holds in both companies. The newspaper, quoting unidentified people familiar with the situation, said that Cerberus tried to reduce its risk by selling stakes to investors including major banks and hedge funds. Cerberus led investment groups that bought a 51 percent stake of GMAC from General Motors Corp. for $7.4 billion in 2006, and an 80.1 percent stake in Chrysler from the company now known as Daimler AG last year. Peter Duda, a spokesman for Cerberus, said both deals included co-investors all along, and that the private-equity firm has not reduced its equity positions since the transactions were completed. “Cerberus has not reduced or made any changes to its equity stakes in GMAC or Chrysler since the closing of either transaction,” he said. “Cerberus continues to have voting control over both investments. Our commitment to these companies has not ...
Chrysler to Mercedes sells a design centre
2008-06-01 14:49:00 After having "divorced" from Daimler, and with a view to reducing costs, Chrysler, spent under the thumb of Cerberus Capital Management, has closed a few months ago the doors of his centre-style (in the text "Chrysler Advance Pacifica Design Center ") originally opened in 1983. Cocasserie commercial Mercedes shortly buy the building.Mercedes-Benz should soon give a second life "Advance Chrysler Pacifica Design Center" (change of identity to predict) after both groups have confirmed the purchase of up to 7.3 million. The complex, whose area reached 3 250 square metres, should therefore officer as the new centre number one group on American soil. What would then become the current design centre owned by Mercedes, the area almost twice lower, employing some twenty employees? The future will tell.From "Advance Chrysler Pacifica Design Center" came out number of concepts, prototypes or other vehicles produced in series. Among the most famous include the Plymouth Prowler (see photograph o...
Gas Promotion from Chrysler - The Good and Bad
2008-06-01 10:15:00 Chrysler, the world renowned American car manufacturer, has just launched its 2.99 gas promotion program. With this move, the company has started some very intense fighting between the supporters and the opponents of this idea. The prices for oil have risen significantly over the past few years, putting much pressure on the economy and the ...
By: MotorCarInfo.com
New Ram powertrains in 2010 and 2011; no SRT in the plans
2008-05-31 17:46:00 From the article: “Diesel and hybrid versions of the new Dodge Ram will be available a year after the launch of the all-new full-size pickup, confirms Mike Accavitti, director of Dodge brand and SRT marketing. A Cummins diesel comes first in the light-duty truck, followed shortly afterwards by a Ram with the two-mode hybrid system from the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen. The Ram gets the new powertrains in 2010 for the 2011 model year. The new Ram does lend itself to a performance version, but the time is not right, Accavitti says. The old Ram SRT10 in the past was iconic and well-loved by its small, enthusiast demographic. But higher gasoline prices today make it a cruel environment for performance pickups which have a small market at the best of times, Accavitti says, even though SRT buyers love their vehicles and usually won?t let fuel costs stand in the way of enjoying their chosen ride. ?Under the right circumstances I could see it,? Accavitti says, ?I?m just not sure ...
2008 Dodge Journey gets dual clutch
2008-05-29 15:09:00 Chrysler Group Australia will join Volkswagen and Audi in offering a dual-clutch transmission later this year when it launches the all-new Dodge Journey in Australia. The Journey is a vehicle CGA says takes the practicality of a people-mover, the capability of a sport-utility vehicle (SUV) and the overall efficiency of a passenger car and blends all ...
Low Impact Living: Oh Please ? Chrysler Offering $2.99 Gas for 3 Years
2008-05-28 20:22:00 Editor’s note: There’s no doubt: Americans are feeling the pinch at the gas pump (even if we’re still paying less than residents of most other developed nations). Our friends at Low...
By: Green Options
Chrysler Valiant III 1965
2008-05-28 20:20:00 Modelo 1965, hecho de chapa y pintura, motor rectificado a nuevo, tren delantero, frenos, electricidad, tapizados, falta muy poco para terminarlo, titular patente alfanumerica. Va con otro Valiant III.Más Info...
Chrysler?s Nardelli: Chrysler open to more Nissan-like partnerships
2008-05-28 20:16:00 Chrysler's Nardelli: Chrysler open to more Nissan-like partnerships Chrysler has already inked a deal Nissan that will see the Detroit-based automaker selling a Chrysler-badged Nissan-made small car in the U.S., and it looks as though Chrysler could be signing more of those kinds of deals in the coming years. Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli says that he is open to buying more models from other automakers, as long as it makes fiscal sense for Chrysler. "We will not suffer from the not-invented-here syndrome," Nardelli told the Detroit Free Press. "If we can have similar arrangements … and it makes financial sense and supports our dealer network relative to what customers are telling them they want, we're going to go do it." Nardelli also said that Chrysler has sped up its small car development in the face of $4 a gallon gasoline and is gambling on hybrids and electric vehicles to be the technology of the future. "Hybrid, electric — if you...
Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge Aren?t Saving You Any Money On Their New $2.99 In
2008-05-28 10:01:00 I’m sure you’ve all seen the commercials from Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge that give you a gas credit card that guarantees that you will pay no more than $2.99 for a gallon of gas for three years. These guys are SELLING something, and in so doing, they’re NOT doing you any favors… These guys know the ...
2002 Chrysler Voyager rear view mirror adjustment
2008-05-28 07:36:00 I have to thank you Davis1995 for your solution to the rear view problem of my Chrysler/Voyager. I thought it could be manual but then couldn't swallow that there is a 2002 Minivan where you've to stick your hand out and adjust mirrors manually! If...
By: Fixya.com
Next Chrysler 300 to keep same exterior look but receive significant interi
2008-05-27 12:42:00 Next Chrysler 300 to keep same exterior look but receive significant interior improvements The Chrysler 300 has been one of the biggest sales successes in the automaker's recent history, but that popularity is making the car's redesign all that much more difficult. Chrysler engineers and designers are finding it hard to walk the thin line between leaving well enough alone and giving the car a fresh new look. Although the large sedan has virtually nothing in common with Porsche's 911, Chrysler designers are taking a page out of the German automaker's book. By and large the 911's redesigns have been evolutionary rather than revolutionary, and Chrysler will be building on that philosophy for the next-generation 300 — look for it to sport a boxy shape with a blunt front fascia. After all, why change a good thing? While the car's exterior will remain similar to the current model's, the 300's interior will see a ?huge leap? forward, accordin...
Portfolio.com gets the inside scoop?
2008-05-26 08:17:00 From the article: “At privately owned Chrysler, Nardelli no longer has to concern himself with annual meetings or public shareholders, and he can make hard decisions quickly. ?As the first major automaker to be privately operated in more than 50 years, we have an ideal structure for the work we have to do,? he says via email while traveling in Asia. Before Cerberus bought 80.1 percent of Chrysler last summer, Chrysler had spent a disastrous decade as a division of Germany?s Daimler, which retains the other 19.9 percent. But Nardelli has moved fast?scaling back production, eliminating 10,000 jobs (on top of 13,000 layoffs before he showed up), and killing such slow-selling models as the Dodge Magnum and the Chrysler Crossfire, Pacifica, and PT Cruiser convertible. ?We took 100,000 units out of our fourth-quarter production, and we did it in a seven-minute phone call,? says Jim Press, vice chairman and president. “ Of course, Nardelli?s take-no-prisoners attitude will inva...
Next Gen Chrysler 300: Interior will make a huge leap
2008-05-24 01:02:00 From the article: “He invokes Porsche AG when describing how Chrysler is approaching the 300 redesign. ?They change a little bit about the car, but it?s still modern,? Gasevski says of the brand?s iconic sports cars. Not wanting to mess too much with success means the new 300 will have an ?evolutionary? exterior, he says. However, the interior will make a ?huge leap.? With 300 sales off over 20% in 2008, Chrysler needs to revive the flagship sedan consumer interest. If gas prices are blame, why are Charger sales off only 2% in 2008? Putting Fresh Spin on Iconic Chrysler 300 Presents Challenge - wards.com
2008 Chrysler Town Country and Dodge Grand Caravan get IIHS Top Safety Rati
2008-05-23 16:54:00 Taken from 2008 Chrysler Town Country and Dodge Grand Caravan get IIHS Top Safety Rating on ZerCustoms Chrysler announced that the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan got the IIHS Top Safety Rating of i>good i> in both frontal offset and side crash tests. The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and 2008 Chrysler Town and Country managed to receive the IIHS top Rat... Complete text here: 2008 Chrysler Town Country and Dodge Grand Caravan get IIHS Top Safety Rating Photo gallery here: 2008 Chrysler Town Country and Dodge Grand Caravan get IIHS Top Safety Rating Photos More Chrysler news on ZerCustoms
By: ZerCustoms
Why Chrysler?s New $2.99/gallon of Gas Promo Is Merely So-So
2008-05-22 15:11:00 By now everyone?s heard of Chrysler?s new incentive in which they offer to lock in a gallon of gas at $2.99 for up to three years on a new Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep vehicle, up to 12,000 miles a year of course. Sweet deal, aye? So that leaves just one question; what?s the catch? And ...
By: AutomoBlog.net
2.99 Gas Promotion from Chrysler - Good and Bad
2008-05-20 13:40:00 Chrysler, the world known American car manufacturer, has just launched its 2.99 gas promotion program in the United States. With this move, the company has started some very intense fighting between the supporters and the opponents of this idea. The prices for oil have risen significantly over the past few years, putting much pressure on ...
By: MotorCarInfo.com
Chrysler to reduce parts spending by 25 percent over the next three years
2008-05-20 03:28:00 Chrysler to reduce parts spending by 25 percent over the next three years Chrysler has announced a draught to reduce its parts spending by 25 percent over the next three years, a new report finds. (Read the full post about ‘Chrysler to reduce parts spending by 25 percent over the next three years’…)
Gas-Price Guarantee is working
2008-05-18 18:04:00 From the article: “Chrysler, its dealers and Edmunds.com are all reporting big spikes in Internet traffic and showroom interest in the company’s Let’s Refuel America gas-price guarantee. Interested consumers are focusing on fuel-efficient models such as Jeep Compass and Dodge Caliber, but more also are giving a gander to some relative gas hogs such as the Chrysler 300. More than a week after Chrysler announced its program to price-protect consumers against gasoline over $2.99 a gallon with purchase of many of its models, no other major OEM has imitated Chrysler. But Chrysler executives told Inside Line that they don’t mind going it alone ? because many of their customers are going with them.” Consumers Sniff Around Chrysler’s Gas-Price Guarantee - edmunds.com
Chrysler Cordoba: past, present, and future
2008-05-18 12:56:00 Surfing some old car commercials, I came up with the classic Cordoba commercial from the past, starring - of course - Ricardo Montalban: And what of the present? Where have all the Cordobas gone? Being a car nut, I routinely scan the road in my travels... and I spotted one just last month. It appeared to be in perfect shape, as though it had been restored. Apparently there are still a few around, including this one owned by the neighbor from Hell - a redneck who takes the value of the entire neighborhood down the drain (fortunately, it's not my neighbor): But what of the future? What will become of the famous Cordoba name? Will genetically-enhanced beings across the galaxy enjoy the pleasures of fine Corinthian Leather? The 1975-1979 Cordobas were the most well-known years of the brand. They were built in the hundreds of thousands and were a great success for Chrysler. The quality at the time was probably a bi...
Daimler CEO says lesson was learned in Chrysler ownership
2008-05-17 00:01:00 Daimler CEO says lesson was learned in Chrysler ownership There is no shortage of critics ready and willing to share their opinion why the DaimlerChrysler union was doomed to fail, but the 1998 merger did bring some interesting products Stateside, including the Sprinter Cargo Van and diesel-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee. Friday reports have the famous Dr. Z from the automaker's TV ads, or Dieter Zetsche, Daimler CEO more formally, admitting the partnership "couldn't achieve global integration." The CEO spoke at the St. Gallen Symposium in Switzerland today, which was held under the "Global Capitalism, Local Values" theme, according to Automotive News. Zetsche said that while the merger made theoretical sense, the reality was much different. "[Global integration] was at odds with the image of our brands, the preferences of our customers, and many other success factors — all of which were far more diverse and fragmented," he said. Zetsche ...
CHRYSLER BUILDING
2008-05-16 17:13:00 HACIA EL CIELO.En el otoño de 1928 unos obreros comienzan a perforar el duro suelo rocoso de la isla de Manhattan, justo en el cruce de la calle 42 y la avenida Lexington, en la ciudad de Nueva York. Se trata de abrir la fosa necesaria para la cimentacíón de un edificio. El arquitecto a cargo del proyecto se llama William Van Allen, quien ha recibido el encargo de Walter Percy Chrysler, propietario de la empresa de automóviles del mismo nombre. Cuando las obras comienzan la ciudad está en plena vorágine constructiva. Estamos al final de los felices años veinte y hay una verdadera competencia entre las empresas neoyorquinas por ver cuál es la que posee el rascacielos más alto del planeta. Y Chrysler quiere ser el ganador de esta especial carrera hacia el prestigio y la fama.La edificación progresa a un ritmo inusitado y con unas medidas de seguridad prácticamente inconcebibles para la época, de manera que ningún obrero murió durante la obra. Año y medio después, en mayo de 1930 la ta...
Chrysler funds new compact by killing Chrysler-based Journey
2008-05-15 05:31:00 From the article: “Chrysler LLC, the automaker owned by private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP, canceled plans for a new sport-utility vehicle and is instead investing in a compact car. The company won’t build a Chrysler brand version of the Dodge Journey SUV in 2009 and will use the savings to help pay for designing a compact car to be manufactured by Nissan Motor Co., Co-President James Press said in an interview today. The move reflects a push toward more fuel-efficient vehicles and Chrysler’s goal of eliminating overlap between its brands. Abandoning the SUV will also leave Auburn Hills, Michigan-based Chrysler with fewer new or revamped products to introduce in 2009, putting the automaker at risk for further declines in market share, analysts said. “Resources have been deployed to basically support our entry'’ into the small-car segment rather than building two versions of the Journey, Press said. “It’s a segment we are ...
Chrysler to make gas more affordable?
2008-05-14 18:42:00 There's a catch, of course, you've got to buy a new Chrysler car (Jeep, Chrysler or Dodge). Chrysler is offering a new program which would cap the gas price at $2.99, by using a special credit card at the pump, for drivers who purchase or lease a new Jeep between May 7 through June 2. The spe
Daimler Net Falls 32% on Chrysler, Lower Truck Sales
2008-05-13 10:01:00 Daimler AG, the world’s second- largest maker of luxury vehicles, said first-quarter profit dropped 32 percent, more than estimated, after a stake in former U.S. unit Chrysler dragged down earnings and truck sales fell. Net income declined to 1.33 billion euros ($2.07 billion), or 1.29 euros per share, from 1.97 billion euros, or 1.89 euros, a ...
Chrysler explains details of the $2.99 gas price guarantee
2008-05-10 21:17:00 Following Chrysler's new "Let's Refuel America Gas Card" announcement, the critics spoke out quickly. While a guaranteed gas price of $2.99 a gallon for three years will certainly appeal to some people, other incentives might offer buyers better savings. To deal with the media fallout and to clarify a few questions about the card, Chrysler's media-only blog, The Firehouse, has tackled the topic with a post discussing the deal and the media coverage. Stuart Schorr, the senior manager of sales for Mopar and Dealer Communications, wrote that there have been hundreds, possibly thousands, of stories about the incentive around the country (three of these videos are available after the jump). A TV station in Wisconsin calculated possible gas card savings to the customer of $8,760. Of course, they used gas prices of $6.65 a gallon to get that number. Also, Chrysler will be sending out official "Let's Refuel America" banners to dealerships in the coming days. Schorr also provided a list ...
A 1957 Chrysler Diablo at RM Auctions Sports & Classics of Monterey
2008-05-08 00:00:00 A one-of-a-kind 1957 Chrysler Diablo will debut at RM Auctions? annual ?Sports & Classics of Monterey? auction event in California, August 15th and 16th. Conceived by Chrysler?s design head, Virgil Exner, the Diablo is arguably one of the largest and most impressive concept cars ever built. The ultra-rare Diablo will be joined by several other European styles sports and racing cars and several classic American luxury automobiles at RM?s world-renowned Monterey event. BLENHEIM, Ontario (May 6, 2008) - A one-of-a-kind 1957 Chrysler Diablo concept car handcrafted by Ghia will steal the spotlight at Monterey?s famed classic car weekend this August as it crosses the RM auction block. Considered the most valuable concept car of the late 1950s, the revolutionary Diablo will be the star attraction of RM Auctions? multi-million dollar Sports & Classics of Monterey auction event, to be held August 15th and 16th in downtown Monterey, California. Conceived by Chrysler?s design head, ...
Chrysler must be happy to keep holding onto GEM
2008-05-07 14:59:00 GEM vehicles certainly aren't flashy. They don't go more than 25 mph, they look kind of goofy, and they're stuffed with old-fashioned lead acid batteries. In fact, GEM vehicles embody the "golf cart aesthetic" more than any other NEVs that regularly make an appearance on our little blog here. Still, there's something worth noting about Global Electric Motorcars: it's the Chrysler brand/subsidiary that has growing sales. Automotive News (subs req'd) has a good story that takes a look at how Chrysler is benefiting due to keeping the GEM subsidiary following the Daimler-Chrysler split last year. GEM has sold 37,000 Neighborhood Electric Vehicles since getting started in 1998 and, while the company doesn't announce sales figures, the company is profitable. With Chrysler trying to gin up sales through gas price gimmicks, it's good to see that these zero-emission niche vehicles are going strong. The potential for Chrysler to move GEM from the NEV category into a company that build...
Didn?t take long: Chrysler?s $2.99 gas guarantee draws critics
2008-05-07 04:45:00 If you're trying to conserve fuel, making said fuel cheaper doesn't help the cause. If you're trying to sell cars, making the stuff they run on cheaper might help. But one thing is for certain, not everyone is a fan of Chrysler's new "Let's Refuel America Gas Card." As we calculated this morning, the incentive will likely only save a driver a few hundred bucks a year. As ABG reader Dan pointed out in a comment on the original post, buyers need to give up any other incentives currently available in order to get the gas card, and some of those deals are much bigger than $1,200 (the gas plan is in effect for three years). Automotive News is reporting that the Union of Concerned Scientists has got their own phrase for the plan: a "cynical deal." Here's the kicker, the Union's statement continues:But a mere 3-mpg boost would yield the same savings over the 15,000 miles per year typically driven in the first three years of ownership. Over the lifetime of a vehicle, such a fuel econ... |
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