The Day After: Automotive News Has Complete Coverage Of The New Chrysler

[Perian]

Official Chrysler "Plan" website: http://www.chryslergroupllc.com/business/

Link to Automotive News articles: http://www.autonews.com/section/chryslerplan

Article listing:

• Chrysler chairman says ‘compelling' brand, products are top priorities

• Chrysler will be American on outside, lots of 'Fiat' on inside

• Fiat dual-clutch transmissions coming to N.A., Chrysler powertrain boss says

• Jeep will rely on Fiat platforms starting in 2013

• Chrysler will break even in 2010, then make big profits, CFO says

• Marchionne, in his own words

• Chrysler collapse signals need for product

• Chrysler's cash on hand has grown, Marchionne says

• Chrysler gives Marchionne chance to prove skeptics wrong

• Chrysler vows better quality at launch, adds 200 to staff

• Chrysler will align engineering with Fiat

• Ram brand may expand into heavy trucks

• Jeep will rely on Fiat platforms starting in 2013

• Fiat, Chrysler will share more than two-thirds of suppliers, purchasing boss says

• Chrysler using Fiat manufacturing system, Garberding says

• Dodge planning seven-passenger crossover, says brand boss Gilles

• All dealerships will have 3 brands by 2011, Chrysler VP says

• Chrysler’s sales outside N.A. will almost quadruple by 2014, Manley says

• Customers can call Chrysler for service answers

• Chrysler puts motorsports program under review

• New Chrysler logo gets patent approval

• Chrysler chairman says ‘compelling' brand, products are top priorities

• Chrysler sees Fiat aiding gains in Canada, Mexico

• AutoNation's Jackson says Chrysler products key

Read any above article: http://www.autonews.com/section/chryslerplan

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Here's just one of the above articles:

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Dodge planning seven-passenger crossover, says brand boss Gilles

Rick Kranz - Automotive News - November 4, 2009

For the fourth quarter of 2010, the Dodge car brand is planning a seven-passenger crossover.

Dodge also plans updates next year for the Avenger sedan, Journey crossover, Caravan minivan and Charger muscle car.

The changes will start a larger shift of Dodge into a lifestyle brand for all consumers, not mainly to men interested in high performance.

In 2012-2013, Dodge plans:

• A new vehicle for North America in the C segment, which encompasses cars such as the Ford Focus.

• A hatchback smaller than the C vehicle.

• A new sedan to replace the Avenger.

In addition, production of the Dodge Viper will end next summer, and an unnamed sports car will be added in 2012.

Later this year, Dodge will give the Caliber compact a new interior along with a market repositioning. The 2010 Caliber will be the first vehicle to reflect the new marketing strategy for Dodge.

“Cars will be created with personality and presence,” said Ralph Gilles, CEO of the Dodge brand.

The car brand will be repositioned by year end, he said. The overhaul of branding and marketing will be finished in the second quarter of 2010.

“Eleven Dodge vehicles will be redesigned or significantly refreshed by 2014,” he said. "America has changed. Fun is ageless, and that will be reflected in the products."

The Ram pickup will move to a new brand devoted to work and commercial vehicles.

"Dodge was overshadowed by the Ram brand," Gilles said. The Ram truck brand continues with the Ram logo. Dodge cars will have a rectangular logo, with silver letters and a black background. The Ram image will rugged, Gilles said. The Dodge image will be youthful and refined.

[Perian]

Looks like there may indeed be a return to "The Big 3" sometime in the distant future.

The speed of some of the above changes is simply amazing. Can it be done?

[LesabreLtd]

So much for all those who had already sent Chrysler to the trash heap! FIAT is treating Chrysler a hell of a lot better than Daimler did. Looks like there will be a bright future for Chrysler.

[BigThreeForever]

I was dreading the worst, but I feel much, much more optimistic about Chrysler now.

It seems Fiat plans to invest heavily, and has a clear vision of what each brand should be about (although I still harbour doubts about the wisdom of the separate Ram truck brand).

Best of all, at last there is a clear, structured and highly aggressive product plan.

[AdmiralViscen]

I called that bit about the Dodge Cars logo.


Chrysler creates Ram brand; Gilles steers Dodge; Fong leaves in shakeup

Bravada shut me down lol.

[PAULSTS1]

The news is positive and better than that, very clear: There will be a rebirth of Chrysler and a better Chrysler than ever! With the addition of FIAT, and its European connection and influence BOTH brands stand to gain tremendously from this marriage.

Let's raise our glasses!

[Evo69]

I want Chrysler to get back on its feet again and contribute to the US economy, not to mention stunning us with surprising performance vehicles!

[skylark68]

I'm interested in that new Dodge logo for the cars.

[Orbit]

There's vision, and then there is execution. Chrysler never had a shortage of vision: Witness their many terrific concept vehicles, most of which never made it into production. Chrysler has been terrible of late at execution: Their production cars are poorly made with cheap-looking interiors and exteriors with below-average reliability and fuel economy. They are so far behind all other car manufacturers who sell in North America--even Kia is mightly in comparison with Chrysler--and at such a competetive disadantage that they have a huge gap to close. Whether Fiat has the wherewithall to do so remains to be seen, but much of yesterday's media presentation consisted of vague branding ideas poorly expressed in the nonlanguage of marketing ("lifestyle products") presented in horrendously bad PowerPointlessness slides. When it takes 6 hours to deliver a message that could've been given in a 20-minute press conference, this raises even more concerns about execution. But hey, Fiat will spending US taxpayers money so, as they say, it's not their nickel.

[44 mpg by 2010]

Originally Posted by BigThreeForever

I was dreading the worst, but I feel much, much more optimistic about Chrysler now.

It seems Fiat plans to invest heavily, and has a clear vision of what each brand should be about (although I still harbour doubts about the wisdom of the separate Ram truck brand).

Best of all, at last there is a clear, structured and highly aggressive product plan.

Fiat has experience with separate truck organizations .... look at Iveco.

[XCR440SP]

Originally Posted by Perian

Looks like there may indeed be a return to "The Big 3" sometime in the distant future.

The speed of some of the above changes is simply amazing. Can it be done?

I continue to belive that Chrysler will survive before GM does. Chrysler is making changes to the company. I belive they will be a smaller comapnay than before, and will end up being an import brand (in my mind) due to being mostly Fiat. However, they are making changes and thats what needs to happen. GM could take a lesson here.

[BumbleBee]

Originally Posted by Orbit

There's vision, and then there is execution. Chrysler never had a shortage of vision: Witness their many terrific concept vehicles, most of which never made it into production. Chrysler has been terrible of late at execution: Their production cars are poorly made with cheap-looking interiors and exteriors with below-average reliability and fuel economy. They are so far behind all other car manufacturers who sell in North America--even Kia is mightly in comparison with Chrysler--and at such a competetive disadantage that they have a huge gap to close. Whether Fiat has the wherewithall to do so remains to be seen, but much of yesterday's media presentation consisted of vague branding ideas poorly expressed in the nonlanguage of marketing ("lifestyle products") presented in horrendously bad PowerPointlessness slides. When it takes 6 hours to deliver a message that could've been given in a 20-minute press conference, this raises even more concerns about execution. But hey, Fiat will spending US taxpayers money so, as they say, it's not their nickel.

Thanks for regurgitating Matt DeLorenzo longer diatribe in a coles notes version for the rest of us...

I don't understand your post at all. Their presentation was not catered just to the Car Market, they HAD to appeal to the analysts that will be covering them over the next couple of years especially as they anticipate an IPO next year. Given that Fiat's stock has risen considerably in trading today I think Marchionne did an excellent job with the presentation as most on here, and in general have agreed.

By the way, when you've turned around one auto company why not come back here and post again.

[BigThreeForever]

Originally Posted by 44 mpg by 2010

Fiat has experience with separate truck organizations .... look at Iveco.

Ah, yes . . . I had forgotten about Iveco.

[vanshmack]

Chrysler Division of Fiat...That's what it looks like to me.

They seem to have grandiose plans, but as Orbit said above, execution is key.

They have so much to work to do, it's not even funny. From where are those "big profits" going to come?

[Orbit]

Originally Posted by BumbleBee

By the way, when you've turned around one auto company why not come back here and post again.

Thanks, I think I will do just that! And if you can find a better post--with Corinthian leather, no less--then buy it!

Regards,

Lee

PS, Read about my new book here