Car News Articles

Some underperforming Chrysler models may be headed for the crusher.

Up to nine Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge models could be axed or redesigned by 2012, according to details leaked of a new Chrysler-Fiat business plan.  However, Chrysler Australia is taking a wait-and-see approach to changes proposed this week by new Chrysler-Fiat CEO, Sergio Marchionne.

Marchionne is heading up one of the biggest product shakeouts in Chrysler’s history to resurrect the embattled US carmaker.  But Chrysler Australia’s general manager marketing and product strategy, Craig Bradshaw, says it is too early to assess the local fallout any proposed changes.  Chrysler Australia is taking a “wait and see” approach, he says.

“We have to wait to assess the impact on our local market,” he says.  Bradshaw says the company has no advance information of Marchionne’s proposed changes.  Some of the proposed changes have been already leaked by the Wall Street Journal in North America.  It says that Chrysler’s North American model lineup will be slashed to make way for more Fiat-based cars.

Some new Chrysler models will share Fiat platforms in an effort to cut costs and harmonise production processes.  The cars expected to die are the Chrysler Sebring, PT Cruiser, Dodge Nitro, Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Caliber, Dodge Avenger as well as three Jeep off-roaders, the Compass, Patriot and Commander.

The survivors are said to be the Chrysler 300C sedan, Chrysler Town and Country, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Journey, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler.  Although the list of Chrysler’s facing the chop is long, some like the Sebring and Avenger, are expected to morph into new Fiat-based cars.

Under the new Chrysler-Fiat regime, known as Chrysler Group LLC, Alfa Romeo and Fiat are expected to return to America as soon as 2012.  Fiat was phased out in North America in the 1980s because of poor quality and reliability problems. Alfa Romeo discon tinued marketing cars there in 1995.

Chrysler will continue to build its performance cars and pickup trucks while Fiat is expected to build a range of smaller fuel-efficient European-style models for the US market.  Locally Chrysler Australia is a factory owned distributor but still shares some backroom operations with Daimler.

Daimler severed its ties with Chrysler in 2007 and the US carmaker was subsequently purchased by private equity group Cerberus Capital Management before Fiat stepped in last year.

Chrysler’s Asia-Pacific business, including Australia, is one of the few bright spots, despite Chrysler and Jeep sales being down 30 per cent this year.  Australia is Chrysler’s largest right-hand-drive market and the No.1 Jeep Wrangler market outside North America.

Hofele has revealed a wide-body kit for the Volkswagen Touareg. The new kit can be adapted for any Touareg model, except the R50.

The kit includes: front bumper, four additional lights - 2x LED day driving light and 2x fog lamps, rear apron with integrated tailpipes, tailpipe adapters, rear roof spoiler, rear door panel, bonnet / hood scoop “Power Dome”, “Royster” wide body that includes side skirts and wheel arch extensions for front & rear axle and wheel spacers “Wide-Body Royster”.

The wheel spacers “Royster” are made for the use of the extension kit in combination with wheels in the size 9Jx20″ and 10Jx22″.

Full details in the press release after the jump.

REPORT: Lutz to step in as interim Opel chairman

by Chris Shunk (RSS feed) on Nov 8th 2009 at 9:03AM

Just hours before General Motors announced that it wasn’t going to sell Opel, GM Europe head Carl-Peter Forster said publicly that Opel would be better off under the control of Magna. Talk about bad timing. Now that GM is keeping Opel, Forster is out as the head of the General’s European operations. A couple of familiar names will step in, at least on an interim basis.

Bloomberg reports that GM Vice Chairman and head of Marketing and Communications Bob Lutz is taking over as interim chairman of the Opel supervisory board until a permanent leader can be chosen. The bombastic Lutz has suddenly found himself with increasing responsibility after semi-retiring back in April. Fellow GM exec Nick Reilly will lead the Opel and Vauxhall units until a replacement can be found.

GM CEO Fritz Henderson said in a statement that the hunt is on for a new Opel CEO and that no other management moves were imminent. Henderson went on to say that Opel improved under Forster, which is a real compliment when you consider that Forster replaced Fritz as head of GM Europe back in 2004. Word on the street is that GM could pick a German executive for the Opel post, due mostly to the fact that Germany wasn’t very happy about GM’s decision to scuttle the sale to Magna. Magna’s plan called for fewer layoffs within Germany and more in other European countries.

[Source: Bloomberg]

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Yeah, he’s setting up for a memorable weekend here at Texas Motor Speedway, isn’t he?

Kyle Busch won his second title here in as many days when he won the O’Reilly Challenge just a few minutes ago. That’s four consecutive Nationwide victories for him at TMS, and a chance to sweep all the titles if he can take the Dickies 500 tomorrow afternoon.

Ya liking his odds?