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* DaimlerChrysler receives its fourth Corporation of the Year award from the NMSDC for its business development leadership * DaimlerChrysler recently receives Corporation of the Year awards from two other minority supplier organizations * 2005 minority sourcing equaled $3.8 billion, which represents 13 percent of total annual supplier
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- For the fourth time, DaimlerChrysler has received the Corporation of the Year award from the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) for its long-term commitment and business development leadership of minority suppliers. The award was presented at the NMSDC's annual awards gala last night held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. The Company has received the NMSDC Corporation of the Year award four times: in 1986, 1993, 2000, and 2006. This is the third minority supplier organization to honor DaimlerChrysler as Corporation of the Year in 2006. The recognition also was presented by the Michigan Minority Business Development Council (MMBDC) on October 2, in Detroit and the Canadian Aboriginal Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC) on October 12. "Even in today's tough economic challenges, DaimlerChrysler remains committed to creating real economic growth, development initiatives and global opportunities for our minority suppliers," said Tom Sidlik, Member of the Board of Management and Executive Vice President of Global Procurement and Supply - DaimlerChrysler. "We accept NMSDC Corporation of the Year award as mutual partners working diligently with our minority suppliers to strengthen our competitiveness and build broad global opportunities for all of us." DaimlerChrysler spent $3.8 billion with minority suppliers in 2005, which represents 13 percent of its total purchasing and an increase of $400 million from the previous year. In the last seven years, DaimlerChrysler has more than doubled dollars spent with minority suppliers, from $1.7 billion in 1998 to $3.8 billion in 2005. This significant increase demonstrates its long-term commitment to the economic development and growth of its minority suppliers, in addition to distinguishing DaimlerChrysler as an industry leader in minority supplier development. "DaimlerChrysler has actively supported minority suppliers for 23 years, and we will continue to create innovative programs and opportunities that leverage their sustainability and growth," said Peter Rosenfeld, Executive Vice President - Procurement Supply, Chrysler Group. "We recognize the value in having a supply base that mirrors our company and customer base." The primary objective of the NMSDC is to provide a direct link between top American companies and minority-owned businesses. NMSDC is one of the country's leading business membership organizations. It was chartered in 1972 to provide increased procurement and business opportunities for minority businesses of all sizes. The NMSDC Network includes a national office in New York and 39 regional councils across the country. There are 3,500 corporate members throughout the network, including most of America's largest publicly-owned, privately-owned and foreign-owned companies, as well as universities, hospitals and other buying institutions. The regional councils certify and match more than 15,000 minority owned businesses (Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American) with member corporations which want to purchase goods and services. "For the past 23 years, DaimlerChrysler has worked with NMSDC to build robust programs to meet and exceed the needs of our minority suppliers," said Jethro Joseph, Senior Manager of Minority Supplier Development - Chrysler Group.
EDMUNDS AUTO NEWS - - Here it is again, the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GLX sport ute. It's been in the works for some time now, but these latest spy photos of Mercedes' upcoming compact sport ute show a GLX in its final design phase. It looks a little bit like the full size GL 450 sport ute although its long hood reminds us of the BMW X3, one of its chief competitors in the compact luxury SUV category. Unlike the full-size GL, the GLX will ride on an all-new platform shared with the 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan. We expect it will use a 3.5-liter V6 paired with Mercedes' seven-speed automatic transmission. A variation of the latest 4Matic all wheel drive system will most likely come standard. Production of the GLX starts in early 2008, so expect to see it in U.S. showrooms later that year.
You said this was a new Jeep Wrangler, but it looks exactly the same.
CAR ONLINE | LONDON UK - - Yes, we’re talking evolution rather than revolution for the new Wrangler. But you can’t blame Jeep for that. On the other side of the Atlantic, the Wrangler is a seriously beloved motoring icon, that Jeep daren’t change too much. So, like our own Land Rover Defender, radical moves are firmly off the menu.
There are some notable changes though, there’s now a four-door version alongside the traditional two-door and also an uprated version of the 2.8-litre, common-rail turbo-diesel engine from the Cherokee - the first time that the Wrangler has had an oil-burner under the bonnet.
At least that’ll give it more appeal to European buyers, but what about the cabin?
Jeep has dragged the Wrangler into the 21st century with a few modern accoutrements that today’s car buyers expect. Central locking, electric windows (again for the first time on the Wrangler) and airbags are all now present as well as an optional sat nav system and the now standard removable plastic hard top with removable panels above the two front passengers. The four-door version adds a more family friendly element and there’s more practical stuff inside: stain and smell repellant fabric on the seats for the elderly and those who take their off-roading more serious than most.
Talking of off-roading, do all these changes mean the Wrangler has gone soft?
Don’t you believe it, for anyone who doesn’t like the contents of their bank account, there’s still a 3.8-litre V6 petrol version of the Wrangler (with 198bhp as opposed to the diesel’s 155bhp) capable of 24.5mpg if you’re lucky. Plus, if the fancy takes you, the front windscreen still folds flat onto the bonnet and you can remove the doors which, as Jeep is only too keen to point out, you can’t do in a Defender.
For hard-core mud-pluggers, the approach, departure and breakover angles have all been improved and the flagship Rubicon gets locking differentials, Jeep’s Rock-Trac system (effectively an extra low, low range gearbox) and an electronic disconnecting sway bar for improved axle articulation on the front wheels. The only downside is that the Rubicon spec only comes with the petrol engine and not in four-door form. With proper tyres, there still wouldn’t be much between the Defender and Wrangler off-road.
Ok, what if I haven’t got a beard, is it useable everyday on the road?
Definitely, but your view on the Wrangler largely depends on whether you’ve driven one before. The new model is much more refined - but then, that’s not saying much - and Jeep claims that it’s the quietest Wrangler ever which it’s hard not to disagree with. Long motorway journeys are now bearable, the only downside is the wind noise at high speed due to the near-vertical windscreen. The handling has improved too, but it’s still no BMW X3.
Inside, again, it’s not a radical change, but the driving position is thankfully improved and the controls are much better thanks to a cleaner dashboard layout. We don’t like the awkward location of the electric window switches in the centre of the dash, but with removable doors there was apparently little choice.
What’s the new diesel like?
Pretty good, even aside from its obvious benefits when off-roading. It’s not too loud and reasonably refined, though the main drawback has to be the six-speed manual gearbox. It’s notchyshifting between gears and all too easy to miss the middle plane of gears altogether choosing 2nd instead of 4th or 5th instead of 3rd. You’d probably get used to it, but there’s also an optional five-speed automatic (rather than the petrol’s four speed auto) which will set you back around an extra £1000.
Verdict
Although the arrival of four door and diesel versions have undoubtedly widened the Wrangler’s appeal, it’s still a niche product. Jeep has only sold 3500 Wranglers since 1997, and it’s unlikely to break more than 1000 sales per year even with the new additions. The reality is that it remains a niche choice of wheels.
With far more capability than most drivers need everyday, it’s an odd choice for daily transport but there’s nothing out there like it, not even Land Rover’s Defender. What other car can seriously cut the mustard off road and then remove its roof and doors, fold down the windscreen and then drive along London’s King’s Road turning as many heads as a Lamborghini? It’s not without faults, but it remains one of a kind and for that reason we love it. Without cars like the Wrangler, the world would be a very boring place indeed.
For $35,000 you could own an electric Smart. Hybrid Technologies showed off one of its early models at the SEMA Show. I didn't ask if the sky graphics were included. Even in factory colors, I'm sure this little gem will draw attention on the street. Not much in the way of technical information was available, but I have been offered a drive and face time with company engineers soon. The Smart is the second electric conversion offered by Hybrid. The first is a PT Cruiser. The company has a NYC taxi project under way with the PT Cruier to demonstrate the economic benefits of an EV in Manhattan where the average distance on a taxi shift is just over 100 miles. The PT Cruiser has an advertised range of 120 miles. To keep the vehicle in service, the plan is to replace the battery pack with every shift change. As one battery pack works in the vehicle, the other is charged. Both vehicles use a lithium-ion battery pack that weighs just under 500 pounds. The 35-grand price tag includes the vehicle; it's not a retro-fit conversion. The Smart was displayed in the DuPont Registry booth alongside numerous high-dollar vehicles. A company spokesperson said the initial target audience will be "early adapters" of technology and those serious about the environment.
TSIOK AUTO NEWS - - The wait may finally be over. At SEMA next week, Jeep will be showing a concept Wrangler Unlimited dubbed 50 JK. The Mopar Skunkwerks team beefed up this hardtop four-door Wrangler concept with a four-inch lift, 35-inch tires, and Dana 44 axles. The real beef comes from a new Cummings 4.2-liter V6 diesel under the carbon-fiber hood. The concept will also feature GPS and a full saddle leather interior.
We’ve been patiently waiting for any hint that DaimlerChrysler will actually put a small diesel into the new Wrangler. There is something magical about a smaller factory off-road vehicle with a diesel engine, straight axles, and the option to remove the top and fold down the front window. If we lived in other parts of the world, this would be a fantasy already fulfilled. Now, with this concept rendering staring us in the face, the dream is finally going to come true for us in the U.S. The quesiton is, how long before we can walk down to a Jeep dealer with our check books out and get a stump-pulling diesel Wrangler of our own?
Hankook Tire America Corp. continues to strengthen its domestic original equipment position. Already OE on Ford, Saturn, Pontiac, Chevrolet and, beginning six months ago, Hyundai vehicles, the company will add a Chrysler product to the mix in 2007.
"That's the only thing new that I'm aware of for the 2008 model year," said Marketing Director Bill Bainbridge.
At the replacement level, Hankook has spent the year rounding out a number of its lines. Among the tires receiving size expansions were the DynaPro MT, Hankook H727 and Ventus AS RH07. The H727 features a 100,000-mile limited tread wear warranty.
"Our fill rate has improved steadily throughout 2006, and I think we're going to be in the mid-'90s in 2007," he said.
The company also put its size 315/30R30 tire into production. Hankook is displaying its 30-inch tire at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show booth in Las Vegas.
Several new products will be introduced in 2007, including a next generation DynaPro AT "that is improved in every way," according to Bainbridge. It will be launched around the third quarter in a wide range of sizes. In addition, a new ultra-high performance tire will be showcased at the 2007 SEMA Show.
Hankook has been building brand awarness the last few years. But the marketing focus in the United States will be different starting in 2007. New dealer programs "and a new media campaign to value up the brand" will help create what Bainbridge calls "brand personality."
"We're going to do this for dealers and consumers the same way. We're going to dare them to compare."
Region: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Geographic coordinates: 32.697N, 116.062W Magnitude: 4.5 Ml Depth: 8 km Universal Time (UTC): 3 Nov 2006 15:56:43 Time near the Epicenter: 3 Nov 2006 07:56:43 Local time in your area: 3 Nov 2006 15:56:43
Location with respect to nearby cities: 8 km (5 miles) SW (232 degrees) of Ocotillo, CA 36 km (23 miles) WSW (253 degrees) of Seeley, CA 46 km (28 miles) ESE (108 degrees) of Pine Valley, CA 48 km (30 miles) WSW (258 degrees) of El Centro, CA 92 km (57 miles) ENE (78 degrees) of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Five-year no- or low-interest loans will be offered on some 2006 models to free up room for 2007s.
Josee Valcourt / The Detroit News - - Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group are extending five-year no-interest and low rate-loan offers on some 2006 models to clear out old inventories and make way for 2007 models.
Nearly 30 percent of vehicles sitting on Ford dealer lots are 2006 models, while older inventory accounts for 45 percent of the cars and trucks on Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep lots.
General Motors Corp. did not stretch its current discount program, which already runs through Jan. 2.
The Detroit-based automaker is offering free financing on some 2006 models, or bonus cash ranging from $1,000 to $6,500.
The sweeter offers from Ford and Chrysler come as combined sales for Detroit's Big Three are down 8.6 percent for the year, although Ford and GM reported sales gains in October.
All three companies are also cutting production to try to keep inventories more in line with demand.
Sales gains
Last month, Chrysler was the only Detroit manufacturer to report a sales decline. Ford was up 8.8 percent and GM sales increased 16.8 percent.
But the spikes came in comparison to weak results in October last year, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and sluggish demand following big summer discount sales.
Collectively, the domestic automakers gained 1.4 percentage points of U.S. market share in October, climbing to 53.8 percent. But their year-to-date market share fell three points to 54.1 percent.
To further reduce its older inventory, Dearborn-based Ford will offer zero-percent financing for five years on all 2006 model-year cars, SUVs, and Ford F-150, Super Duty and Rangers through November. The discount became available last month.
The automaker is also offering 1.9 percent financing on 2006 Fusion sedans and 2.9 percent on Mustang sports cars.
Ford is also offering 2.9 percent financing for five years on 2007 mode F-Series pickups, including Super Duty models, and the Ranger pickup, or customer cash of up to $2,500.
Auburn Hills-based Chrysler's zero-percent financing offer on certain 2006 model Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles, scheduled to end on Oct. 31, will be available until Monday.
Customers also have the option to choose cash back of as low as $1,750 or up to $6,000 on certain models.
Chrysler 300C and Dodge Charger large sedans, the Dodge Magnum station wagon, high performance SRT line models and the Dodge Viper are excluded from the deals.
"On the 2006 model-year vehicles, we're working hard to clear that out," said Chrysler spokesman Kevin McCormick.
November 3, 2006 | KATIE MERX | FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
A Chrysler spokesman said the Jeep Wrangler's 8,679 sales were driven by the four-door Wrangler Unlimited. (DaimlerChrysler)
Sales of the new 2007 Jeep Wrangler stood out from the pack in the Chrysler Group's October sales report this week, thanks to the new four-door version of the off-road icon called the Wrangler Unlimited.
"The Wrangler had a record month for October with sales of 8,679, driven in large part by the Wrangler Unlimited," said Chrysler spokesman Kevin McCormick. "The Wrangler Unlimited seems to have really taken off."
Last year, the company sold 4,475 of its previous Wrangler model. Chrysler did not break out sales of four-door Wranglers from the two-door Wrangler that is more like those it has sold the last 20 years.
"I think the sales are an indication to a certain extent of what fresh product can do for a brand," said Kevin Tynan, auto analyst at Argus Research in New York. "It's a name with a history, but it's something that's fresh and different, and I think more than ever that's what the consumer wants."
It's too early to judge success, though, because the new Wrangler only went on sale in September, said Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis for the Power Information Network. New models tend to sell quickly in the first four months, he said, with true demand emerging later.
Dodge Dakota trucks are seen on a holding lot in Detroit in October 2006. If you want to buy a pickup truck or SUV, November may be the time to act, according to many industry analysts and some auto companies.
By Carlos Osorio, AP
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Posted 11/2/2006 11:16 PM ETBy Sharon Silke Carty, USA TODAY |DETROIT — Every week, Troy Allen gets a long list of vehicles Chrysler's top brass would like him to buy. The Derry, N.H., Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge dealer doesn't have much need for more pickups and SUVs, but that's what dominates the list.
"They're tough to sell," says Allen, whose customers are mostly commuters heading to Boston who have become fuel-conscious in the past year.
"All the good stuff has already been picked through," he says.
The vehicles on the list, including SUVs such as Dodge Durango and Jeep Commander, are Chrysler Group's single-biggest problem right now. The automaker is burdened with what some estimate to be enough unsold cars and trucks to last for four months. Much of it is filling up parking lots in the Midwest as Chrysler waits for orders from dealers.
Adding to the problem: 80% of that inventory is 2006 models, not a good sign this late in the year when other automakers are pushing 2007 models.
Automakers record profit on vehicles when they ship them to dealers. But Chrysler's dealers already have enough cars and trucks on their lots to last 80 to 126 days, compared with an industry average of 63 days. They are reluctant to order more.
So in addition to what's at the dealers, Chrysler admits it has 50,000 vehicles sitting on random storage lots. Those cars and trucks are in what Chrysler calls its "sales bank." It's a practice — abandoned by most automakers more than 25 years ago — by which Chrysler produces cars that no one has ordered and waits until dealers have space on their lots and are willing to take them on.
Sales banks have damaged each domestic automaker sometime in the past. Chrysler's sales bank now isn't as bad as the one it had in 1979. At that time, the automaker, on the verge of bankruptcy, had 110,000 vehicles in the bank.
In his autobiography, Iacocca, former Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca says parking lots full of Chryslers, Dodges and Plymouths were "vivid evidence of the company's structural weakness. ... At a time when our cash was dwindling anyway and interest rates were high, the costs of carrying the inventory were astronomical. But even worse, the cars were just sitting there in the great outdoors and slowly deteriorating."
Chrysler, now part of Germany's DaimlerChrysler (DCX), has been using the sales bank now to keep its labor force working. Under its contract with the United Auto Workers, it has to pay union workers most of their salary even if they are idle. So the automaker has kept on pumping out cars and trucks even as demand softened. It's a situation that could mean great deals for buyers but little profit for the automaker.
"It's a formula for disaster," says David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research. The automakers rationalize pumping up production, because, "Labor is a fixed cost, so you might as well use it if it's here. It becomes this self-perpetuating problem."
After realizing sales wouldn't catch up, Chrysler cut fourth-quarter production. And it is relying on a slew of new, smaller cars and crossovers — SUV-like vehicles with the ride and fuel-efficiency of cars — to help boost profit. They include models such as the recently introduced Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass.
But the automaker, which posted a $1.4 billion loss for the third quarter, still desperately needs its dealers to keep buying the backlog of pickups and SUVs. Dealers, who have to finance vehicles sitting idle on their lots, are pushing back.
Small dealers such as Allen have stopped buying vehicles from Chrysler for months at a time. And now AutoNation, the country's largest dealer owner, has stopped buying all but Chrysler's newest offerings.
"Chrysler is under immense pressure, and their dealers are under immense pressure," says Mike Maroone, AutoNation's president and chief operating officer. "They've had a series of dealer meetings encouraging dealers to buy that inventory. ... They haven't yet right-sized production with demand."
Troubles weren't a surprise
To casual observers, Chrysler's woes might be a surprise. Just a few short years ago, Chrysler was seen as the automaker to emulate. The edgy-looking Chrysler 300 sedan was a hit, and critics praised the company for forging ahead with daring design and for cutting costs while making its plants more efficient.
But insiders have seen Chrysler's problems brewing for months. While much of the media heat was on General Motors and Ford Motor for their poor financial performances, Chrysler's inventories were slowly growing and the automaker was ratcheting up incentives to keep customers buying.
"GM was trying to be public with their problems, while (Ford and Chrysler) were trying to hide from it," Cole says. "This was a problem that was absolutely going to (happen). The only way you can deal with it effectively is if the people in the organization face up to it."
Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda admits a big part of the problem is a failed summer-selling season. Chrysler was the only domestic automaker to reinstate the "employee pricing for everyone" promotion that set industry sales afire in summer 2005.
This time, consumers didn't bite. Sales were down 34% in July and 3% in August from last year. Chrysler had hoped to match its average summer sales for the past five years but missed by nearly 80,000 vehicles.
"We had a plan, and it didn't work," LaSorda says. "I take responsibility for the plan not working. Obviously ... we could have taken inventory down sooner."
High gas prices and economic weakness this year shifted buyer interest increasingly to smaller vehicles with fuel-efficient, four-cylinder engines and away from bigger pickups and SUVs with bigger engines.
But the latter are Chrysler's bread and butter. Nearly 80% of its sales have been trucks, including pickups, SUVs and minivans. And the once-popular Hemi engine, a powerful eight-cylinder, seems more of a liability now than an asset.
"Chrysler needs to quickly adjust its product mix," says Kevin Reale, an analyst at AMR Research.
LaSorda argues that the automaker is shaking things up, rolling out several smaller crossover SUVs and a totally redesigned Chrysler Sebring midsize sedan this year. The company began developing those products four years ago, before gas prices became an issue.
If Chrysler had managed to produce those cars a year earlier, "We'd be heroes," LaSorda says. But the automaker had to deal with the product plan already in progress. "That's not complaining. That's just fact."
Still, its inventory issue likely won't be enough to send Chrysler into as deep a financial abyss as GM, which has lost $3 billion this year, and Ford, which has lost $7 billion, says John Casesa, managing partner of Casesa Strategic Advisors. "In the near term, Chrysler faces very costly challenges, but longer term, the company has advantages in its speed, flexibility and emphasis on design and creativity," Casesa says.
Chrysler's situation is different from that of GM and Ford, he says. "This company is smaller. ... It can change more quickly than those other companies can."
But even Casesa isn't sure if this year's slate of new products will be enough to resuscitate sales. "It will be difficult to gain share with these new products, because they are going into segments in which the Japanese and Koreans dominate," he says.
For now, the automaker will have to rely on rebates and low-interest loans to attract buyers. Earlier this week, it began offering 0% loans even to customers with some credit problems. And dealers expect rebate offers will heat up in the coming months as the company tries to clear out 2006 models.
Some are skeptical it will work, including Allen, the New Hampshire dealer. "People are burned out on the whole incentive thing," he says. "But, on the other hand, they have to do something."
Labor costs at issue
The other piece of Chrysler's puzzle is labor costs, which are the highest in the industry. Chrysler's costs for active and retired employees come to about $1,000 per car, five times Toyota's costs, according to Reale.
"This will involve some hard negotiations with the union," he says.
The UAW has made it clear it doesn't feel it needs to help trim Chrysler's labor costs. After approving moves to help Ford cut health care costs by $850 million a year and GM cut $1 million annually, the union said it won't do the same for Chrysler. Chrysler says if it could make a deal similar to its competitors, it would save $340 million a year.
The UAW may be eyeing the deep pockets of Chrysler's German parent. DaimlerChrysler is still doing well, posting $686 million in earnings for the third quarter, thanks to $1.3 billion in revenue from its Mercedes Group. "The fact is that the Chrysler Group has to stand on its own," LaSorda says. "The issue really centers on why should we be treated differently from the others? We have to compete and have the same kind of cost structure as the others."
Contract negotiations with the UAW begin in summer. By then, Chrysler might have a hard time convincing the union that it still needs help. LaSorda expects sales to pick up next year as the products being launched now reach full volume.
Until then, industry watchers say, it's critical that Chrysler get its production levels in line with demand.
"The formula for success here is very straightforward: You have to be operating at 100% capacity with highly profitable sales," Cole says. "If you're producing because you have the capacity and not because of demand, you've got a problem."
11.3.1888 Sir William Fraser, longtime British oil executive, is born in Glasgow, Scotland 11.3.1908 Kenneth Sholl Ferrand Corley of Joseph Lucas Industries, Ltd. is born in Birmingham, England 11.3.1919 Peter Morgan, Managing Director of the Morgan Motor Company Ltd. and son of founder H. F. S. Morgan, is born 11.3.1948 Racer Helmuth Koinigg is born in Vienna, Austria 11.3.1953 John Davenport Siddeley, Lord Kenilworth, Chairman of the Armstrong-Siddeley Motors Ltd., dies in Jersey, Channel Islands at age 87
Source: Automobile History Day By Day, by Douglas A. Wick
TSIOK AUTO NEWS - - Word out of Detroit today has Chrysler almost ready to sign and seal a deal with Chinese automaker Chery Automobile. We just talked about this a few days ago, but it looks like it’s actually going to happen any time now. DaimlerChrysler had previously told us that it really needed a partner if it were going to succeed at the low-margin end of the lineup, where Chery can certainly help with one of its small car platforms. The most likely vehicle coming out of this partnership would be the Dodge Hornet concept in production form. Dodge wants to be more competitive globally and Chery has the ability to produce the subcompacts and superminis Dodge would need to be a real player. Chery has also wanted to establish themselves in the U.S. to help build some credibility for the company, so this might be good for both parties.
Caught somewhere in the middle of this negotiation is none other than Malcolm Bricklin who has been working on his own Chery import deal. Bricklin should be well-known to Autoblog readers. His plans to make the Chery the Kia of this century, have been met with cynicism, especially after all of the delays and scaling back the project has encountered. But his dreams of bringing low-cost, decent quality cars would live on even if the Chrysler deal goes through. In fact, this would most likely help Bricklin a lot, as Chery would all of a sudden have a little more street cred.
HEMISPERICAL BLOG | SEMA AFTERMATH - - Chrysler inner circle of tuner gurus has unveiled a host of tuned, hyper motors, dropped, and optional diesels models for this year's SEMA Aftermarket and Manufacturers show in Las Vegas.
Leading the charge is this dazzling drag racing take on the forthcoming Dodge Challenger, the Super Stock Concept. Then we have the more jaw-slackening takes on the Dodge Hemi spoon fed Nitro and Skunk Werks tuner Chrysler Sebring.
As the tuner gurus of Chrysler's line up, folks who watch and visit SEMA take it very seriously too. It's a great opportunity to generate a buzz about new models, by muscling in on the act.
The downtrend to this caper for Chrysler, Tom and Kipp I know you listen and read this forum, you failed to "whoa" those within the performance minded buyers framework who are diehard Mopar fans in what to expect for this coming year or so.
As expected, the none return of the well-known famous muscle and NHRA drag engine - Hemi Super Hemi 426 CUI - was not in force among the Skunk Werks vehicles in Vegas. Yes, this new Aluminum casted block, which is not a rebored Hemi 5.7-Liter engine, since it has hits the boring limits seen in the 6.4-Liter SEMA 2005 Motor, taking shape in the hidden facility within the Los Angeles basin.
Tom and Kipp, a much after effect of the drooling "AWE & SHOCK" that may of whoa the audience and perhaps stole this "SEMA Thunder", would have been a DODGE CHALLENGER ?Super Hemi? 426 [LC585] concept. This could have been the vehicle where the checkbook or Visa card carrying "Baby Boomers" could look for in the coming year. Though, I am not to beating on our past NHRA favorites concept car in trying to promote some old driver, it didn't fly so well when there were a varied mixed of Mustangs that can't the SEMA crowd in that "Awe and Shock."
Now listen Tom, Detroit is coming and Toyota wants to still your THUNDER - -yes-your THUNDER, by bringing in a 500-HP Toyota Supra concept. What are you going to do now? Show the 2008 Dodge Viper GTS? Or perhaps it is time for the Chrysler Cuda SH-426 to reveal itself at last. Would it be the "SHOCK & AWE" needed for Detroit?
KICKING TIRES - - Fewer cars were stolen in 2005 than in 2004 — 2,625 fewer — but that statistic won’t provide solace to the other 1,235,226 U.S. car owners who were robbed last year. How likely is your car to account for one of these numbers next year? The National Insurance Crime Bureau just released its top 10 list of most-stolen cars, which you can read below. Car thefts rose in the Midwest and the West, while they decreased in the Northeast and South. Surprisingly, only 62.1% of the stolen vehicles were recovered.
[Source: The National Insurance Crime Bureau]
For 2005, the most-stolen vehicles in the nation were:
• Seventh year of recognizing independent designs of Chrysler Group vehicles
• Designs represent the best ideas and concepts for Chrysler Group vehicles
• Four product manufacturers recognized
LAS VEGAS - November 2, 2006: Chrysler Group recently announced the winners of its seventh annual Design Excellence Awards at the 2006 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas.
The Chrysler Group Design Excellence Awards are twofold; to recognize:
Chrysler Group vehicles that have been modified based on a theme or concept and executed in a well-designed manner New products exhibiting a high degree of overall quality and craftsmanship applied to current Chrysler Group vehicles Chrysler Group, a recognized leader in delivering automobiles with forward-thinking design concepts to the mass market, created the Design Excellence Awards to acknowledge and showcase outstanding designs of Chrysler Group vehicles by manufacturers of aftermarket products and components.
“The winners of our Design Excellence Awards embody the passion, creativity and possibilities that are core Chrysler Group design values,” said Ralph Gilles, Vice President – Jeep®/Truck and Component Design, Chrysler Group. “It is exciting to see what direction some of the winners have gone with our vehicles.”
Vehicle and product winners were selected by a Chrysler Group team of employees representing the functional areas of design, marketing, engineering and Mopar®, the aftermarket parts division of the Chrysler Group.
This year’s Chrysler Group Design Excellence Award vehicle recipients are:
2007 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited Park Patrol Concept by Superlift Suspension Systems Built to enforce safety and security of the Superlift Off-Road Adventure Park in Hot Springs, Ark., this vehicle features a 4-inch suspension lift, American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) bumpers and a heat reduction hood.
This vehicle will be used to showcase the increased capability of a modified Wrangler to off-road enthusiasts. 2007 Dodge Nitro by CGS Motorsports Designed by Sean Smith and built by CGS Motorsports of Pomona, Calif., this all-new Dodge Nitro features a slick custom paint scheme, 22-inch Devious Custom wheels, Keystone Brothers interior, and a Precision Grilles custom mesh grille insert to amplify its already bold attitude. This year’s Chrysler Group Design Excellence Award product recipients are:
Chrysler Vehicle/Product: Glassback roof system by Classic Design Concepts Classic Design Concepts’ Glassback roof system is a complete roof system for the Chrysler 300C. Main features include a massive glass panel surrounded by a stainless steel roof overlay. The glass features advanced solar reflection technology and an integrated structural framework.
Jeep Vehicle/Product: Highline Fender kit by AEV AEV’s Highline Fender kit for the Jeep Wrangler allows for larger tires without excessive suspension lift providing a safer, more stable ride. Constructed of high-quality, e-coated 14-guage stamped steel; it incorporates the exclusive AEV heat reduction hood.
Jeep Vehicle/Product: Flexatrunk by Bestop Bestop’s Flexatrunk for the all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler is a flexible cargo management system that is reconfigurable, durable and self storing.
Dodge Truck/Product: BedStep by AMP Research Invented, engineered and built by AMP Research of Irvine, Calif., the BedStep allows easy access to pickup beds with or without the tailgate down. The BedStep is constructed of high-strength aluminum and rated to support 300 lbs.
Chrysler Group, a division of DaimlerChrysler, AG sells nearly 3 million vehicles a year in 125 countries under the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands and is a recognized industry leader for showcasing vehicles with head-turning designs.
October YTD sales of 11,877 Mercedes-Benz units surpass 2005 full year sales of 11,710 units
TORONTO, Nov. 1 /CNW/ - With 11,877 Mercedes-Benz units accumulated by the end of the first ten months of this year, Mercedes-Benz Canada announces with great excitement that it has already bettered its full 2005 year-end results of 11,710 deliveries by 167 units.
On a combined brand basis, Mercedes-Benz Canada reported a strong October with sales of 1,403 units, a gain of 43 units or 3.2% for both the Mercedes-Benz and smart divisions. A total of 1,197 Mercedes-Benz units were delivered for the month, an increase of 208 units or 21% compared to October 2005 deliveries. A total of 206 smart fortwos were sold.
On a year-to-date basis, it brings the total Mercedes-Benz and smart sales to 14,750 units, up by 1,871 units or 14.5%. The Mercedes-Benz division reported 11,877 units sold, an increase of 2,377 units at the end of October, and an impressive gain of 25%. The smart sales maintained their vigorous sales pace with total year-to-date sales of 2,873 units.
Strong B-Class, C-Class and E-Class sales contributed to the month's success. Total Mercedes-Benz passenger car sales were up by 12.9% for the month and ahead by 1,397 units or 19.2% on a year-to-date basis, amounting to 8,680 units for the first ten months.
On the luxury light truck side, the M-Class, R-Class, GL-Class continued to show exciting gains with a combined 39% increase over last October and a 44.2% increase against year-to-date 2006.
At the same time, the company also reported 547 pre-owned Mercedes-Benz units for the month. This performance represented a gain of 37.1% over the previous year and amounted to record year-to-date pre-owned retail deliveries of 5,141 units, ahead 23.9% versus 2005 results.
Marcus Breitschwerdt, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada said, "While we launched in October the much-awaited E320 BLUETEC and the ML 320 CDI and R 320 CDI diesel models as well as the exhilarating high performance models such as the CLK 63, CLS 63, ML 63, R 63 and S 65 AMG coupes, sedans and SUV's, only a small part of the production arrived in time to count for this month's sales results. I'm happy to report that the initial consumer reaction and high level of interest bode very well for the next months ahead. Overall, our October results were gratifying. I'm pleased to see sustained momentum across the board."
NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- November 02, 2006 -- Because wealthy consumers are the most profitable customers for luxury retailers, the holiday shopping period is paramount to the bottom line. And so, the Luxury Institute is pleased to present this objective holiday guide on how the wealthy rate and rank the firms that do business with them across leading luxury categories.
Not a demographic that is prone to fads and trends, in addition to personal taste, the wealthy will do their gift buying based largely on a company's reputation and standing with fellow wealthy consumers. The 2006 Luxury Brand Holiday Gift-Giving Guide relies on brand status ratings and rankings by wealthy consumers of luxury retailers and companies operating in 18 categories, including fashion designers, fragrances, hotels, casinos, cruise lines, jewelry, ultra-luxury watches, etc...
Buoyed by stock market gains to counter the effects of the slowdown in real estate, luxury consumers are in good financial shape and in a mood to spend significantly on gifts this holiday season. The brands listed have cultivated a strong image with their best prospects and customers and should reap significant rewards this holiday season.
Milton Pedraza, CEO, Luxury Institute
Automobiles
Luxury Autos Porsche pulls ahead of the pack in terms of overall brand prestige. Gifts from Mercedes or Lexus would not disappoint either, the two brands which round out the top three most prestigious brands in the automotive category.
Ultra-Luxury Autos In the market for wheels selling north of $100,000? Rolls Royce rolled higher one spot from 2005 to overtake Maybach as the most prestigious ultra-luxury auto name. Maybach ceded all but one of the pillars of luxury brand status to Rolls, but it topped the list of 10 ultra-luxury makes in social status. Bentley also finished near the top of the rankings, and is the brand that the wealthy are most likely recommend to family and close friends.
Edward Lapham is the executive editor of Automotive News. .
Edward Lapham | | Automotive News / November 2, 2006 - 10:28 am -- The saying "You can sell a young man's car to an old man, but you can't sell an old man's car to a young man" seems true enough.
It may also be true if you make the statement politically correct and substitute "person" for "man." After all, you do see a lot of old people of both genders driving around in Scions and Honda Elements.
That concept drives a lot of automotive marketing as carmakers try to attract young buyers. But catering to the young isn't a slam dunk, as Oldsmobile proved with its "It's not your father's Oldsmobile" slogan.
You still need the product, the image and the attitude.
So as a backup plan, brands such as Buick and Mercury have hooked up with AARP to reach the older set when they can't lure enough kids into their dealerships. That's OK. Old folks need wheels, too.
But now Mercedes-Benz is making an effort to attract older buyers in Europe. Of course, Mercedes doesn't want just any oldster. Mercedes wants "WOOPies," which stands for Well-Off Older People.
Mercedes marketing types in Stuttgart figured out that baby boomers are aging and that some have money to spend. The average age of a Mercedes buyer in Europe is about 55.
That's why Mercedes has switched its marketing tone. Now the emphasis is on traditional values and reliability rather than sportiness.
According to Automotive News Europe, DaimlerChrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche -- himself a baby boomer -- is counting on the campaign to win back buyers who left because of reliability issues with the E class.
If the cars also happen to be sporty and appeal to younger buyers, Mercedes will have found an interesting way to sell young vehicles to more old people.
It could work - if the ads are written in a big enough typeface.
Chrysler, and all the brands contained within, is not experiencing the typical surge in dealer orders for model year 2007 vehicles that’s typical for this time of year. Dealers, unable to unload the 2006 models already on their lots, are all about supporting their company, but not at the expense of their bottom line.
As dealers throughout the country are finding it increasingly difficult to move the vehicles they already have, Chrysler’s CEO Tom LaSorda and the infamous Dr. Z admitted that they didn’t foresee the slow down in sales of their most popular models (read: 300C) and subsequently didn’t make the appropriate cuts in production. Additionally, Chrysler still has a glut of 2006 models that it hoped would find its way to dealers before the 2007 models began production.
The nation’s Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep dealers are understandably irritated and the combination of too much product and high interest rates don’t bode well for the future.
The giants of Germany have come together and decided that the best way to develop the potential of diesel in the U.S. is total market dominance. Not with one vehicle, but with one engine.
Mercedes’ Bluetec diesel came out swinging at the Detroit Auto Show, only to kneed in the groin by California emission regulations. What was thought to be one of the cleanest diesels available, turned out to be just a few oxides of nitrogen over the newly developed limits. To resolve the situation, Mercedes developed the urea injection system that pumps a small amount of ammonia-based acid into the exhaust stream, neutralizing many of the harmful emissions. The problem is, the urea bladder needs to be refilled periodically and unless there’s a mandate set for all drivers to do so, the engines will run with no drama, but will pollute at a greater level.
Here’s where strength in numbers comes to the fore. Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen have joined forces and will begin equipping all their U.S.-slated diesel offerings with the Bluetec system. In doing so, they will set a standard for diesel offerings in the States, have a common, marketable brand and will have massive purchasing power over Bosch who creates most of the components necessary.
Audi and VW have already signed on to the deal, with BMW’s CEO, Norbert Reithofer and our favorite mustached-marketer, Dr. Z of DaimlerChrysler, expected to work the details out this week. A formal announcement of the automaker’s intentions will likely be made in two weeks time.
VW will debut a Bluetec-powered Tiguan at this year’s L.A. Auto Show and we’ll see other Bluetec offerings in the coming months, in the form of the BMW X5, Audi Q7, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Merc R-, M- and GL-classes.
SEMA's Awards Program Spotlighting Accessory Friendly Vehicles Chooses the Jeep Wrangler in Best SUV Category
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jeep(R) Wrangler was recognized as the most accessory friendly SUV at the 2006 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, capturing one of four SEMA Vehicle Design Awards and joining a prestigious list of past winners.
The Jeep Wrangler was named the most accessory friendly SUV at the 2006 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, capturing one of four SEMA Vehicle Design Awards and joining a prestigious list of past winners. (Image Source: SEMA)
Striking design creates inspiration for the mid-size sedan segment
Three powertrain options
First right-hand drive mid-sized vehicle for the Company
Melbourne - Following the outstanding success of its 300C large sedan, Chrysler today announced it will take its award-winning formula of design and engineering to the mid-size sedan segment, confirming that the all-new Chrysler Sebring will arrive in Australia for sale mid 2007.
The Chrysler Sebring combines stunning design and interior craftsmanship with high-levels of safety and reliability, performance and fuel efficiency.
“The Chrysler Sebring will sustain the momentum started by the blockbuster hit Chrysler 300C,” said Gerry Jenkins, managing director, Chrysler Group Australia.
“Just as the 300C redefined the large-car segment and signalled the return of the great American car, the Chrysler Sebring combines the levels of reliability and durability that mid-size buyers demand with the standout design that sets all Chrysler’s apart.
“Sebring’s elegant styling provides a clear alternative to European and Japanese competition,” he said.
The new Chrysler Sebring will offer a choice of three engines in Australia. Standard is a 2.4-litre petrol engine with dual variable valve timing (VVT). Also available will be a state-of-the-art 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine, and at a later stage a 2.7-litre V6 petrol engine.
The Chrysler Sebring includes a host of new technology and features, ranging from a cutting-edge information, entertainment and communication navigation audio system to a heated/cooled front cupholder for keeping hot beverages hot and cool beverages cool. A long list of safety systems includes an Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), advanced multi-stage front air bags, side-curtain airbags and front-seat-mounted side airbags.
Pricing and model line-up for the Chrysler Sebring will be confirmed closer to launch.
Several new ultra-luxury cars priced above $200,000 are in the works.
Rolls-Royce is working on a model smaller than its cruise ship of a limousine, the $328,750 Phantom. BMW, which owns Rolls-Royce, reportedly thinks the British brand needs a $250,000 model to fill the gap between the Phantom and the most expensive BMW, a $120,000 760Li sedan. The budget Roller should go on sale within four years.
Rolls also has a convertible version of the Phantom in the works. The 101 EX concept car the brand showed a couple of years ago hints strongly at that model's appearance.
While Rolls-Royce moves ever so slightly down market, Bentley has begun development on a replacement for its long-lived Arnage sedan and convertible. Those boxy models are based on an old platform from when Bentley and Rolls were a single company. Arnage prices start at $212,990, so the new model will probably compete directly with the smaller Rolls.
Even Maybach, DaimlerChrysler's ultra-luxury brand, is thinking about adding a second model. The least expensive version of Maybach's 550-horsepower limousine costs $335,000.
Aston Martin hasn't admitted it will build the stunning Rapide concept car it unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this year, but the car is widely expected to be on the road in 2008 or '09 with prices running from $200,000 to $250,000.
Porsche hasn't even hinted at prices for the swoopy Panamera four-door it will build in 2009, but with a sales goal of up to 20,000 a year, it's not likely to threaten the $200,000 barrier.
AUTOBLOG AUTO NUEWS | Posted Nov 1st 2006 5:04PM by Alex Nunez
John Neff has found a Jeep Compass we can all get behind. Look, we constantly rail against the Jeep Compass for being a car in Jeep's clothing. Does the MK49 Compass Rallye butch it up? You bet it does. It certainly looks ready to go tackle some tall brush and kick up a little gravel. While there are no engine mods (what?!?!?!), the suspension's been dialed in by the wizards at SRT and a strut-tower brace has been added. We fully dig the wheels and Yokohoma rubber, as well as the HID driving lamps, which should totally be an option on the Compass. In fact, this whole car is what the Compass should have been to begin with. If the engine were tuned we'd be more impressed. Are you listening, Jeep?
Chrysler, and all the brands contained within, is not experiencing the typical surge in dealer orders for model year 2007 vehicles that’s typical for this time of year. Dealers, unable to unload the 2006 models already on their lots, are all about supporting their company, but not at the expense of their bottom line.
