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Filed under: Chrysler, LLC. , Dodge , Misc. Auto Shows Click above for high-res gallery of Chrysler's booth on Woodward Ave. The Chrysler booth at the Woodward Dream Cruise is all about two things: muscle cars and Mopar. The Pentastar filled up the massive mall parking lot at 13 mile and Woodward with dozens of classic rides from the '60s, '70s, and today. Among the best examples of Motown Metal were old-school Chrysler 300s, a brilliant orange Dodge Charger equipped with the Super Bird wing, and quite a few vintage Challengers . For some reason the Nassau concept from the 2007 Detroit Auto Show keeps creeping up at all Chrysler events, and it made it's way to Woodward, too. Chrysler also had plenty of chances for Mopar fans to kick back and have some fun, including a massive slot car track , a rock climbing wall and Rock Band . Click on the gallery below to check out the pics in full resolution glory. Gallery: Woodward 2008 Chrysler Booth at 13 Mile Permalink | Email this...
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Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs , Chrysler, LLC. , Earnings/Financials , Rumormill Despite the fact that Chrysler shares are no longer sold on the stock market, rumors regarding the company's financial standing continue to haunt the number three domestic auto manufacturer in America. Last week, rumors regarding the negative cash flow were so rampant, a company spokesperson went out of his way to deny that the automaker was headed towards bankruptcy . Now, despite constant assurance from Chrysler that it's hitting all of its internal goals, the lack of announced future product and credit warnings from major firms such as Merrill Lynch and Fitch Ratings are causing some industry insiders to predict major changes from the automaker. Some analysts even believe that Cerberus is looking to offload or break up the company, allegations that Chrysler vehemently denies. Because the automaker is privately held, the world will just need to sit back and wait to see how Cerberus' so...
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Filed under: Podcasts , Hybrids/Alternative , Minivans/MPVs , Trucks/Pickups , Wagons/Estates , Crossovers/CUVs , Cadillac , Chrysler , Ford , GM , Mercury , Saab For three weeks in a row, now, we've brought you a new Autoblog Podcast courtesy of the B-Team. Here's episode #96 of the Autoblog Podcast, where Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid, and Dan Roth kibbitz over some morsels of recent news. There's the requisite trip to the Autoblog Garage to start things off, then we move into actual discussion points like the CTS Wagon, a gasp of life on the Ford Ranger front, the massive confusion around Cerberus and Chrysler, and Hyundai's nose-thumbing at Toyota's hybrid technology. Remember to send in questions, comments, and suggestions for ways to mark the passing of upcoming episode #100 to podcast at autoblog dawt com. See you next week! SUBSCRIBE to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes ADD the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator DOWNLOAD the show now Permalink | Email this...
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons , Etc. , Chrysler When the Chrysler 300 dropped on an unsuspecting public in 2004, it was all crisp edges and upright stance, with a bulldog face to help drive home the message of urgent thrust delivered by a reborn Hemi V8. Chrysler's got a refreshing in the pipeline for the 300, and that's giving designers fits. It's akin to sophomore album syndrome - when the original is a huge hit, how, exactly, do you follow it up? Chrysler designers are invoking the Porsche philosophy used to update its 911 through the generations as a roadmap for the 300's body changes, so don't expect anything too dramatic on the outside. Inside, however, will be where the real action occurs. While not the worst interior Chrysler puts out, it's certainly got room for improvement. Cerberus chairman Steven Feinburg is reportedly passionate about improving the quality of Chrysler's offerings, and the lower quality materials we have today are being jettisoned in...
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Filed under: Car Buying , Etc. , Chrysler , Dodge , Jeep If you have a Dodge Ram in the driveway and someone claiming to be Jim Press calls you asking if you're satisfied with your truck, it just might be him. Chrysler recognizes that it has a customer service problem, and the Pentastar is going to extraordinary lengths to correct it. Its top 300 executives and directors are participating in a program called "Customer First" that puts a priority on -- you guessed it -- the customer. The executives, even guys named Nardelli, Press, and LaSorda, are responsible for at least one customer call per day, and all execs will man at least one shift at Chrysler's customer call center. The Pentastar elite are also partaking in a three month competition to see who can generate the most sales. We don't know what the prize is for the winner, but whomever claims top sales should get something really, really good. Like a lifetime supply of Chrysler Sebrings. [Source: Detroit Free...
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Filed under: Car Buying , Marketing/Advertising , Chrysler Car sales in the U.S. flat-out suck right now, and both domestic and Japanese automakers are feeling the pinch. Chrysler posted a 13.2% decline in its Daily Sales Rate last month while offering 0% financing, so the Auburn Hills-based automaker has little choice but to continue offering free loans in an effort to stop the bleeding. Current deals include five years at 0% for 2008 models and six years for leftover 2007 models. Chrysler is also dealing with folks with less than perfect credit, which is a risky move with credit restrictions so tight right now. Beyond money for nothing, Chrysler is also looking into further production cuts to keep dealer inventory in check. It's also cutting labor costs by offering buyouts to workers to shed its army of industrial storm troopers by up to 10,000. Times are tough right now in the auto industry, but if you're in the market to buy a new car, 0% appears to be making a comeback [Source...
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Filed under: Etc. , Chrysler , Dodge The recent decision by Chrysler to give employees a mandatory, unpaid two week vacation has workers peeved, and it's tough to blame them. Many long-time workers have already planned and paid for vacations that land outside of July 7-21, so those employees will have to cancel their plans or risk going unpaid for two weeks. It's very public news that Chrysler isn't exactly rolling in fortunes, and employees know that sacrifices being made, but as the Freep points out, Chrysler management really botched this one. The problem lies with the absence of communication regarding vacation time until less than four months before the scheduled time off, when many plans are already set, and some vacation is already taken. Then there's the fact that some of the product development is being shuttered for two whole weeks when Chrysler is already behind the competition and can't afford to take half a month off. Cerberus may be new to the auto industry...
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Filed under: Chrysler , Dodge , Jeep , UAW/Unions A key part of Chrysler LLC's agreement last year with the UAW gave the automaker the ability to hire new employees at a fraction of wages and health care of current workers. Since the deal was signed, Chrysler has been trying to show high-cost workers the door. The privately-owned automaker had a goal of 10,000 overall buyouts to cut labor costs, but it doesn't look like the Pentastar is going to get its wish. UAW Vice President General Holiefield told the Detroit Free Press that he didn't think Chrysler would hit its goal. Holiefield cited a shaky economy as the main reason workers haven't been pulling the trigger on deals that can range from $70,000 to $100,000 just for not working. The issue is once workers leave, there are few jobs available to provide new income. Although the deadline has passed for workers to accept packages, Chrysler isn't divulging the number of workers who have grabbed the deal. Chrysler is working...
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Filed under: Etc. , Chrysler Cerberus Capital Management shot off a nine-page letter to investors outlining ways that Chrysler could sink, while also pointing out that they believe Chrysler's on the track for success. Some of the possible failure scenarios include a nasty recession, an extreme slowdown in the car market, or a further credit downturn. Credit is already looking green around the gills, and the potential for a widespread domino effect that starts with an implosion of the teetering mortgage business would be catastrophic for Chrysler Financial and GMAC, of which Cerberus owns 51 percent. As easy mortgages and equity go, so goes willy-nilly new car purchasing, and we're probably already seeing the results of that adjustment. Cerberus believes that it can weather a mild credit downturn, and even a mild recession, just fine. One way to attain success is to declare it, and changing the definition doesn't hurt, either. Cerberus optimistically declares that there's...
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Filed under: Supercars , Chrysler , Dodge click above to view more high-res shots of the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 According to Jalopnik , yes. We reported yesterday that as a part of Project Genesis , Chrysler was planning to cut more models in addition to the PT Cruiser Convertible, Pacifica, Crossfire and Magnum . Jalopnik is reporting that, according to several of its sources, the decision has already been made that the Dodge Viper SRT10 will be cancelled, as well. The decision was reportedly made after Cerberus took control of Chrysler and was not part of the automaker's future product plans prior to its split with Daimler. While the current 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 just received an update for 2008 that includes a new version of its iconic V10 engine capable of producing 600 horsepower and a track-ready ACR model , it was only ever meant to be on the market for another two years until the fully redesigned next-gen Viper bowed. Since that's reportedly not going to happen, the Viper...
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Filed under: Etc. , Chrysler , DaimlerChrysler , Dodge , Ford Chrysler and Ford have been at the top of the headlines all year long for various reasons, with Ford continuing to slim down by selling off its PAG brands, while Chrysler got dumped by Daimler and went private at the hands of Cerberus Capital Management. 2008 looks to be an equally interesting year in the auto industry, and a recent article in Fortune by senior editor Alex Taylor III suggests that a merger between Chrysler and Ford could be in the cards for the coming year. Talk about your haymakers. Much of the speculation regarding Chrysler surrounds how Cerberus intends to get itself out from under the prolific paperweight that is the Pentastar. Financial types still feel Cerberus is out to make a quick buck, and that long-term ownership is highly unlikely. We're no big business experts, but it looks to us as though the three headed dog has a very limited list of potential buyers out there, so throwing a blind-folded dart...
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Filed under: Green , Chrysler , Earnings/Financials Detroit's sharp intake of breath over the very real possibility of increased federal fuel economy standards apparently doesn't include Chrysler's voice. CEO Robert Nardelli has told The Car Connection that rather than waste lots of time and energy opposing the likely increase to a 35 mpg fleet average, Chrysler will put its head down and get it done. Attaining the goal will not be without pain, however. Cuts will be made, and the books are still in the red. There is hope, though, if Chrysler and parent Cerberus Capital can stick it out. A new contract with the UAW eases some of the automaker's financial burden, allowing that money to be plowed into development of more fuel efficient vehicles. There's a new two-mode hybrid system, co-developed with Daimler, GM, and BMW, which should help lift the fleet average without Chrysler abandoning their bread and butter moneymakers. With a lineup heavy in less-frugal vehicles...
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Filed under: Chrysler , DaimlerChrysler , Dodge , Jeep , UAW/Unions A UAW leadership-approved contract between GM and the UAW is only a couple days from a rank and file vote deadline, so the UAW has begun negotiations with its next target, Chrysler LLC. The Cerberus-owned automaker is looking for a similar deal to what GM received, plus the same wage/benefit breaks GM and Ford received the past couple years. Chrysler feels it was slighted then when the UAW denied DCX its wish to even the playing field with Ford and GM when those companies got a benefit break, so that may be a big hurdle. Since Chrysler LLC doesn't have to deal with stockholders or a board, the Auburn Hills-based company can play its cards closer to the vest than others. Analysts are eager to learn if the new, privately-owned Chrysler will follow suit in talks, or try to go in a different direction. Since GM has laid the framework for Chrysler and Ford labor contracts, we're hoping Chrysler and the UAW can come to a quick...
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Filed under: Green , Tech , Chrysler , Dodge , Jeep Cerberus has opened up the corporate wallet, and Chrysler is spending the cash to infuse their lineup with alternative powertrains. New Chrysler product boss Jim Press told the Detroit News that diesels...
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Filed under: Convertibles , Coupes , Chrysler , Dodge Chrysler has been through a lot in the past 18 months, including an ad campaign that touted the company's German engineering prowess, three CEOs, and two ownership groups. Now that the company is private...
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