Chrysler to Launch New Fuel-Efficient Car in 2009. Or Not.

Talk about vague!

Chrysler to Launch New Fuel-Efficient Car in 2009. Or Not.
http://tinyurl.com/6bzz8t

In a not-so-stunning piece of preemptive PR– before the July sales data
hits the fan– Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli has told his troops that more
fuel-efficient vehicles are on their way. The Detroit News reports
Nardelli's four-wheeled fuel-sipping cavalry could arrive as early as
next year, "possibly including an unexpected model to debut next year."
Less specifically, "You very well could see some new platforms, some new
vehicles out next year," Nardelli told reporters at a dealership
dedication. The aggressively conservative head of the ailing American
automaker also took the opportunity to introduce a new euphemism. "We
continue to reprioritize our capital," Boot 'Em Bob reassured. "To make
sure we are responding to one of the most significant changes we see in
consumer buying preferences to downsize and look for fuel efficiency."
Will a previously-conjectured partnership with Italy's Fiat or India's
Tata Motors or Japan's Nissan or France's Renault or the UK's Ultima
[just kidding] deliver this much-needed Chrysler product or products? To
quote a Disney movie I can't recall, Mmmmmmm. Could be. Or better yet,
Bob himself: "Partnerships with other automakers could be part of those
new product introductions." So now you know. Ish.

 

It appears the deal with Fiat would be for Fiat to use or buy a
Chrysler factory for domestic production.

 

UGH!
Another Chrysler sold car I'm not interested in?
Based on past Fiats I'll not wait for it.

 

I'm a member of the CAB (Chrysler Advisory Board) and this was part of a
topic of discussion just this past Monday with Ralph Gilles, head of
design for new and special vehicles (along with the Ram).

He was about as vague as well but hinted that within 2 years Chrysler
will be bringing to the US, more than likely a couple China Chery based
cars and a couple Nissan based vehicles. The Nissan would be the small
Hornet based on the Nissan Versa and a small pickup based on the
Frontier.

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How can Chrysler hope to survive by importing someone else's crap cars?.
I wouldn't buy a Cherry at any price and if I wanted a Nissan I'd buy it
from them not Chrysler, in fact if I wanted a Japanese car I'd by a Honda
not a Nissan anyway.

Wouldn't it be a lot quicker to put diesels into their whole lineup, a
diesel 300 would get 30MPG. If I were running Chrysler I'd prune the
lineup down to just their best vehicles, drop gas engines entirely in
favor of diesels, and run ads that say Hey does that think have a diesel?

 

hard to get me to buy a diesel when its 4.85 a gallon and regular gas is
3.90

 

Twenty-five years or so ago, General Motors Holden (GM's Australian
division) was selling relabeled versions of a Nissan that also was
available as a Nissan but with a different name. I have no idea how
successful the venture was. Similarly, for years Ford Australia sold
Mazda 626s relabeled as Ford Telstar. The Mazdas were imported complete
and thus had a higher rate of duty and tax; the Fords were assembled in
Australia. The spare part numbers were the same; for some the Ford was
cheaper, for others the Mazda was cheaper.

If there is no significant price difference, I would look at differences
in warranty and after-sales service and the reputation of the respective
dealers.

Is the improved gas mileage sufficient to offset the higher price of
diesel fuel?

Perce

 

Different cars-same assembly line is far from a recent happening.
Platform sharing has been around for many years. Not that I would want a
Chery done up as a Chrysler but the Nissan based Hornet is a hot looking
little car...much better than the Versa it's built off of.

=================

 

IMO they should have a close look at the Nissan Rogue.
Very similar mechanicals as the Compass, but is has a great body.
I slight tune up to the Compass body could make it acceptable to me- if
it doesn't look like a dam truck.

As for the Chinese Chery, they can go you know where!