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The Jeep Compass (the Jeep MK platform for the ladies) and Patriot (the Jeep MK platform for the boys) will be getting revised interiors with softer lines for 2009, according to a first look at some Mopar dealer catalogs scanned by the Chrysler forum fan-boys at Allpar . Gone are most of the hard-edged "plastic box" features that made up the first-gen mini-Jeeps, replaced by a more fluid-looking motif still using the same basic layout. Compass pictured above; Patriot interior after the jump. We're going to assume that, since this came out of a Mopar accessory catalog, the photo depicts seat warmers. But with Chrysler's interior track record, we're not ready to declare anything for certain. Jalopnik Snap Judgment: Two things to think about: First, Chryserberus is obviously listening to consumer complaints about its interiors. Second, if Compass and Patriot are getting a refresh, ecxpect Caliber to get one as well (if it survives), possibly vaulting the three (or maybe...
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Following the suspension of leasing by Chrysler Financial, Chrysler LLC has announced a new strategy to lower vehicle purchase payments to about the same price point that consumers were accustomed to with leasing. In addition to a model year-end promotion called "Shop 'Til You Drive," Chrysler will be expanding the vehicles eligible for 72-month loans, expanding cash incentives, in some cases to as much as $2,000, and providing additional cash incentives to customers coming off-lease. Automotive News reports that some Ram trucks will be getting discounts of as much as 40% off sticker price in an effort to clear inventory, and that Chrysler dealers will be encouraged to "think in terms of the kinds of clearance sales that department stores have." Full release below the jump. Jalopnik Snap Judgment: As we expected, Chrysler is going to try to bring the monthly cost of purchasing down to the same level at which leasing used to be. The key word is "monthly."...
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In 1989, it was increasingly clear a new revolution was coming to the truck market, but what shape it would take was still a mystery. With the staggering success of large body-on-frame SUVs and light trucks just a gleam in the eyes of automakers, GMs design team continued down the path of car-based pickups with the Chevy XT-2 Concept Truck. Although we now know car-based pickups and SUVs lost the battle to large SUVs shortly thereafter, it appears the XT-2, an essentially ignored concept here in the United States, may end up winning the design war. galleryPost('89chevyxt2', 12, 'XT-2 To XTC'); The American SUVs on the market in 1989 were quite a bit different than the generation that would take over in just two years' time. We tend to focus on their crudeness and lack of creature comforts, but more importantly, nearly all "mid-size" SUVs before the 1990s period were two-door models. The exception was the Jeep Cherokee XJ , which was developed with extra doors...
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The new Dodge Challenger is hitting showrooms. The 2009 Dodge Ram launch is scheduled for fall. But it's the sounds of silence after that when it comes to product. What's going on? One influential industry study, the Merrill Lynch "Car Wars" report (yes, that's it's real name), states Chrysler's lack of new product may be a deliberate effort on the part of owners Cerberus Capital Management to thin the herd in advance of a breakup and subsequent sale. In an excerpt that again proves financial analysts are paid by character count , the report says, "Chrysler's product pipeline severely lags the industry on a number of key metrics, which is an ominous sign for its market share. We believe that this is an active decision by new owners to rationalize the product portfolio in advance of a breakup/sale." Cerberus, of course, is denying any such plans, stating that, "We have a model that is buy, fix and hold." Uh-huh. Didn't Gordon Gecko...
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Former chairman Lee Iacocca gave a closed pep rally to Chrysler employees yesterday in Auburn Hills, once again sharing the stage with a K-car , a minivan ...and rumors of Chrysler's imminent bankruptcy. While current CEO Bob Nardelli was praising Iacocca as "Chrysler's most dynamic leader" and "a great American," Chrysler spokesman David Elshoff was telling reporters that rumblings about a forthcoming bankruptcy filing by the automaker were "without merit." Presumably addressing the present state of the industry, Iacocca said, "We'll live through it. Don't panic. Things are going to be OK." To fix the current management problems, Iacocca suggested outfitting Nardelli with wire wheel covers and a vinyl landau roof, then sending him back into the boardroom and hoping everyone would think he was a totally new CEO. The bankruptcy rumors seem to have sprung from reports this week that Chrysler drew down on a line of credit from Daimler...
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Chrysler announced earlier in the year their intention to offer in-vehicle WiFi capability, and we'll be damned if they didn't actually go and do it. Beginning in August, customers will be able to get in-vehicle wireless Internet connectivity across nearly the entire Chrysler product line — even if it's not an Avis rental car . The technology will be bundled under the UConnect name, and is intended to compete with the Ford/Microsoft Sync system . Before you cancel your DSL, note that the router module will cost $449, plus another $50 for installation (which should really be free if you're offering to take a Sebring off their hands), and then add $29 per month for Web access. Add a coffeemaker and the office just got one step closer to irrelevance. Chrysler says the in-car WiFi will be available wherever cellular service is offered (pretty much anywhere you can take a car these days) and have a a range of about 100 feet. The system's range capability means you won't...
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Apparently answering today's QOTD with a "hell yes," our friends in Auburn Hills have tied the super-best automaker from the Land of the Rising Sun in at least one category: Most productive manufacturer, according to this year's Harbour Report. What does that mean? That Chrysler assembles a vehicle in 30.37 hours on average, exactly the same figure reported by Toyota. How'd they do it? Outsourcing! Chrysler's Toledo Supplier Park was named North America's most productive assembly plant, slapping Jeep Wranglers together using just 13.57 labor-hours. But who's actually doing the work? The Toledo Supplier Park uses Kuka Group (Augsburg, Germany) to manage the body shop, Magna Steyr (Graz, Austria) to manage the paint shop and Hyundai Mobis (Seoul, South Korea) for chassis assemblies. Somewhere, Lee Greenwood is weeping softly. [ Automotive News (sub. req.)]
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As with other auto media outlets, we've been closely following Chrysler's "Let's Refuel America" program, which is offering three years of $2.99 gas for anyone who buys a Dodge, Jeep or Chrysler vehicle (that isn't a Challenger, Viper, Wrangler, Sprinter Van or other popular vehicles). After a few back-of-the-napkin calculations we're starting to see this is a good deal for Chrysler and, at best, a mediocre rebate for consumers. For one thing, in lieu of other rebates, Chrysler doesn't necessarily have to put all of these expenses on their books right away when it records the sale, which could be a PR boon for the automaker while it tries to buy time for the "New Day" that's coming. But most importantly, the amount of money that a consumer can save is maybe less than most expected. Let's start with an extreme example by choosing the Chrysler Aspen SUV with the large 5.7-Liter V8, which isn't exactly a teetotaler when it comes to gas...
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There's a trend I'm beginning to notice around the massive halls of auto shows: scattered among the sheet metal, booth babes and PR flacks, there's a hell of a lot of video games -- both your standard issue Xbox-PlayStation3 setups as well as the more elaborate simulators. Taking a look at just a few of the many examples that appeared at the New York Auto Show this past week, I think this is more than just a way of giving journalists something to do between press conferences -- it's representative of a trend. Here's our carmaker-by-carmaker breakdown of what has to be construed as either a strategy of building "appeal with the youths" -- or an attempt by the car companies to distract everyone from their impending new "Second Malaise Era" with flashing lights and loud noises. galleryPost('nyiasgaming', 9, 'New York International Auto Show Gaming'); Lexus : Lexus brought a video game setup that made me do a double-take. It wasn't...
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newVideoPlayer("JeepNewDaySuperBowl_gawker.flv", 463, 387,""); So Chrysler's new ad campaign isn't the homicidal child take over narrative we'd originally envisioned. The new advertising campaign, which breaks into 55 markets "around the Super Bowl," is focused on showing customers it is a new day for the brand with new value. Mostly, the value focuses on 12 "new" packages offering electronic items like the MyGig entertainment system, DVD navigation and satellite radio at no extra charge. The ads with the demon child are about an animated kid that listens to customers in order to build a new car company... which is Dodge? If that really happened, we'd already have the Chocolate Boobs Jet-Powered Convertible. The "Blindfold" ad is above. The full press release below. Chrysler LLC Kicks Off New Day Celebration Campaign And Sets A New Tone For The Company Beginning On Feb. 3 • Chrysler LLC sets a new tone for the company in...
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Who knew Chrysler would drop so far in the mid-size market that new CEO Bob Nardelli would find it necessary to create a "skunk works" team comprising every piece of the vehicle development process in order to come up with the company's next-generation mid-size vehicles. Apparently the Sebring wasn't quite the bee's knees. Who knew? Nardelli, speaking at the Automotive News World Congress, would not say what the vehicle would be but Chrysler is already introducing the Dodge Journey, a mid-size vehicle, to world markets this year. Bob "The Builder" Nardelli also announced the new midsize team will be headed by Michael Donoughe, who has recently been vice president of body on frame and core team leader of product development. Here's to hoping Donoughe's next vehicle is more of a looker than the Journey. [ Automotive News ] Photo Credit: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images News
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This be it, folks. Months ago Chrysler's former PR honcho, Jason Vines, talked about the future and blah blah, and two months later we have finally gotten a chance to see the Chrysler ecoVoyager , Dodge Zeo and Jeep Renegade concepts. We gave you all of the details earlier today and showed off Chrysler's oh-so-glorious press pictures, but our photo handiman got to see these things in person and here they be. My impressions? Uglier in person -- all of them. galleryPost('jeeprenegadeexteriordas', 3, 'Jeep Renegade Exterior Live Shots'); galleryPost('jeeprenegadeinteriordas', 3, 'Jeep Renegade Interior Live Shots'); galleryPost('dodgezeoexteriordas', 3, 'Dodge Zeo Exterior Live Shots'); galleryPost('dodgezeointeriordas', 3, 'Dodge Zeo Interior Live Shots'); galleryPost('chryslerecovoyagerexteriordas', 3, 'Chrysler ecoVoyager Exterior Live Shots'); galleryPost('chryslerecovoyagerinteriordas', 3,...
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Unlike GM and Ford, Chrysler saw an increase of 1% in sales for December 2007 compared the previous December. That's what they'd like you to focus on, please. They'd rather you ignore the fact that for 2007 total sales were 2.08 million vehicles, a decrease of 3% from 2006. The Chrysler brand saw a year-over-year decrease of 10% due to decreasing sales from the 300, PT Cruiser and Pacifica, as well as a decrease in Town & Country sales as customers waited for the new model. Jeep saw an increase in sales of 3% in 2007, led by the new Jeep Compass and the Wrangler. Dodge stayed near steady, losing just 2%. The introduction of the new Town & Country/Caravan helped the company's performance in December and should continue to do so into the next year. Full press release below the jump: Total Chrysler LLC December 2007 Sales Up 1 Percent on the Strength of Retail; Demand for Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan Continues to Grow Built on the strength of...
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Overall, Chrysler moved 161,088 new vehicles in November, down approximately 2.0% compared to 2006. Home prices, fuel prices, squirrel attacks, blah blah blah. The good news is that Chrysler brand car sales are up 9%, Sebring Convertible sales are up 946% (mayhaps a bit misleading) and Dodge sales up 6%. The bad news is that overall Chrysler Brand vehicles are down 13% thanks to a decrease in sales of the PT Cruiser (-50%), Aspen (-36%) and Pacifica (-35%). Jeep lost 2% due to decreases at both ends with the Commander sliding 28% and Compass sliding 45%. More fun with numbers in the press release below the jump: Chrysler LLC Announces Overall November 2007 U.S. Sales Down 2 Percent as Consumer Spending Remains Flat * Chrysler brand car sales rise 9 percent over November 2006; led by Sebring Convertible * Chrysler Town & Country up 10 percent on the success of the new model * Jeep® brand sales down 2 percent year-over-year * Dodge brand sales up 6 percent from the same period last year...
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We've been seeing the properly named and for Europe only (for now) Jeep Cherokee running around metro Detroit for a couple of months in various stages of undress. Yesterday the stars aligned and we chased this totally naked Bosch test mule up I75 to a Meijer parking lot, where, after a few glamour shots, our phone battery crapped out. Weak. In any case Jeep fans, prepare for the gnashing of teeth and the rending of flesh, because this was a six speed, turbodiesel rocking the D's highways and byways. That's just rubbing salt in the wound. Far be it for us lowly bloggers to question the wisdom of the newly reminted Chrysler, but it seems that the off roading community would plotz for an oil burning Cherokee with a six speed manual cog swapper, but what do we know. Check that gallery for some exciting chase shots. galleryPost('meijercherokeespy', 6, 'Spy Photos - Jeep Cherokee Diesel');
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