Autoblog

Tall wagon/hatch segment drawing more new entries, but not many customers?

Chris Shunk — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Wagon, Crossover, Hatchback, Honda, Earnings/Financials

The Chrysler Pacifica lasted all of four years before it was unceremoniously dumped from the Pentastar's lineup. The Ford Freestyle endured a name change after three model years, then lasted two more as the Taurus X before being sent out to pasture. The Cadillac SRX lasted six years as a tall wagon before being completely redone as a more traditional front-drive -based crossover for 2010. Mercedes-Benz's R-Class, essentially a lux'd out minivan without sliding doors, has been gathering moss since it rolled into U.S. dealers for 2006.

Despite the less-than-stellar sales numbers of the aforementioned vehicles, there are a surprising number of tall wagons, genre-bending tippy hatches and style-over-utility people movers on the market, and more are on the way. The most recently announced entry into the tall wagon segment is the Honda Accord Crosstour, which is destined to hit the showroom floor this Fall. As far as we can tell from spy shots, it's taller than a standard Accord and has a hatch-like boot, giving it an aerowagon or "touring" style appearance. It certainly won't hurt the Crosstour's case that it's a Honda, and any association with the Accord name is likely a good thing, but customers have proven to be very picky when it comes to the angular tall wagon format.

What passes for success these days? We think Toyota's Venza is a particularly well-done example that manages to marshall an extra dose of style with still-reasonable utility. It's roomy and almost luxurious, yet Toyota has only sold 20,000 copies through June. The Japanese automaker was hoping for 50,000 sales per year, but Toyota national large car GM Bob Zeinstra tells Automotive News that the Venza is just now starting to pickup steam at the dealerships, and one has to factor in the perilous economy when considering total sales of any new vehicle.

For its part, BMW's X6 crossover, perhaps the poster-child for this automotive platypus segment, has actually been selling well for the German automaker, albeit in significantly smaller numbers than more mainstream models.

If Honda's Crosstour succeeds where the Freestyle, Pacifica and SRX failed, the segment may have some life in it. If it doesn't pass the sales test, we're wondering if automakers will finally give up hope on a segment long on new entries, but short on success stories.

[Source: Automotive News subs req'd | Images: M. Balisky]

Tall wagon/hatch segment drawing more new entries, but not many customers? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buy a Pacifica, get a PT Cruiser for a buck!

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Crossover, Hatchback, Chrysler

Here's an interesting way to clear some unwanted inventory: offer a crazy-sounding deal on two new cars, like buy one car and get the second for just $1. That's the pitch at a suburban Chicago Chrysler dealership that promises a 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser demo car for just $1 if you happen to purchase one of their five remaining 2008 Chrysler Pacificas. That's practically a 2-for-1 deal and would give buyers two options for family hauling duty. The lame-duck Pacificas in stock range in price from $37,000 to $40,000 and can carry six passengers and their stuff in floaty luxury. The PT, on the other hand, offers a more frugal option for up to five passengers. Dealer Frank Mancari started the deal on Saturday at his Oak Lawn dealership to increase showroom traffic. Once all of the vehicles are sold, however, that's it. We bet more than one person will walk in and tell the dealer he can keep his PT Cruiser, they'll take the Pacifica with a $15,000 discount instead. Who are we kidding, Chrysler doesn't even want these cars anymore. Thanks for the tip, Dave!

[Source: Chicago Breaking News]

Buy a Pacifica, get a PT Cruiser for a buck! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canadian union calls Chrysler's actions "stupid"

Dan Roth — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, UAW/Unions

Buzz Hargrove isn't mincing words about his opinion of Chrysler LLC's strategy. Calling the decision to send the Magnum and Pacifica models out to pasture and cut shifts and jobs at the Brampton, Ontario plant "stupid," Hargrove has said the Canadian Auto Workers aren't interested in the type of concessions the UAW recently agreed to. While the UAW is allowing new hires to be given a lower pay level, as well as taking on a health care trust fund, the CAW will be having none of that, according to Hargrove.

Cuts were expected, but Chrysler's recent scaling back is more than necessary, according to Hargrove, who counters that what the company's really trying to do is reduce supply in order to drive up demand and keep prices higher. It sounds like a good way to make the automaker profitable, thinning the lineup and trimming overproduction. The problem, according to The Buzz, is that Chrysler's plan is anathema to the long union tradition of providing jobs that pay well enough to allow a solid middle class life for autoworkers. With the pay cuts, Hargrove says that autoworkers will no longer be able to afford to buy the cars they build. The recent fall of the dollar isn't helping matters, and will likely give Chrysler another point to argue when asking for concessions. The Canadian Auto Workers will begin duking it out with Detroit in July, so expect the rhetoric to become even more heated in the months to come.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Canadian union calls Chrysler's actions "stupid" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Nov 2007 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler offering new rebates; four defunct models priced to go

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Coupe, Wagon, Marketing/Advertising, Chrysler, Dodge

It looks like Chrysler is going to give car shoppers a holiday gift as incentive to signing on the dotted line. After a rough year that saw the automaker break away from its Daimler overlords, Chrysler wants to end 2007 on a high note. To that end it will be offering rebates on virtually every vehicle in the lineup during December. Though there's no word on specific amounts, according to The Wall Street Journal the campaign will begin with a series of ads on Nov. 20 and cover Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler vehicles. The biggest discounts will likely be offered on the four models about to be discontinued: the Chrysler Pacifica, PT Cruiser convertible, Crossfire, and the Dodge Magnum. If any of those has been on your short list, it looks like a great time to get one.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req.]

Chrysler offering new rebates; four defunct models priced to go originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler announces new job & manufacturing cuts; Cancels PT Convertible, Magnum, Pacifica, and Crossfire

Alex Nunez — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 11:34:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler

Chrysler has killed the PT Convertible, Pacifica, Crossfire, and Dodge Magnum

If you were wondering how quickly Chrysler would be able to move as a privately-held entity in its efforts to turn the business around, wonder no more. It can move quickly. Today, the automaker officially announced a number of cuts to both its workforce and product lineup into 2008 that are intended to help get Chrysler back in the black.

Here's the rundown:

Elimination of shifts at Belvidere, IL; Jefferson North (Detroit, MI) ; Toledo, OH; Brampton, Ontario; and Mack Avenue II (Detroit). The Detroit News reports these actions effectively eliminates approx. 4,000 hourly positions. Chrysler states that the new shift reductions, when combined with "other volume-related actions," will result in the elimination of a total 8,000 to 10,000 hourly positions.
1,000 salaried positions will be eliminated
37% of contractor positions will be eliminated (The Detroit News attaches a number of 1,100 to this)
Four models will be dropped from the lineup: Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible (the regular PT lives on) , Dodge Magnum, Chrysler Pacifica, and Chrysler Crossfire

All the above changes come in addition to already-announced job actions, and Chrysler also made a point to state that the four outgoing cars will be replaced in the lineup during the same timeframe by the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Journey, and Aspen/Durango Hybrids. We'll be honest: we'd pretty much forgotten about the Crossfire, which makes it the least surprising of all the product euthanizations.

Some of the wish-list vehicles that readers hoped would also see the axe, such as the Jeep Compass and Jeep Commander, live on. Chrysler's press release and a confirmed copy of the email sent to employees this morning by CEO Bob Nardelli are included after the jump. You can also click the "Read" link below to check out the Detroit News coverage.

[Sources: The Detroit News, Chrysler]

Continue reading Chrysler announces new job & manufacturing cuts; Cancels PT Convertible, Magnum, Pacifica, and Crossfire

Chrysler announces new job & manufacturing cuts; Cancels PT Convertible, Magnum, Pacifica, and Crossfire originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler said to be planning wake for Magnum, Pacifica, PT Cruiser

Chris Tutor — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:33:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Chrysler, Dodge

According to The Detroit News, Chrysler's product-cutting plan is all but official. The first three models on the chopping block, according to the newspaper's unnamed sources, are the Magnum, Pacifica and the PT Cruiser. The next round could include the Jeep Commander if it doesn't get its act together.

Sales on the first three models were down as much as 32% through September, and the company's new boss, Bob Nardelli, isn't in a playing-around mood. Company insiders have told the Det News that Nardelli is taking very close looks at the current lineup and isn't exactly thrilled. Supposedly, Dodge's Dakota and Avenger and Chrysler's Sebring are also feeling the Nardelli heat. The newspaper quotes Nardelli as saying, "I'm not a designer, but I'm a consumer," he said. "Rather than deny some of the (negative) reports that are out there you kind of embrace them and say, what do we want to do to take our vehicle from where it is to where consumers want it to be?"

So how many of you reading that actually said out loud, "It's about damned time!" Nardelli sounds like a guy who doesn't mess around, who seems to know his company's products aren't up to snuff, and who's willing to do just about anything to fix them. Sebring and Avenger aren't exactly blockbuster designs, and if Chrysler must amputate them to stay alive, we say go for it.

We hate to see wagons disappear from the domestics' lineup again, but overall, this is a good sign and we can't wait to see what Nardelli does with future offerings.

By the way, Mr. Nardelli. Can we nominate the Aspen and Compass for some critical evaluation, too? Thanks.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Thanks, Mike, for the tip!

Chrysler said to be planning wake for Magnum, Pacifica, PT Cruiser originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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