Chrysler wants to bring up to 9 new vehicles by 2010
There has been a lot of talk recently about whether Chrysler has the right products in the pipeline to compete in this brutally competitive automotive market. Company chairman Jim Press told a group of reporters in California that help is on the way in the form of seven new products coming in calendar year 2010. Chrysler top procurement officer John Campi stated recently that the number could be as high as nine, but we suspect the number disparity could be a result of Campi counting vehicle variations as separate models. Neither Campi or Press gave any details of upcoming models, but analysts think they know which products are coming our way. Erich Merkle of Crowe Chizek and Co. sees only five vehicles arriving in 2010, including the next generation 300, Durango, Grand Cherokee, Charger, and the Nissan-based Dodge Hornet (or other small car). The Pentastar may also be counting separately hybrid versions of some of the models, but there is also a chance there's an all-new model or two based on collaborations Chrysler has with other automakers that analysts don't know about.
Press and Campi aren't the only executives talking about future product, either. Chrysler top dog Bob Nardelli said last month that a new fuel efficient vehicle may coming as soon as next year as well, and we suspect that model could be the Hornet. Press stressed that it took years for Chrysler to end up where it is today, and that it will take at least three years to pull the privately owned company out of the abyss. It's good to hear Chrysler is still alive an kicking, and we're looking forward to seeing what the Auburn Hills, MI automaker has up its sleeve.
[Source: Free Press]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Gstill 5:40PM (9/10/2008)
I would love desperately to see the M80/Rampage or some other small truck positioned below the Dakota, or the J8 Wrangler pickup.
They desperately need a small car below the Caliber (like the Hornet).
A Sebring/Avenger replacement could be in the pipeline close to 2010 as well to make up for the mistakes there.
They need to make a bigger splash in hybrids besides the Durango/Aspen too.
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Torrent 5:44PM (9/10/2008)
I heard a 300C Hybrid would be coming with it's next redesign.
G-Meister 8:17AM (9/11/2008)
Exactly- a KK based Comanche or M80 would be great. Throw in a VW sourced TDI (just buy the whole emissions package) and call me a happy motorist.
Torrent 5:42PM (9/10/2008)
Well I can think of nine vehicles they should cancel by 2010: Pacifica, PT Cruiser, Sebring, Caliber, Nitro, Compass, Commander, Avenger and Crossfire.
Bring in the Hornet, Phaeton, Nassau, Demon, Firepower, ME 412, Zeo, Trailhawk, and Renegade, or things that look like those........ Or something.....
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SPG 7:39PM (9/10/2008)
As a regular reader I'm sure you're quite aware that some of the vehicles you mentioned are being cut, before 2010 even.
Torrent 9:00PM (9/10/2008)
I know, but they need to be cut ASAP- is all I'm saying.
Judy Zik 11:06AM (9/11/2008)
Okay boss we will just stop production today since you are so wise in all knowing in the ways of business and these products are such a blight in your eyes.
Now boss what would you like us to do with our parts inventory and shipments of new parts for those vehicles. Under our contract we have to still keep buying them for the next couple of years.
Oh and great all wise and all knowing boss there is the matter of the handful of plants and thousands of workers. You see the new product isn't available yet. We can't just close the plants and throw the workforce out of work because we are going to need them in a couple of years to build the new products. I guess we could pay them to stay at home. Of course that could be difficult to manage since we wont have much money coming in since we wont be selling half our product line for two years but we still have the overhead costs of maintaining the plants that build them.
Congratulations boss. You bankrupted the company.
Torrent 12:28PM (9/11/2008)
Calm down, woman.
Kumar 5:46PM (9/10/2008)
Hmm... wagon versions of a redesigned sebring and avenger along with a diesel collaboration with VW would go quite a ways.
The PT would've been extra sweet (and the caliber tolerable) with a diesel option. Without it, it was just a practical car with meh mpg returns.
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imoore 5:47PM (9/10/2008)
If what Jim Press said is true, then we should see a big turn-around at Chrysler in terms of products. Now, if they can produce the publicity to match the products, then it could be happy days at Auburn Hills once again.
I may be wrong, but i feel a lot of what happened at Chrysler recently was due to its merger with Daimler. Aside from the 300, a lot of the brand's offerings were just plain dull and uninspired. Maybe now things can turn around for the better.
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Judy Zik 11:20AM (9/11/2008)
For me the 300 was the car that started the downfall. I owned an Intrepid at the time and was really looking forward to it's replacement and felt so let down. The styling was great but they got a lot of the details wrong. It was the beginning of the hard cheap feeling plastics. From the outside the car looked great but on the inside to my eye you could see all the places where they were trying to cut costs. It was also the first Chrysler car where they threw away the notion of being able to see out. 300 owners often have trouble seeing overhead traffic lights due to the angles and Avenger back seat passengers (especially children) can't see out without leaning forward. Form was winning out over function.
imoore 5:49PM (9/10/2008)
How about adding the Jeep Gladiator and JT pickup into the mix as well?
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MemphisNET 9:23PM (9/10/2008)
As much as I LOVE the Gladiator concept - and would purchase one myself - the market won't bare any more trucks.
J. D. Billiford 6:05PM (9/10/2008)
>>> This is actually some pretty exciting news coming from the land of the Pentastar. I hope their plans and efforts come to fruition.
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gas 6:11PM (9/10/2008)
I thought they were talking about consolidating or reducing nameplates. Maybe they still are, and then backfilling with less redundant vehicles.
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Zeus.:God 6:10PM (9/10/2008)
Bring back the XJ?
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Gardiner Westbound 7:14PM (9/10/2008)
Is there enough government bail-out money to keep Chrysler going until 2010?
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Stéphane Dumas 7:31PM (9/10/2008)
A bit off-topic on the thread but I spotted this info at Allpar, there some speculations then the next-gen Nissan Quest might use the platform of the Dodge Caravan/Chrysler T&C according to this article from the Windsor Star
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=fbb91e0b-fb2b-4435-a145-3c0d0f08f97b
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G-Meister 8:25AM (9/11/2008)
It would make sense in as much as the Quest is strictly North American market (not a global product) and if its good enough for VW, it should be fine for Nissan.
gmoney706 10:40PM (9/10/2008)
9 new vehicles??? I dare them to make one quality vehicle.
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