Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Chrysler to make 5,000 Mercs/yr in India
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| REUTERS |
| Posted online: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 1536 hours IST |
The 2.75 billion rupee ($67 million) plant will begin production in 2009, Joachim Schmidt, chairman of the board of DaimlerChrysler India, said at a foundation-laying ceremony for the plant in the Western state of Maharashtra.
S&P: Chrysler Rating Would Resemble GM
Associated Press 05.08.07, 3:03 PM ET - - A separate Chrysler Group spun off or sold by DaimlerChrysler AG would likely have a credit rating similar to that of U.S. peers General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co., Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said Tuesday.
"It's quite comparable ... but Chrysler is less diversified than GM and Ford," S&P's credit analyst Maria Bissinger told reporters in Frankfurt, without commenting further.
S&P currently gives both GM and Ford a long-term rating of B, with a negative outlook. Their short-term ratings are both at B-3. It gives DaimlerChrysler a better rating, BBB for the long term with a stable outlook, and a short-term rating of A-2.
As for the parent company excluding Chrysler, Bissinger said that the "business profile would likely improve if the weakest link is removed."
She noted that it remains to be seen how a split-up of the group's financial services division - a key contributor to earnings, and a sector to which Chrysler contributes - would be achieved.
DaimlerChrysler Chairman Dieter Zetsche announced in February that the company was considering all options for the struggling Chrysler unit and has been holding talks with likely bidders.
Chrysler lost $1.5 billion in 2006 and is undergoing a recovery plan that will cut 13,000 jobs in Canada and the U.S. and pare back production.
Several industry analysts view Canadian auto parts supplier Magna International Inc. as the front-runner in bidding to grab at least a significant stake in Chrysler. Aurora, Ontario-based Magna has acknowledged its interest.
Among other companies reportedly interested in Chrysler are private equity firms Cerberus Capital Management LLC and a consortium of investors led by Blackstone Group, although neither has confirmed its interest.
Billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian, who tried to take control of Chrysler in the 1990s, has made a $4.5 billion bid.
Shares of DaimlerChrysler fell 0.8 percent at 59.77 euros ($81.38).
Chrysler buyouts are idled
Early-retirement packages too popular
May 9, 2007
The Chrysler Group has put on hold the buyout and early retirement packages for Detroit-area hourly workers after it was flooded with more interested people than it expected, the Free Press has learned.
Buyouts still are expected to go through, but the company is deciding on a plant-by-plant basis when workers can leave. Many expected to be out by early this month.
The hold-up is causing frustration for some who had expected to be done working at Chrysler -- but now can't move forward with plans, workers said. Amid all of the uncertainty about the Chrysler Group, morale has turned low and many thought it time to leave, workers said on the condition of anonymity."The company has informed the union that the amount of applications in the Detroit Labor Market Area (LMA) have exceeded their expectations," UAW Local 51 told workers in a recent notice. "As of May 2, 2007, all movement relative to the" buyout and retirement "packages is now on hold in the Detroit LMA."
In April, Chrysler reported that more than 1,600 Chrysler hourly workers in Michigan had signed up for the packages. A person familiar with the process said that 57% of the people eligible for the packages in Detroit accepted them.
The packages are part of the company's turnaround plan to reduce 13,000 employees, including a total of about 5,300 in Michigan, over the next three years.
The April announcement said that 4,312 hourly workers in Canada and the United States have accepted the packages -- about 1,500 shy of the company's goal for 2007.
On Monday, the company declined to give an updated number. "We did exceed our original projections," Chrysler spokeswoman Michele Tinson said. "We are still in the middle of the process. Each manufacturing location will determine when the accepted programs can be activated."
A spokesman for the UAW declined comment.
"The International Union and the company are in negotiations concerning how and/or when the members in the Detroit LMA will be released and backfilled," the notice to workers at the Mack Engine plant said.
The company had set an internal goal of May for people to leave the company but each facility has the discretion to decide when workers can be let go.
The company is shooting to get people out in a window that stretches from April 30 to June 30, but it could be longer if market demands warrant it, the Free Press learned.
Concerns about job cuts first emerged last fall when it became clear Chrysler was not doing so well.
The company, struggling with a truck-heavy lineup, posted a $1.5-billion operating loss in 2006, a figure that was revised to $680 million recently because of accounting changes.
On Feb. 14, Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda announced the company's second turnaround plan in a decade but it was overshadowed by the indication that the division was up for sale.
In April, DaimlerChrysler chief executive Dieter Zetsche announced that the company was in talks with interested parties about Chrysler's future.
Several interested parties have emerged, most notably: two private equity firms, Blackstone Group and Cerberus Capital Management, and Canadian auto supplier Magna International Inc.
Experts have warned that a private equity firm would likely cut more jobs.
Not everyone was eligible for the buyout and early retirement packages. The company has set goals for each facility to reduce headcount.
The early retirement package includes a single payment of $70,000 and the buyout package includes a $100,000 lump sum.
When Ford Motor Co. offered UAW buyouts nationwide related to its turnaround plan, the take rate was about 45%. Among salaried employees, in some departments too many workers accepted buyouts but those conditional offers were rescinded.
Toledo Jeep has future, expert says
Toledo Jeep has future, expert says
Ohio complex expected to survive Chrysler sale
From Beacon Journal wire services
TOLEDO - If Chrysler is purchased by a Canadian auto parts manufacturer, the impact on the Toledo Jeep Assembly complex and other local DaimlerChrysler AG operations won't be felt immediately, an auto industry analyst said.Chrysler's Summit County operations consist of a stamping plant in Twinsburg.
Magna International Inc. has emerged as a top contender in the possible separation of the struggling Chrysler Group from Daimler. Magna is vying with private equity firms and others to take over or obtain a large stake in Chrysler.
David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich., said Toledo Jeep likely would have a significant role in a restructured company.
There is a high level of uncertainty as to the future of local Chrysler operations, but the Jeep plant will be part of it, he said.
George Magliano, an auto analyst at consulting company Global Insight, said Magna is the ``suitor du jour'' in the bids for Chrysler.
``They are obviously very serious,'' he said. ``They seem to have the inside track.''
The United Auto Workers, who have opposed the sale of Chrysler, are thought by some to favor Magna over the private equity groups that have expressed interest in the automaker.
Magna operates the shop that paints Jeep Wranglers at Toledo Jeep, and it operates a Chrysler plant making Jeeps and other vehicles in Austria.
Its workers at Toledo Jeep are expected to be represented by the UAW. Magna has about 50,000 production workers in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The Toledo complex makes Jeep Libertys and Dodge Nitros as well as Wranglers. Chrysler also operates a machining plant in Perrysburg Township and has a joint-venture engine plant in Dundee, Mich.
Magna was founded in 1957 by Frank Stronach and is a major parts supplier to Daimler and other global automakers.
Daimler officials said this year that Chrysler was for sale, after the U.S. unit lost nearly $1.5 billion last year. But a suitor such as Magna might invest money but not have a majority interest in the firm.
Daimler is reported to be talking with some suitors. Onex Corp., a Canadian investment firm, is working with Magna on the deal, published reports have said.
Other bidders include the Blackstone Group and Cerberus Capital Management, private equity firms that the UAW fears may sharply cut costs and possibly break up Chrysler.
The secrecy of the sale talks and Daimler's interests make it difficult to speculate on the outlook for Chrysler's current operations, analysts said.
By itself, Chrysler likely cannot survive and prosper globally and needs an alliance outside North America, Cole said.
``Until this actually comes down, there is not much that anybody will know about what could happen,'' he said.
Magnitude 5.2 - OFFSHORE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Earthquake Details
| Magnitude | 5.2 |
|---|---|
| Date-Time | = Coordinated Universal Time = local time at epicenter |
| Location | 40.376°N, 125.014°W |
| Depth | 9 km (5.6 miles) |
| Region | OFFSHORE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA |
| Distances | |
| Location Uncertainty | horizontal +/- 0.7 km (0.4 miles); depth +/- 1.7 km (1.1 miles) |
| Parameters | Nst=250, Nph=250, Dmin=58 km, Rmss=0.19 sec, Gp=245°, M-type=regional moment magnitude (Mw), Version=3 |
| Source | |
| Event ID | nc51181705 |
Big Three can't play defense anymore
DETROIT NEWS - - Sen. Barack Obama's finger-wagging lecture this week to Detroit's automakers shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who's paying attention. It's the future if maligned Motown doesn't start playing aggressive offense. Doesn't matter that an Illinois Democrat from the industrial Midwest, a man who would be president, shows scant understanding of the technology, market realities and human limitations of his remedies -- and then jumps on the campaign plane. It's the formula: Whack Detroit, ignore details and draw praise from most any corner outside of, say, three Great Lakes cities, meaning Obama understands very well the times in which he's running for the nomination. Judging by the climatic grandstanding so common now in Washington, he's not alone. Be it Republican or Democrat, be it a vote in Congress or a position on the campaign trail, the times are ripe for policies purported to slow climate change and improve national energy security. Play offense, not defense And if they undermine companies struggling to survive? That's our problem. The path of least resistance runs right through Detroit's weakened automakers and over the United Auto Workers, presumed to back Democrats no matter how inimical their proposed policies may be to the union's future. Doesn't matter that the union and its members are stalwarts of the Democrats. Doesn't matter that Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, remains the industry's protector on Capitol Hill. Doesn't matter how communities could be impacted, most of them Midwest backwaters to party elites. None of it much matters because big, bad Detroit isn't so big or bad anymore. General Motors Co., Ford Motor Corp., Chrysler Group and even Toyota Motor Corp. cannot play defense in Washington on fuel economy, climate change and energy security. It won't work. Viewed from the crumbling ruins of industrial America, Washington has reached an inflection point: There will be political movement on climate change and fuel economy, as the Senate Commerce Committee votes Tuesday on tougher federal fuel economy rules showed. Step on the gas Change will come quickly, too, even if some of it makes little sense. Take Obama's suggestion to pick up 10 percent of Detroit's crushing retiree health care costs, provided that fully half of the annual federal spending goes into improving fuel efficiency. For DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group, which spends $1.56 billion on retiree health care, the federal help would amount to $78 million a year or $29 per vehicle, according to company calculations. Yippee. Put aside the political risk of using taxpayer money to bail out GM, Ford and Chrysler, never a popular play in the "Detroit-is-for-losers" zeitgeist. The dough is piddling, proving how poorly politicians understand the enormity of the burden Detroit is shouldering. It's past time for Detroit to step on the gas in Washington. Tired of Toyota getting all the props for being so fuel-efficient when its V-8 trucks are anything but? Then help drive the debate on fuel-efficiency, or it will drive you. Worried that Democrats in Congress will stall a comprehensive environmental package to wait for a Democrat in the White House? Push for a broad deal now, as some of Detroit's automakers are doing, while Dingell is active, Detroit's balance sheets are iffy and you've got a decent technology story to tell. Convinced that a 4 percent annual improvement in fuel economy starting in 2011 cannot be achieved? Start lining up your bankruptcy counsel; write the surrender-and-blame speeches; and remind the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (and their friends in Congress) just how massive your pension obligations are -- and how heavily they'd weigh on American taxpayers. Doesn't need to end that way, or Obama's way. But doing nothing and hoping is not an option.
This Day in Auto Histroy: 09 MAY
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 | Source: Automobile History Day By Day, by Douglas A. Wick |
Dodge Dashboard Report
he report featured Lucy Perez, who is one of many P.T. Cruiser owners claiming they have defective dashboards."My concern is that we are driving and something happens and this whole thing goes and collapses and we have an accident," Perez said.
The P.T. Cruiser is made by Daimler Chrysler -- the same manufacturer of the Dodge Ram.
In an earlier report, Cooper spoke with a driver who said she lost all power to her headlights when her Dodge Ram dash collapsed while driving at night.
Another man said his dashboard fell apart and pieces fell inside and jammed the gas pedal while he was driving.
Cooper said the dashboard reports have circulated across the country.
The latest dashboard complaints have come from Texas, Missouri, South Carolina, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina, Illinois, New York, New Jersey and Utah."As for Daimler Chrysler, the company has not been consistent in its dialogue with us," Cooper said. "Some days they respond to our inquiries and some days they do not. And it seems the consumers are having the same experience."Cooper said he is looking into how Daimler Chrysler is handling the complaints.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will not comment on the record, except to say it is monitoring the situation.Anyone with a P.T. Crusier, Dodge Ram or another Daimler Chrysler with dashboard problems should call 800-992-1997 and file a complaint with government regulators at safercar.gov.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
http://www.local6.com/news/13282447/detail.html
Dodge Debuts One-of-a Kind Fantasticar in Summer Blockbuster 'Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,' and Reveals Movie-Inspired Paint Scheme on N
-- New Dodge spot airs on May 12 in theaters across the countrySOURCE Chrysler Group
-- No. 19 Dodge Charger of Elliott Sadler to carry special paint scheme at
Coca-Cola 600
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The newest Dodge
brand vehicle will debut on the silver screen this summer in an action
adventure movie with four superheroes who pilot this one-of-a-kind vehicle.
Starting May 12, movie goers across the country will be among the first to
see this vehicle on the silver screen when Dodge debuts its new ad in
cinemas.
The Fantastic Four meet their greatest challenge yet, as the enigmatic
intergalactic herald, the Silver Surfer, comes to Earth to prepare it for
destruction in "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer." Twentieth
Century Fox releases the film on June 15.
The vehicle of choice for the Fantastic Four is the one-of-a-kind
Fantasticar, which can reach speeds of up to 550 mph and an altitude of
30,000 ft. The Fantasticar also can separate into three sections. Each one
has deployable wings and can maintain the same speed and performance as the
entire craft. And yes, it has a HEMI(R).
Among the Dodge cues on the Fantasticar are the brand's signature
crosshair grille with ram's head logo and the Dodge name on the front and
rear fascias. A red ram's head logo also appears on the seat headrests.
"Opportunities to be involved with the cultural icon like the
Fantasticar don't come around very often, so we jumped at the chance to
work with Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox," said Michael Curmi, Senior
Manager - Entertainment Marketing, Chrysler Group. "Dodge is a great
American car brand teaming up with a great American superhero team. We both
have great heritage that appeal to people around the world, so it was only
natural for us to partner on this new Fantastic Four movie with the debut
of the ultimate superheroes vehicle."
Another limited edition Dodge vehicle making its debut on May 27 is the
No. 19 "Fantasticar" Dodge Charger of Elliott Sadler at the NASCAR Nextel
Cup Series' Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The No. 19 car will
feature a stunning paint scheme that showcases the ghost-like Silver Surfer
shooting across the hood, while flames explode over the nose and up the
fenders of the Fantasticar. The familiar Fantastic Four logo will also
adorn both rear quarter panels.
"The No. 19 "Fantasticar" Dodge Charger is a great new look for
Elliott's car, and we expect his race car's performance will rival that of
the Fantasticar in the movie," said Mike Accavitti, Director, Dodge Brand
and SRT Marketing and Communications. "Our motorsports program is an
integral part of Dodge's overall marketing strategy, and with the
Fantasticar Dodge Charger, we're able to generate further awareness and
interest with both general consumers and NASCAR fans."
Other elements of the Dodge partnership with 20th Century Fox and its
partners are a toy Dodge Fantasticar by Hasbro; Dodge Fantasticar inclusion
in the Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer video game; and in-theater
and national television promotions.
In addition to the Fantasticar, the other Dodge vehicles getting screen
time in the "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" are the Dodge Ram
Mega Cab(R) and Durango.
"The Dodge brand is always looking forward to new bold design
directions, so it is inspiring to see the Fantasticar with the Dodge
brand's signature crosshair grille and Ram's head logo in a completely
futuristic vehicle," said Mark Spencer, Senior Manager - Dodge Brand
Communications, Chrysler Group. "We hope people around the world have as
much fun watching the Fantasticar as Dodge Marketing is having promoting
the out-of-this-world vehicle."
Dodger Charger gaining favor with police
The Idaho State Police is one of those switching to the Charger. Lieutenant Eric Dayley states that the Charger has a "muscle-car engine," and that it's better able to deal with speeders going 100+ mph.
Full story here.
Chrysler to highlight fuel economy in new round of dealer ads
Chrysler has created three new ads for their dealers to use that promote their more fuel-efficient vehicles such as the PT Cruiser, Dodge Caliber and Avenger. Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge each get their own ads and all of the vehicles that achieve at least 30 mpg on the EPA ratings is featured. Chrysler is also providing hints to drivers on how to maximize their fuel economy with all the usual stuff like checking tire pressures, replacing air filters, avoiding jack rabbit starts and driving a little slower. In addition, they recommend getting rid of extra weight removing unused items from roof racks and removing empty bike racks and other carriers. The press release and the Jeep commercial are available after the jump.
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Chrysler Group Highlights Fuel Economy in New Dealer Advertising Campaign
Just in time for the summer travel season, Chrysler Group is launching a new dealer advertising campaign highlighting the fuel efficiency of its new cars and small SUVs.
Called “Maximize Your Miles,” the ads from the Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge brands feature vehicles that achieve around 30 mpg, including the Chrysler Sebring, PT Cruiser and 300; Jeep Compass and Patriot; and Dodge Charger, Caliber and Avenger. The Jeep spot was available on May 1 for dealers to air. The Dodge and Chrysler versions will start running on May 7 and May 8, respectively.
“We created this campaign because consumers were looking for more information about our fuel economy ratings,” said George Murphy, Senior Vice President - Global Marketing, Chrysler Group. “As people spend more time traveling in theirs cars during the summer, it made perfect sense to remind them that with Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge products, you don’t need to sacrifice design, style or features to get a good fuel economy.”
In addition to the television spots, Chrysler Group’s fuel economy message will be supported by print and radio advertising, as well as point of purchase and targeted direct mail pieces.
The Spots
The Chrysler brand ad, called “Import,” opens with a voiceover that says, “Chrysler proves you don’t need an import to get great mileage.” The spot then cuts to beautiful, romantic footage of the Chrysler Sebring, PT Cruiser and 300, with supers highlighting the fuel economy rating for each vehicle. The voiceover returns with, “Fuel efficiency never looked so good.”
In the Jeep brand spot, called “Self Serve,” a group of friends are on a road-trip in a Compass and Patriot. After several hours of driving, they stop at a gas station and one of the drivers heads inside to the “squishee” machine. His friends take a few minutes to stretch and play around as they wait. After what seems like a very long time, we see that the driver has filled a 5-gallon gas can from the “squishee” machine. As the vehicles drive off, the voiceover says, “With gas mileage this good, they’ll change the way you think about filling up.”
“Drive Responsibly,” the Dodge brand spot, opens on what appears to be alcohol sloshing into a glass. But as the camera pulls back, a gas pump is revealed and the liquid is gasoline, not alcohol. The voiceover says, “It’s highly refined. It’s imported by the barrel. It’s something you shouldn’t guzzle while driving. Now Dodge goes the distance with our most fuel-efficient line-up ever.” Footage of the Dodge Charger, Caliber and Avenger is interspersed with images of the features available on these cars, including the Boston Acoustics Sound System, ChillZone[TM] beverage cooler and the MyGIG[TM] Infotainment System.
The Jeep brand spot will be available soon. The Dodge ad will be available for viewing on May 4 and the Chrysler version will be posted on May 7.
Get the Most Out of Every Tank
While Chrysler Group is continuing to work to improve the fuel economy of its vehicles through technologies such as Multi-displacement System, more efficient engines and diesel technology, there are additional measures customers can take to enhance their fuel economy.
- Slow down - every 5 mph over 65 mph can decrease fuel economy by as much as 7 percent
- Use modest acceleration when possible, minimizing “jack rabbit” starts
- Moderate use of air conditioning and other accessories such as fog lamps and heated seats
- Use cruise control to help maintain a steady speed
- Limit idle and warm up periods - don’t leave vehicles idle while running in for the cup of coffee in the morning
- Ensure proper vehicle maintenance
- Replace dirty air filters - a clogged air filter can reduce fuel economy as much as 10 percent
- Check tire pressures - tires under inflated by just 2 psi can reduce fuel economy as much as 1 percent
- Remove extra weight from vehicles - an extra 100 pounds in the trunk or pickup box can lower fuel economy 1 to 2 percent
- Reduce aerodynamic drag on vehicle by taking empty cargo carriers, bike racks, ski racks, etc. off - at highway speed, 50 percent of the engine power is used to overcome aerodynamic drag
- Remove unused items from roof racks as a loaded roof rack can reduce fuel economy at highway speeds by as much as 5 percent
- Keep vehicle engine tuned up as a noticeably out of tune engine can reduce fuel economy as much as 4 percent
- If vehicle engine light is on, have the vehicle serviced - faulty components such as an oxygen sensor can reduce fuel economy as much as 40 percent
Will Jeep build the Wrangler JT pickup?
DaimlerChrysler organized a concept car drive today that included some of its most notable cars and trucks from this year's auto show circuit. Sliding behind the wheel of cars like the Chrysler Nassau and Dodge Demon concepts had its moments, but the vehicle that really got our attention was the Jeep Wrangler JT.
This is the Jeep pickup we've all been waiting for, but don't get your hopes up just yet. The Wrangler JT is a one-off concept built by the engineers at DaimlerChrysler's special projects group. It started life as a leaf sprung, military spec Wrangler, but the engineering team swapped in a standard coil spring setup from the latest Wrangler Unlimited. The coils themselves are a part of a 3-inch lift that clears the way for a set of 35-inch mud tires.
It has a 116-inch wheelbase like the Unlimited, but instead of rear seats the JT gets a five-foot pickup bed. Major modifications include a rear bulkhead between the bed and the cab and a new back window. According to Jeep designer Aaron Pizzuti, very little fabrication was needed to build the JT. "The idea was to build a Wrangler pickup that required minimal changes to the standard configuration," he told us.
Behind the wheel, the JT drove like any other Wrangler. A stock 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine provided the power so acceleration was leisurely. Numb steering was no surprise either given this Jeep's nearly three foot tall mud tires. Compared to the other concepts we drove, however, the JT was clearly a more complete vehicle. In fact, Pizutti said the JT made its public debut in Moab, Utah about a month ago and made its way through some of the toughest trails in the park.
Clearly, Jeep is trying to figure out a way to build a Wrangler pickup and the JT is the closest vehicle yet to making it happen. Of course, there's still that issue of actually making money on a Jeep pickup and so far it doesn't appear as though DaimlerChrysler has quite figured that one out yet.--Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Mopar Obscura: The Dodge Superlight!
JALOPNICK.COM | DETROIT - - Hearkening back to the boundless optimism of the American space-age is the Dodge Superlight. Available as an option on the absolute biggest of the Dodge fleet, the Superlight was an early version of now fairly commonplace HID automobile lighting. The option was dropped in 1970 after various legal challenges on the state level and cold war resource allotment eating into Superlight R&D. The Superlight is further proof that the ultimate weapon against communism was the full-size American station wagon.
Related:
Sunday 6 May 2007 | MOTORAUTHORITY.COM
Mercedes-Benz is well on its way to becoming one of the most diverse automotive brands on the market, not an easy task given its need to remain as a premium and exclusive marque. Already in the pipeline are the next generation A and B-class line of cars, and now, Germany?s Auto Zeitung is reporting that there could be a new small roadster based on the same platform earmarked for the next A-class.
Mercedes will be bowing to public criticism surrounding its entry level A and B-class models, which have been labeled as too down-market and not in fitting with the profile of the types of vehicle that usually wear the three-pointed star. For the latest versions, developers will likely exploit economies of scale by possibly utilizing the same underpinnings as the recently revealed C-class saloon.
This would mean a sportier chassis with a rear-wheel drivetrain and higher performance engines. Also, the design of the current A and B-class restricts the size of possible engines because of its east-west engine layout and high floor plan. Moving to the C-class architecture would enable a longitudinal engine configuration, which would mean Mercedes could expand the range with more powerful models. The new cars would also sit lower than the current models, improving handling and dynamics, but will resemble their predecessors by retaining a high roof line.
However, pricing issues may rule out the C-class option. Instead, Mercedes could possibly share just the engines and transmissions between the next A, B and current C-class models, saving development costs while still keeping the production cost of the A-class low.
There are also suggestions that Mercedes might share components across the entire DaimlerChrysler Group, with the likely suspects being the next-gen Chrysler PT Cruiser and Dodge Caliber. Unfortunately, any spin-off of the Chrysler Group could jeopardize the possibility of parts sharing between the German and American sides and could end up pushing back release dates.
As for the roadster, Mercedes hinted at the possibility of such a model with its Vision SLA concept car (pictured) that was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show back in 2000. Based on the first generation A-class, the concept car featured a similar design to the flagship SLR and was powered by the same 1.9L engine from the A190. The Vision SLA also featured extensive use of aluminum and plastic in its construction as well as premium accessories such as the carbon seats and xenon headlights.
Development work for the new A and B-class is still far from complete and the decision to go with the C-class? rear-drive platform is yet to be finalized. But given the increased competition from its rivals and the bad light of previous quality and safety issues surrounding the first A-class, adopting the same running gear as used by the C-class would be a smart move.
http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/m...-sla-roadster/
Mercedes-Benz is well on its way to becoming one of the most diverse automotive brands on the market, not an easy task given its need to remain as a premium and exclusive marque. Already in the pipeline are the next generation A and B-class line of cars, and now, Germany?s Auto Zeitung is reporting that there could be a new small roadster based on the same platform earmarked for the next A-class.
Mercedes will be bowing to public criticism surrounding its entry level A and B-class models, which have been labeled as too down-market and not in fitting with the profile of the types of vehicle that usually wear the three-pointed star. For the latest versions, developers will likely exploit economies of scale by possibly utilizing the same underpinnings as the recently revealed C-class saloon.
This would mean a sportier chassis with a rear-wheel drivetrain and higher performance engines. Also, the design of the current A and B-class restricts the size of possible engines because of its east-west engine layout and high floor plan. Moving to the C-class architecture would enable a longitudinal engine configuration, which would mean Mercedes could expand the range with more powerful models. The new cars would also sit lower than the current models, improving handling and dynamics, but will resemble their predecessors by retaining a high roof line.
However, pricing issues may rule out the C-class option. Instead, Mercedes could possibly share just the engines and transmissions between the next A, B and current C-class models, saving development costs while still keeping the production cost of the A-class low.
There are also suggestions that Mercedes might share components across the entire DaimlerChrysler Group, with the likely suspects being the next-gen Chrysler PT Cruiser and Dodge Caliber. Unfortunately, any spin-off of the Chrysler Group could jeopardize the possibility of parts sharing between the German and American sides and could end up pushing back release dates.
As for the roadster, Mercedes hinted at the possibility of such a model with its Vision SLA concept car (pictured) that was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show back in 2000. Based on the first generation A-class, the concept car featured a similar design to the flagship SLR and was powered by the same 1.9L engine from the A190. The Vision SLA also featured extensive use of aluminum and plastic in its construction as well as premium accessories such as the carbon seats and xenon headlights.
Development work for the new A and B-class is still far from complete and the decision to go with the C-class? rear-drive platform is yet to be finalized. But given the increased competition from its rivals and the bad light of previous quality and safety issues surrounding the first A-class, adopting the same running gear as used by the C-class would be a smart move.
http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/m...-sla-roadster/
Dodge highlights the "La Femme" at Chrysler museum for mom's da
Over the years, a number of cars have come to be known as "Chick Cars", often to the consternation of their manufacturers who have sometimes found it difficult to sell the same cars to male customers. Generally these were not designed specifically to appeal to women, it just turned out that way. In fact, usually when carmakers try to create a car aimed at women, they fail miserably.
One of the early attempts at creating a car for women came from Chrysler. In 1955, it introduced a version of the Dodge Custom Royal Lancer that the marketing mavens felt women would crave. Over two years of production, roughly 2,500 Dodge La Femmes were built before it disappeared into the annals of automotive history. The Walter P Chrysler Museum has now resurrected one 1955 La Femme and will be displaying it this weekend in honor of Mother's day along with 65 other historic Chrysler vehicles. The Chrysler museum is in Auburn Hills at the DaimlerChrysler headquarters complex.
If you're got a mom that's into autos, you can find out more information about in Chrysler's press release after the jump.
[Source: Chrysler]
PRESS RELEASE:
Take Mom on a Nostalgic Trip with the '55 Dodge La Femme at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum
Auburn Hills, Mich., May 7, 2007 - For moms who prefer metal that moves over metal that adorns, stop by the Walter P. Chrysler Museum on Mother's Day weekend for a treat that'll get her motor running. The Museum, in Auburn Hills, will exhibit a newly restored 1955 Dodge La Femme in its original feminine Sapphire White and Heather Rose color scheme Friday through Sunday, May 11 - 13.
Chrysler Corporation introduced the La Femme, a customized Dodge Custom Royal Lancer, as a marketing strategy to appeal to females as the women's automobile market continued to grow.
Museum visitors will find the La Femme's feminine exterior not only featured a spectacular paint palette, but also a special gold-colored "La Femme" script on the fenders. The vehicle's interior was graced with special tapestry upholstery bearing pink rosebuds on a pale pink background and pale pink vinyl trim.
A rectangular purse matching the car's interior was a standard La Femme feature, stowed while driving in a special compartment built into the back of the passenger seat. Each purse came complete with matching compact lipstick and cigarette cases, a lighter and change purse. Also standard was a raincoat, rain bonnet and umbrella in the rosebud pattern that was stored in a compartment behind the driver's seat.
Approximately 2,500 Dodge La Femmes were produced during the 1955 and 1956 model years.
The Walter P. Chrysler Museum highlights more than 65 antique, custom and concept vehicles spanning a century. The Museum's three floors of vehicles, interspersed with interactive displays and exhibits, tells the story of the Chrysler Corporation and its contributions to automotive design, technology and innovation, as well as the automobile's impact on American culture. A theater featuring three continuously running short movies and a Museum Store, stocked with exclusive and hard-to-find collectibles, rounds out the Museum's offerings.
The Museum is open for self-guided tours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Museum admission is $6 for adults and $3 for juniors (ages 6-12) and seniors (62 and older). Children 5 years old and younger are free.
The Walter P. Chrysler Museum is located at the corner of Featherstone and Squirrel Rds. on the DaimlerChrysler complex in Auburn Hills. From I-75, take exit 78 (Chrysler Dr.) and follow the Museum signs.
y Design: 2007 Dodge Demon Concept
By Robert Cumberford | Automobile magazine
1. The cross-bar grille, picked up from the exotic Pegaso cars of the 1950's, has worked well for Dodge for decades and looks great here.
2. Roadsters always look better when the windshield frame is visually separated from the body, even when it doesn't lift off for racing.
3. The headlamp assembly is neat and complete, and we're spared nasty round lamps in the bumper.
4. One of many tidy trapezoids scattered all over the Demon, the brake scoop looks tough and might even conduct some air.
5. This classic fender profile from the days of the Jaguar XK120 and the Triumph TR2 is perfectly executed here, ending in another trapezoidal scoop that neatly finishes the side treatment.
6. Even the center-high mounted stoplight picks up the trapezoid theme, neatly inset on the rear deck to balance the depression on the hood at the front of the car.
7. These nineteen-inch wheels would ruin the ride. If Dodge kept the outside tire diameter and ran the car on seventeens, it would be both comfortable and stuck down.
8. This diagonal line sets up the entire rear, neatly terminated by trapezoidal exhaust outlets that close the composition.
9. Apart from the badge, these are the only metallic-look elements on the back. The whole car is quite artfully done - a nice change from recent Chrysler work.
10. The taillights give a slightly droopy look to the rear, but from standing height they look a lot better, with clever sculpting giving character without high cost.
11. Freestanding roll bars seem a little short for true rollover protection, but at least the idea is there.
12. This looks simple, inexpensive, and made of existing elements. And we like it for just those reasons. Simplicity is a true virtue.
13. The seats blessedly have a tough fabric covering instead of the dreaded leather. Cloth is much, much better in roadsters. Really.
14. The whole of the cockpit is subdued, straightforward, honest, and worthy of a serious car.
One naturally thinks of sports cars in springtime. After a long winter closed up in houses, offices, and practical cars, there's magic in the idea of an easy, aimless top-down promenade in a roadster. The car needn't be excessively fast, since wafting and wandering is more the order of the day than blasting quickly through cold, late-winter air.
The Geneva show did us proud this year, with a pair of distinctive two-seat concept exercises: the Fiat-based roadster created by Carrozzeria Bertone for its ninety-fifth anniversary and this Dodge Demon, which looks like a preproduction teaser, not a vague concept. Chrysler claims it's just an idea, but it certainly could be built, and it would come into a sweet spot in the market, priced somewhere close to the original Mazda Miata, a favorite that has become too expensive for what it's meant to be.
After a distressing series of disastrously styled cars recently, Chrysler stylists have redeemed themselves with this one. It is at once cute and tough looking, easily recognizable as a Dodge, and quite clearly American, with its big grille and its overdone surfaces. Moreover, even if all stylistic originality were to be expunged, they got the overall size and proportions right. The stock Pontiac Solstice may have a four-cylinder engine, but it can--and in some aftermarket versions, does--accommodate a small-block V-8. That's a highly unlikely outcome for this tidy little machine, which is all the better for it.
The Demon uses Chrysler's 2.4-liter four, a slightly stronger engine than the Mazda's, but it weighs only five percent more than the Japanese car--and almost 400 pounds less than the Solstice. It ought to be a good performer, even if that has never been vitally important for entry-level sports cars. The T-series MGs, Morgan Four Fours, and Singer SM1500 roadsters of the 1950s were great fun to drive, but they just barely got out of their own way, and no one really minded very much.
Ultimate missiles such as the Dodge Viper and the Chevy Corvette Z06 are great to have around, but it's always good to see more accessible sports cars that are intended for broader and more regular use, where the fun factor outweighs the fear factor. For seventeen years, we at Automobile Magazine have enjoyed the unpretentious Miata and the driving pleasure it has given us through three generations. It's wonderful to think that a similarly lightweight, simple sports car could become available from, if not an American company, at least a Detroit-based one.
After a host of product letdowns, Chrysler deserves a reprieve, and this funky little car is perfectly placed to give the company a psychological--and financial--boost that would work wonders. As Dodge tries to establish a place in Europe, what could be better than an inexpensive, strong, stylish, and truly desirable roadster? |
Daimler-Chrysler AG Patent Updates
Penske takes his Smarts on the road
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| Motorized microcar marketing makes multiple marks |
AutoWeek | Published 05/07/07, 3:39 pm et |
Traditional car dealer Roger Penske is pulling out all the stops to introduce consumers to the smaller-than-expected and larger-than-life Smart microcar.
Not only must Penske create a distribution company from scratch and establish an automotive brand in a crowded arena, but he must convince sport/utility-vehicle-driving, truck-loving America that these cars are not a safety hazard. Oh, and he has to sell more than a few boatloads to turn a profit.
Few observers believe the Smart will be anything but a success.
To help establish Smart USA, a 56-city national tour of trailers stuffed with the cute, fuel-efficient German minicars—they’re less than 9 feet long and only 5 feet tall—will canvass America. Each trailer
carries two cars for test drives, plus a cutaway Smart skeleton to emphasize its safety capabilities. The tour kicks off this month on the West Coast and concludes in November in Miami, visiting each city where Smart will have a dealership. The company expects the Smart tour will put some 70,000 people behind the wheel.
Overseeing Smart’s launch are Dave Schembri and Russell Hill, two auto industry veterans with decades of import factory and retail experience. They have devised plans to make Smart a household name.
“It’s ‘discovery marketing,’” says Schembri, Smart USA president. “People like to discover things and take ownership. It happens when you are on the highway and people wave at you to slow down and so they can take a picture. They’ve ‘discovered’ the car.”
Four groups have shown interest: first-time car owners, urban dwelling “metro-cools,” commuters and empty-nesters. The Smart website also has helped identify strong geographic areas of interest, which will help channel product to the right markets as well as prepare for service support down the road.
Three models will be sold in the United States: Smart Fortwo Pure, an entry-level coupe starting at less than $12,000; Smart Fortwo Passion, a coupe with comfort and style items (such as a panoramic roof and paddle shifters) for $14,000; and Smart Fortwo Passion Cabrio for less than $17,000. Each has antilock brakes, electronic stability control and four airbags. Each is powered by a 1.0-liter engine that delivers 84 hp, an estimated 40-plus mpg in the city and more than 60 mpg on highway. Top speed is near 90 mph.
Is America ready for microcar ownership? Absolutely, say Schembri and Hill, and they have the data and advance orders to show it. “If we get credit for inventing the microcar in America, then we become the Coke and everyone else is Pepsi,” says Schembri. “We can live with that.”
Consumers interested in test drives can find the tour itinerary at www.smartusa.com. Buyers can plop down $99 to make a reservation to order a car, with the first deliveries starting in January 2008.
Not only must Penske create a distribution company from scratch and establish an automotive brand in a crowded arena, but he must convince sport/utility-vehicle-driving, truck-loving America that these cars are not a safety hazard. Oh, and he has to sell more than a few boatloads to turn a profit.
Few observers believe the Smart will be anything but a success.
To help establish Smart USA, a 56-city national tour of trailers stuffed with the cute, fuel-efficient German minicars—they’re less than 9 feet long and only 5 feet tall—will canvass America. Each trailer
carries two cars for test drives, plus a cutaway Smart skeleton to emphasize its safety capabilities. The tour kicks off this month on the West Coast and concludes in November in Miami, visiting each city where Smart will have a dealership. The company expects the Smart tour will put some 70,000 people behind the wheel.
Overseeing Smart’s launch are Dave Schembri and Russell Hill, two auto industry veterans with decades of import factory and retail experience. They have devised plans to make Smart a household name.
“It’s ‘discovery marketing,’” says Schembri, Smart USA president. “People like to discover things and take ownership. It happens when you are on the highway and people wave at you to slow down and so they can take a picture. They’ve ‘discovered’ the car.”
Four groups have shown interest: first-time car owners, urban dwelling “metro-cools,” commuters and empty-nesters. The Smart website also has helped identify strong geographic areas of interest, which will help channel product to the right markets as well as prepare for service support down the road.
Three models will be sold in the United States: Smart Fortwo Pure, an entry-level coupe starting at less than $12,000; Smart Fortwo Passion, a coupe with comfort and style items (such as a panoramic roof and paddle shifters) for $14,000; and Smart Fortwo Passion Cabrio for less than $17,000. Each has antilock brakes, electronic stability control and four airbags. Each is powered by a 1.0-liter engine that delivers 84 hp, an estimated 40-plus mpg in the city and more than 60 mpg on highway. Top speed is near 90 mph.
Is America ready for microcar ownership? Absolutely, say Schembri and Hill, and they have the data and advance orders to show it. “If we get credit for inventing the microcar in America, then we become the Coke and everyone else is Pepsi,” says Schembri. “We can live with that.”
Consumers interested in test drives can find the tour itinerary at www.smartusa.com. Buyers can plop down $99 to make a reservation to order a car, with the first deliveries starting in January 2008.
This Day in Auto History: 08 MAY
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| Source: Automobile History Day By Day, by Douglas A. Wick |