REPORT: Chrysler rehiring white collar workers to get new product out fast
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee - click above for high-res image gallery
The new product picture at Chrysler appears to be mighty thin, as the only new products scheduled to come out of the Pentastar over the next year are redesigns of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Ram Heavy Duty and the Chrysler 300. As you may recall, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne recently said that he was surprised to see how little has been done in the way of product development over the past two years, which is hardly a ringing endorsement from the new boss.
Marchionnne and his management team are now putting the final touches on a new plan to reverse Chrysler's fortunes, and the key to the company's renaissance will be new product. The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Marchionne's plan includes quick turnarounds on the refreshing of the Town & Country and Grand Caravan minivans, the Dodge Caliber, as well as the Jeep Patriot and Compass. According to company sources, the PT Cruiser is also scheduled to be redesigned in a compressed time frame, with the expectation of a mid-2011 arrival.
To execute the aggressive plan, Marchionne is reportedly calling for design and engineering workers to work overtime, and some workers who took packages or were separated involuntarily will be hired back on a contract basis. Beyond the refreshes already mentioned, Fiat has already committed to build the hot little 500 in Mexico by mid-2011, and the Pentastar will also complete the launch of its Phoenix V6 engine program.
Marchionne is scheduled to deliver his latest proposal to overhaul Chrysler to the Obama Administration's Auto Task Force by next Wednesday. It looks like there is finally going to be some serious action in Auburn Hills, MI, and we're hoping that Fiat and Chrysler can buy two years' time to bring the greatly-needed product to fruition.
Gallery: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Rar 11:36AM (9/25/2009)
good luck.
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Kumar 11:51AM (9/25/2009)
Definitely. At least they're hitting on the product that has a remote chance of selling.
Facelifts and reskins to the overly boxy looking current product could go a long way. Best bet: "steal" the look of the Routan and apply it to the T&C. ;)
It will be interesting to see what they do with the PT. The newer interior looked worse than the original, but it got refinements over the years. Maybe going back retro again and throwing a diesel motor in it?
Avinash machado 11:37AM (9/25/2009)
Instead of refreshing the Compass, maybe they should just kill it. It is a disgrace to the Jeep heritage.
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Grandeos 11:43AM (9/25/2009)
I disagree. I think the COMPASS is the only vehicle in the Jeep lineup that actually moves their design language forward. All the other vehicles are blocky, ridged, and boring. To me it looks like a re-iteration of the squareness of the 80's. The Jeep Commander especially.
Stop looking back, and move forward. That what i say =)
artandcolour 11:52AM (9/25/2009)
grandeos: Compass moves the design direction forward? in what way? it's got slab sides, an oddly sculpted and winged front bumper. the D pillar is a mess, the wheel wells don't have any character, and as for the car itself, it's a front wheel drive economy car. none of that works for the Jeep brand. the Jeep brand IS blocky and that's what off-road vehicles should be.
according to this article though, the PT Cruiser IS going to be redesigned? i thought it was going to die off.
RowFive 12:01PM (9/25/2009)
@ Grandeos: I think Avinash's derisive comments towards the Compass is in response to its less-than-rugged, FWD-car-derived platform. I would agree with you that Jeep's design language needs to evolve, and while the Compass did effectively give it a shove in a new direction, it essentially pushed it off a cliff. The Compass is worse than ugly; it's clumsy and amateur looking. From both an engineering and styling perspective, I think it is a poor fit for the Jeep brand. I don't care much for its sibling, the Patriot, either, though it is much easier on the eyes.
BassClef 12:05PM (9/25/2009)
Ok, the Compass concept was a Subaru-esque rally car meant to take Jeep in a new direction (at least that's what the rhetoric pointed to). Surely it's not too hard to reskin the vehicle and set up the AWD to work with a straight shift. Then suddenly the Compass is relevant and competitive!
davidmeza 11:40AM (9/25/2009)
Why? Aren't these the same idiots who cranked out the junk that nobody wanted before?
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ehisforadam 11:44AM (9/25/2009)
Engineers and designers can only do so much with the money they're given and corporate directives they have to work within. Hopefully Fiat will be giving them the money and other resources they need to improve things.
steve clark 11:56AM (9/25/2009)
No, you're thinking of Daimler-Benz, AKA Mercedes-Benz. They were the former owner.
Then some investment company that really didn't know what they were getting into before the economy tanked.
I'm excited about the PT Cruiser news, but confused since I talked with one of the chief design guys a month ago and he said it was dead. Perhaps Marchionne's impetus on new product is resurrecting it. : )
Tomac 12:06PM (9/25/2009)
ehisforadam: I agree money helps, but solid engineering and design stem from creative and intelligent engineers and designers. Unless you put the right talent in place, you're going to make garbage, even if you're well funded. At one time I really liked Chrysler's design, though I've never thought much of their engineering. I don't think much of anything they have at this point.
Jim 12:26PM (9/25/2009)
"ehisforadam: I agree money helps, but solid engineering and design stem from creative and intelligent engineers and designers. "
you can have all the intelligent and talented people in the world, but if the people above them are constantly saying "no you can't do that," or "no, there's no money for that" then you're still going to get mediocre products.
Vincenzo 1:27PM (9/25/2009)
Brilliant , just brilliant. ... Lay off all the white collars who have the experience, and product knowledge, and hire in new virgins who know nothing, with no experience....at a lowe rate....great! should lead to better product , on time gates, and less recalls.......
Jim 2:03PM (9/25/2009)
If you look at the big areas where Chrysler vehicles have fallen down, it's been in a couple key areas:
1) materials- the programs only approve budget for the cheap-ass interior materials they use, skimping on sheet metal leading to the doors sounding tinny and flimsy.
2) reliability. Cutting corners in validation testing leads to failure modes not being found in testing (things like the ABS connector corrosion causing Sebring/Avenger cars to shut down and not restart.)
in most all cases like these, someone higher up the chain is making the decision to save money whether or not its advisable.
yosh 11:40AM (9/25/2009)
Whenever I think about this, it makes me wonder what the hell Chrysler was thinking all along. It seems like they just put their arms up in the air and quit - only 3 new models? that's incredible.
I want Chrysler to succeed. This hard work may pay off and 2011 will be an interesting year for them. I really don't know why they're not green lighting the 200c concept for production. What a dumb move.
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Ligor 12:05PM (9/25/2009)
I agree with the 200C
I'm due in teh next few years to replace my '03 G35 adn that 200C looked hot in the concept form
I want to stick with RWD, so the 200C timing would have been right no, but now I guess it may never happen, so there it goes
the 300C is just too blocky for me adn the vew outwards from a driver stand point is way to annoyingly small
Judy Zik 6:00PM (9/25/2009)
I have to agree. It is pretty obvious that the folks who canned new product development knew they weren't going to be around to take the flak for it. It borders on criminal. A car company is only as good as their new product. It is going to be a long cold two years for Chrysler trying to survive on it's lineup of dogs. It is going to be fire sales and fleets just to keep the plants alive.
I am impressed with this decision though. If Cerberus had done this when they walked in things might have been different. The PT news actually has me excited. It would be nice to see the poor old PT get a tiny bit of love. Maybe if the refresh works it might even live on with a modern Fiat platform underneath it.
Greg Aryous 11:55AM (9/25/2009)
Sorry, but this rush-rush attitude and over working your employees does NOT instill any since of confidence in the quality to their products to come... not with my money!
Go look at the "plan and process" Ford has for R&D of new vehicles and the testing they are doing to ensure quailty and durability... don't hear any of that from Crisisler.
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steve clark 12:07PM (9/25/2009)
So they're failing because you're not up to speed with their plan details? I don't follow.
Andy 12:13PM (9/25/2009)
Agreed whole-heartedly Greg. Ford, O'Christ-ler is not.