China & US: Chrysler pulling out of Daimler Beijing joint venture

By Michael Murphy
25 August, 2008
Source: Automotive World

Daimler and Chrysler have reached an agreement about disbanding co-operation in Beijing Benz-DaimlerChrysler, the three-way joint venture with Beijing Auto.

Chrysler looks for Ram's strengths to crush market woes

Ford F-150 delay could help

BY TIM HIGGINS • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER •

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- The weather in Santa Barbara can be fairly predictable: Overcast skies in the morning that burn away by midday, revealing beautiful sunny days.

Chrysler LLC hopes for the same in the once-reliable U.S. pickup market as it launches the redesigned Dodge Ram -- a supremely important vehicle in the Chrysler lineup -- during a turbulent time.

The current truck market is so stormy, in fact, that Ford Motor Co. postponed the launch of its redesigned F-150 by two months, saving Chrysler from having to compete face-to-face with the launch of its vehicle this summer and early fall.

Chrysler executives in Santa Barbara last week to publicize the new Ram, which will begin trickling onto dealer lots late this month, say they believe there's still a long-term market for pickups. "As far as we're concerned, this is the best time to launch our best truck ever. As we see competitors backing off a little bit, it's our opportunity to take some share with this brand-new truck," said Marc Seguin, the Ram launch manager. "I'd rather go to a gunfight with a really big gun, and that's what we have here."

The Dodge Ram, known for its styling and Hemi engine, is the underdog to Ford's F-Series, which has carried the title of best-selling vehicle for decades but has come under new pressure as the industry slumps because of a sour housing market and high gasoline prices.

"They won't be competing with the launch of the F-150 anymore because that's delayed, so I can see how that's beneficial to them," said Rebecca Lindland, an industry analyst with Global Insight. New vehicle launches are ushered in with large media campaigns, so two new, big-name truck launches at the same time could lead to "media overload" and potential "consumer confusion," she said.

But Chrysler's edge is probably only slight and temporary, she added.

"Right now there isn't any advantage to anything because the market is so bad," Lindland said. "I guess you need to take what you can get."

Tom LaSorda, a Chrysler president and vice chairman, seemed delighted with Ford's decision during a recent interview.

"We like the fact that Ford delayed. They could delay for another year as far as we're concerned," LaSorda joked. "That gives us a lot of opening from a brand perspective and marketing perspective to launch this car without being overlapped with Ford marketing."

Ford expects its new truck to hit showrooms around October, said Becky Sanch, a Ford spokeswoman.

"The new truck is great. Our customers are really excited about it," she said.

"Whatever they want to do is independent to why we're making our business decisions," she said about Chrysler. "F-150 has been a leader, and we plan to remain a leader. We think our timing is really going to work well for our business."

Ford sold almost twice as many F-series trucks last year as Chrysler sold Dodge Rams in the United States. But the entire pickup market is hurting. So far this year, total large pickup sales are down 24.6% from last year, according to Autodata. U.S. Ram sales are down 30% in that same period.

But Ram remains Chrysler's top-selling nameplate by far.

In announcing the F-150 launch delay last June, Ford officials said the company was left with more of the old body style of the trucks than it needs and wanted to sell them off before launching a new version.

The extra time may have eased pressure on Ford to slash prices and clear out old models. Incentives last month were worth just under $5,000 per F-150, according to Edmunds.com, while Chrysler's incentives on the Dodge Ram were about 50% higher at $7,458 -- and about $5,000 more than the average for all vehicles.

While incentives have diverged, inventories for the two trucks remain similar. According to J.D. Power and Associates' Power Information Network data, a Dodge Ram sat on a dealer's lot for an average of 109 days before being sold in July -- up from 57 a year ago. Ford's days-to-turn was 111 in July. The total industry retail turn rate in July was 62 days.

LaSorda, who is in charge of Chrysler production, said truck sales in July were ahead of the company's plan. "It's right in line with Jim Press' plan of taking the old truck inventory down," LaSorda said, referring to Chrysler's president in charge of sales. "In fact, he's ahead of plan."

The Ram's new design is more evolutionary than revolutionary, staying true to its distinctive big-rig look.

Designers spent considerable time working on making the vehicle more aerodynamic. They also gave more attention to interior quality. Analysts have said the new Ram's interiors are a remarkable improvement over the previous model.

"I like the new Ram. I think the product is good," said Erich Merkle, an industry analyst with Crowe Chizek and Co., an accounting and consulting firm. "But the problem is it's launching into a firestorm. This is a difficult market. You've got new home construction at lows that we haven't seen in almost 20 years, and you've got gas prices at very close to record highs."

Contact TIM HIGGINS at 313-222-8784 or thiggins@freepress.com.

Chrysler

Chrysler is launching its pickup at a time when rivals have delayed truck plans. Execs say this allows consumers to give their undivided attention to Ram marketing.

That Ford delayed its F-150 "gives us a lot of opening from a brand perspective and marketing perspective to launch this car without being overlapped," said Tom Lasorda, a Chrysler president and vice chairman.

January photo by ERIC SEALS/Detroit Free Press

Chrysler introduced the 2009 Dodge Ram with a dramatic cattle drive on the streets of downtown Detroit at this year's North American International Auto Show.

What's it got?

The 2009 Dodge Ram, which starts at $22,170, has a much improved interior and new optional features.

Hot seats (or not): Front seats can be heated and ventilated. Even heated rear seats are available.

Kids' TV: Chrysler is also offering a Sirius satellite TV setup in the backseat with children's programming, just like the minivans.

RamBox: Along the truck's bed are optional weatherproof, lockable, drainable, illuminated storage bins.

Car and truck sales pick up in July

Richmond Hill, Ontario - Sales of new vehicles in Canada were up 5.0 per cent in July, with pickup trucks recording their first monthly increase in over a year, according to industry analyst Dennis DesRosiers. Once again, the Honda Civic and Ford F-Series led the passenger car and light truck lists.

“Even pickup truck buyers came back to the market,” DesRosiers said. “Not in droves, but large pickup truck sales were up 1.4 per cent in July for the first monthly increase in over a year.” He also noted that small, entry-level vehicles were up 12.5 per cent in July, while sales of larger vehicles were down.

The top ten best-selling passenger cars in July, in order, were the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Toyota Yaris, Chevrolet Cobalt, Hyundai Accent, Toyota Camry, Toyota Matrix, Pontiac G5 and Honda Accord.

The top ten best-selling passenger cars year-to-date, to the end of July, were the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Toyota Yaris, Chevrolet Cobalt, Hyundai Accent, Pontiac G5, Toyota Camry, Ford Focus and Toyota Matrix.

The top ten best-selling light trucks in July, in order, were the Ford F-Series, Dodge Ram, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Dodge Caravan, Ford Escape, Ford Ranger, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Pontiac Montana SV6.

The top ten best-selling light trucks year-to-date, to the end of July, were the Ford F-Series, Dodge Ram, Dodge Caravan, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford Escape, Ford Ranger, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Chevrolet Uplander.

Saleen SMS 6.1

SMS 6.1

County of Orange, California. (August 7, 2008) the icon of its new company SMS and motor vehicles Steve Saleen are proud to present the first product in the line of SMS of the technical parts of ultra-high execution, the superheater of SMS 296, designed, machine, built and internally joined together with our dexterity of 150.000 square feet. The owners of Mopar of 2005 to 2009 vehicles of HEMI 5.7 and HEMI 6.1 can now amplify under powers in horses of cap until 45% with the new innovating superheater of duel-screw (pending patent). With over 30 years of an experiment of packing Steve Saleen and design of SMS and the team of construction created the final superheater for enthusiasts of Mopar. Maintaining the community of market of the accessories can benefit from the superheater of SMS 296, which will be standard equipment over 2009 the challenger strongly envisaged of SMS 570 and the challenger of SMS 570X, with estimates of power of 500 with more than 700 powers in horses respectively! The superheater of SMS 296 is packed with the innovating configurations created by engineers of SMS to provide the optimum push in a particularly compact package. With the top of the list is the intermediate cooler interns of Delta-Braces (pending patent), with the intermediate coolers duels of thin-core and the simple flow of master key of coolant. The intermediate design of cooler envisages an considerable increase of the surface, which for the purpose reducing the fall of pressure to the minimum and of optimizing thermal characteristics. The intelligent configuration also acts as a mechanical shunting for the effective transfer of air in the ports, whereas the pipe with angles allows the packing of the runners which are muh longer than in the terms of collective agreements. The long runner of catch optimizes the effectiveness of flow of air and provides to the superheater of SMS 296 extremely - a low profile. This arrangement means that it niche comfortably in V, and under the cap running of all the applications, as while adapting to a system of deviation for cruising with three ways to far-amplify. In the middle of the superheater are the asymmetrical screws of compressor of multi-lobe, which are machined internally by SMS on the equipment of the very last thing of numerical control per computer. The concept of screw is among most effective of all the configurations of superheater. However, it is also one of the more provocante to be manufactured. In order to reduce to the maximum of the parasitic losses, it is crucial to maintain tolerances incredibly tight between the profiles of the asymmetrical lobes. Dryness running at the speeds of up to 16.000 t/mn, there is not any part for the error. By finishing the profiles of screw, the flexible service of machining of numerical control per computer of SMS functions with the harassing tolerances. The flexibility of the equipment also means that changes of the profiles of screw can be adapted for various applications. The innovations on the superheater of SMS 296 carry out at its outside, with completions of SMS and options made on order to measure of color of powder coat to match the majority of the colors of Mopar. Maintaining the enthusiasts can match the impact under the cap with that with the aft wheels. The complete market of the accessories of superheater of SMS 296 seems large and installs easily under the cap running of all the applications including/understanding; challenger SRT-8 of turning, challenger R/T of turning, charger SRT-8 of turning, charger R/T of turning, magnum SRT-8 of turning, magnum right-hand side of turning, Chrysler 300C SRT-8, Chrysler 300C, large jeep SRT-8 cherokee, and selected trucks of turning of 5.7L Hemi.

FOR SALE: 1994 Doedge Viper S/C

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Description: 1994 RT/10, 28000 miles, 10# Roe with custom PBJ Heads/Cam package, water/meth. Approx 1800 miles since Head/Cam package. Includes all original parts, wheels, 3 piece hardtop. Car has seen rain 4 times, never seen snow(picture listed in snow so I could get a pic of the new 3 piece top I had put on!) Moving up to a GTS, no room for 2 Vipers. Interested in trade for the right GTS possibly. Keywords: 645RWHP 745RWTQ Red Gen 1

Dodge dealers: We're in a box

When Dodge unveiled its redesigned 2009 Ram 1500 pickup at the Detroit auto show in January, Doug Alley liked what he saw. Alley, a Dodge dealer in Kingsport, Tenn., said he was especially enamored of the RamBox, a lockable storage option in the bed of the crew cab version. Chrysler LLC CEO Bob Nardelli and co-President Jim Press hyped the feature as a game-changer.

Chrysler 7-seater Dodge Journey to be launched in UK

Chrysler 7-seater Dodge Journey to be launched in UK

Posted on 24 August 2008

Chrysler has confirmed that the new Chrysler Dodge Journey will hit the showrooms in the UK, by end-August 2008. The front-wheel drive Chrysler Dodge Journey that can carry seven people. Chrysler has said that the Chrysler Dodge Journey is aimed at families that need the functionality and utility of an MPV, but don’t want the look of a traditional people carrier. The Chrysler Dodge Journey, which sports a diesel engine, has the functionalities of an MPV. Fuel efficiency being one of the key features, the Chrysler Dodge Journey will have a 2.4-litre petrol engine or a 2.0-litre diesel engine. The diesel engine comes with manual as well as dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

The Chrysler Dodge Journey will sport a starting price tag of £16,995 for the petrol SE, £19,995 for the diesel SXT manual, and £22,995 for the diesel R/T automatic. The Dodge Journey’s entry-level SE model will come with three-zone climate control, a tilt and telescope steering wheel, tyre pressure monitoring, power-folding and heated wing mirrors, electric windows and six-disc CD with MP3 compatible sound system all as standard.

Chrysler has added a slew of family-friendly features, such as a tilt and slide flexible seating system, spacious under-floor storage bins, and under-seat storage areas; rear doors that open to 90-degrees for easy access when installing child seats; a rear conversation mirror and climate control that operates in all three rows.

The Dodge Journey diesel R/T model has heated front seats, steering wheel mounted audio controls, and at an extra cost of £1500 the MyGIG infotainment” system that has satellite navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and a rear parking camera.

Reviews of the Chrysler Dodge Journey say that it is almost 10 per cent better value than key competitors when comparing similarly equipped models. The Chrylser Dodge Journey will be pitted against the Mazda5, Ford S-MAX, and Citroen Picasso.