Chrysler News
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Chrysler might seem like the ugly girl at the dance right now, but Fiat wants to partner up for the long haul, and it thinks it has made a strong case to be allowed to do it. While the company leaves the decision up to President Obama's Task Force on the Auto Industry, Marchionne has turned his attention back to the market where he thinks the worst is over, and a recovery is already underway. The cheerful outlook on the European market seems to be grounded in the same realism that couches approval of the Chrysler merger in fatalistic terms, but it's not a popular viewpoint - yet. “The...
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Jeep’s future will likely include compact Fiat Panda CrossFollowing the announcement of the proposed alliance between Fiat and Chrysler in January, the question on everybody’s lips was which European top-sellers were finally going to come to North America. Stylish compact cars like the Fiat 500 and Bravo were suddenly a very real possibility for...
Ralph Hanson -
Chrysler: We’re a safer bet than GMIf asked whether General Motors or Chrysler were in a better financial position, many of us would conclude that GM looks better. However, Chrysler's chief financial officer Ron Kolka has come out boasting that Chrysler, "on a pure-business basis," is more viable. The reasoning behind the claims is...
Ralph Hanson -
Fiat keen to draw SUV know-how from JeepEarlier this week Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli mentioned how the proposed $10 billion deal with Fiat could be just what the company needs to bring it back from the brink of bankruptcy. While Chrysler would be gaining Fiat's vast global distribution network, as well as new technology to boost...
Kenneth Hall -
Chrysler ends talks with China’s Great Wall MotorsPartnerships between American and Chinese carmakers are nothing new, but only in the recent past has there been talk of Chinese-manufactured cars being imported into North America. Chrysler is one of the most determined American carmakers seeking to launch a Chinese-manufactured car in the U.S...
Jeremy Weber -
Wagoner admits pre-planned bankruptcy "could work"Both General Motors and Chrysler are fearful a bankruptcy would kill whatever consumer confidence the ailing Detroit carmakers may have left but in the latest twist of the saddening U.S. auto industry saga the CEO of GM has revealed that a pre-planned bankruptcy "could work". Rick Wagoner insists...
Ralph Hanson -
Adding value to a vehicle intended for dual-duty city and offroad use isn't a hard thing to do. Doing it in this economy, and actually selling vehicles, is another. Chrysler is hoping it's hit the right balance with the new Rocky Mountain Edition Jeeps, released today. The packages combine a set of desirable features valued at about $2,300 for a retail price of just $1,595 - making the idea attractive to those in the market for a capable off-roader, but potentially adding unwanted expense for those on a budget. Included features are a power sun roof, special 17in alloy wheels, unique exterior...
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Photo update: up close and personal with Audi's R15 TDI Le Mans racerDiesel is fast - scary fast - as Audi's R10 TDI proved when it swept through the world of Le Mans and endurance racing by storm. Since then rule changes have dampened the flame somewhat, but it's still a competitive and formidable platform. This season, it's getting a full-scale upgrade with the...
Nelson Ireson -
Ford, Chrysler say GM should get more out of CAWFord is projecting the strongest image of the Detroit 3 at the moment due to its refusal to seek government loans, but it says the deal General Motors and the CAW reached won't be good enough to keep Ford competitive in Canada. GM, on the other hand, seems pleased with its deal, and has announced...
Ralph Hanson -
GM dealers not ordering new cars due to uncertain brand futuresIn what is set to become a terrible domino effect, lagging demand for new cars and an uncertain future at Hummer, Saturn and Saab dealerships is leading to an inventory pile up. That, in turn, means dealers are ordering no new cars, driving General Motors' production schedule even further out of...
Ralph Hanson -
Fiat and PSA Peugeot-Citroen deny merger rumorsFiat Group, Chrysler and its parent company Cerberus Capital Management in January released a joint statement announcing they had signed a non-binding term sheet to establish a global strategic alliance. The alliance, a key element of Chrysler’s viability plan, would provide the American...
Kenneth Hall -
Chrysler threatens to pull out of CanadaGeneral Motors and Chrysler have told authorities in Canada they need as much as $8 billion in aid to stay afloat, more than double the original amount requested just three months ago, and in the latest twist Chrysler has threatened to pull out its operations if it does not receive the funds. The...
Ralph Hanson -
They did it in the nation’s capital at the first round of viability meetings and tomorrow in Detroit government officials will once again be able to drive a prototype for the upcoming Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid. This time around the officials will include the Obama administration’s new auto industry task force, who will also be treated with a tour of General Motors’ Warren tech center as well as Chrysler's nearby Warren Truck plant. The group will include Wall Street financier Steven Rattner and Steelworkers union official Ron Bloom, and will be joined by United Auto...
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GOP senators John McCain and Richard Shelby want bankruptcy for GM and ChryslerFormer presidential candidate John McCain, as well as fellow republican senator Richard Shelby, both believe that General Motors and Chrysler should go into bankruptcy rather than taking American tax dollars to prop themselves up. McCain is opposed to both the Wall Street bailout and the automotive...
Ralph Hanson -
Chrysler's SRT brand not going anywhereJust because you can buy a Charger SRT8 for under $35,000 after incentives and rebates doesn't mean Chrysler is liquidating its SRT cars to get rid of the brand. In fact, Chrysler has said specifically that its high-performance division is safe from the current budgetary cutbacks. Unlike General...
Ralph Hanson -
Audi R15 TDI to contend three ALMS events this yearDiesel is fast - scary fast - as Audi's R10 TDI proved when it swept through the world of Le Mans and endurance racing by storm in previous years. Since then rule changes have dampened the flame somewhat, but it's still a competitive and formidable platform. This season, it's getting a full-scale...
Jeremy Weber -
400hp for $35,000: Pontiac G8 GXP and Dodge Charger SRT8 after incentivesWhoever said the muscle car era was dead and gone? Right now you can drive away with more than 400hp (298kW) under the hood for around $35,000. The poor state of the economy is taking its toll on vehicle sales (GM just posted its worst sales figures since 1967 in February) but this is also having a...
James Martinez -
Marchionne confident Fiat can help ChryslerThe Fiat-Chrysler partnership has been brewing since well before the economic meltdown and federal loan bonanza of late 2008, but it's still taking shape as the carmakers find ways to work to their mutual benefit. Today Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne reaffirmed his confidence that Fiat will be able to...
Nelson Ireson -
People aren't buying new cars. It's really that simple in a lot of ways; the economy is down, the future is uncertain and no one wants to bet their house that they'll still have a job in six months. So Chrysler has been going wild with incentives to try to prop up sales in a market that just doesn't want cars, to the tune of $5,566 per car in February. Sales still crashed 44% versus February of 2008, but that's marginally better than American rivals General Motors and Ford, and Chrysler's actually ahead of Ford in sales for the month, so the incentives definitely had some effect. But is it...
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Chrysler assets could be sold to Chinese carmakerThere is mounting speculation that ailing Detroit carmaker Chrysler may not be able to survive as a standalone firm. Negotiators in Detroit are working furiously to secure a deal with Italy’s Fiat Group but if the proposed alliance falls through Chrysler has a number of options as backup. One...
Kenneth Hall -
Chrysler still sees GM merger as best betDesperate times call for desperate measures and at Chrysler it appears every option is on the table. The Auburn Hills carmaker has been tied with at least five major carmakers in the past six months, even coming close to a merger with Detroit rival General Motors. While such a move may seem a...
Ralph Hanson -
2009 Alfa Romeo 159 revealed ahead of Geneva Motor ShowA picture is worth a thousand words, or in the case of the Alfa Romeo 159, it's worth a long, loving stare. The sensual lines of one of the finest-looking sedans anywhere have been revealed in their 2009 model year form ahead of the unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show next month. Early last year...
Nelson Ireson -
Chrysler cost Daimler $1.75 billion in 2008The divorce of Daimler from Chrysler in 2007 wasn't complete - the German company Daimler still holds 19.9% of Chrysler - and now that lingering relationship has come back with a vengeance. Despite a year that would be only moderately unsuccessful for Daimler, Chrysler's involvement more than...
Nelson Ireson -
Chrysler's viability plan requires additional $2 billion in loansBuilding a foundation for the reconstruction of the industry, General Motors and Chrysler are required to submit new plans for viability today as part of the loan agreement established late last year. GM has yet to unveil their reworked plan, but Chrysler has just released the key details of its...
Ralph Hanson