Autoblog

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Dodge Journey

Making a step towards a more fuel-efficient vehicle lineup, and reducing the number of overlapping vehicles between its brands, the plug has been pulled on a Chrysler-branded version of the 2009 Dodge Journey. Chrysler LLC will instead focus the resources on a Nissan-manufactured compact car.

While the automaker currently captures the bulk of its sales from light trucks and SUVs, Chrysler is trying to pare down its lineup significantly to cut costs. So far, they have cut four models. Moving forward, the Jeep Commander SUV is expected to be dropped next year, and the company has already said they were canceling the PT Cruiser Convertible. While the 2009 Dodge lineup gains the aforementioned Journey, Dodge Challenger, and a redesigned Dodge Ram pickup, Chrysler's product lineup for the next twelve months looks particularly bleak with nothing significantly new in the pipeline. Company officials are holding their breath for 2010, when the new Nissan-built compact, new Jeep Grand Cherokee, and redesigned Chrysler 300 sedans arrive.

[Source: Bloomberg]

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 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]