Can Chrysler hit jackpot again?

Can Chrysler hit jackpot again?
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...97/1148/AUTO01

W hen times get tough, Chrysler has always had a knack for producing a hit
vehicle that washes away the red ink and safeguards the company, at least
temporarily.

The audacious Chrysler 300 sedan was the last timely stroke of brilliance in
Auburn Hills. It could whisk you to the Fisher Theatre while beating every
chump off the line along Woodward. Over the years, the quirky PT Cruiser,
classic Jeep Grand Cherokee and innovative new minivans saved Chrysler's
bacon.

The question is: Does Chrysler have enough mojo left to pull off another
product-led comeback? Stabilizing health care costs or cutting jobs alone
won't save the automaker. As parent DaimlerChrysler AG shops it to potential
buyers, Chrysler may never have needed to prove its worth more.

Last year, Chrysler introduced a record 10 vehicles. Other than the
four-door Wrangler Unlimited, which serves a relatively small niche, there
were no unqualified hits. Eight more new models are coming this year.

"We just have to be competitive," said Steve Bartoli, Chrysler's vice
president for global product planning, adding that the coming crop of new
vehicles will pay dividends quickly.

"It's been a mixed mesh of new vehicles," Bartoli said, listing recent
launches. "There haven't been any disasters."

No disasters is nice but it isn't enough. Chrysler needs to create an
emotional connection with buyers. The automaker still designs and produces
polarizing vehicles. In fact, many of its newest models, such as the boxy,
aggressive Dodge Nitro, offer a distinctive look and unique features for
their respective segment. But none has been an out-of-the-park home run."You
don't get 300s every year," said Jim Sanfilippo, an automotive marketing
expert with Team Detroit, which handles advertising for several brands.
"They're going to do OK. Chrysler has a lot of solid doubles and all of them
four-cylinder engines, which is going to be important when gas prices start
to climb again."

Will new minivans prevail?

Chrysler's most important vehicle launch in 2007 is in the segment it
invented in 1983, the minivan. Since then, Chrysler has since sold 11
million family haulers.

"If Chrysler has a home run, it's their new minivan," said Erich Merkle,
director of forecasting at IRN, an automotive consulting company in Grand
Rapids.

The fifth-generation 2008 Chrysler Town and Country minivan and top-selling
Dodge Caravan, which roll into dealerships this fall, should boost the
company's lagging sales, Merkle said.

While Chrysler still owns 28 percent of the segment, Town and Country's
sales dropped 12 percent last year and Caravan sales fell 6.9 percent,
according to Autodata.

"The competition doesn't have the ability to build more minivans," Merkle
said. "And Chrysler is introducing an excellent product."

Indeed. The new pair of minivans will tout more than 35 improvements
including a six-speed transmission, more head room, dual DVD players and
crisp, clean, roof-mounted ambient lighting. Both debuted at the Detroit
auto show and both look refined and well-crafted.

The Swivel 'n Go seats, a pair of second-row captain's chairs that turn to
face the rear row, may not create as much buzz as the cool Stow 'n Go seats
caused in 2005, but Chrysler will offer a superior vehicle with exclusive
innovations. It's a recipe to bring in new customers.

With Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. abandoning minivans, Chrysler
has a chance to grab even more customers as it fights with Honda Motor Co.
and Toyota Motor Corp., who hold the No. 2 and No. 3 spots respectively.

Is luck on sedans' side?

Chrysler Group may not be as lucky in the midsize sedan segment with its two
new introductions: The all-new Dodge Avenger, which replaces the Stratus
sedan, and the redesigned Chrysler Sebring.

Both vehicles offer distinctive designs, and the economical advantage of
being built on the same platform in Sterling Heights. The Avenger is
aggressive and mean-looking. The Sebring has a face made for the rental car
fleet.

Sales for the Sebring sedan, which hit showrooms in December, remain
sluggish, something Bartoli attributes to an end-of-year launch.

If the Sebring sedan's short deck and snubbed nose make it an ugly duckling,
the convertible version of the sedan, which comes out later this year, is
the swan. Somehow, dropping the top and removing two doors makes those hood
strakes look good. America's best selling convertible should remain at the
top.

The Avenger is rolling into dealerships now and offers a muscular
alternative to a segment filled with hot-selling bland vehicles. It
resembles a small Charger and its strong styling, unique features and good
gas mileage should attract new customers. Dodge, a brand that appeals to men
more than women, now has a car on its hands that could pull more drivers
looking for something sporty but still need the utility of a sedan.

Another moderate success for Chrysler has been the Dodge Caliber. An
inexpensive compact, the Caliber continues Chrysler's tradition of offering
a distinct alternative to the traditional competitors.

While the interior feels spartan, it comes with clever features, like a
cooler in the glove box and detachable cabin light. Chrysler sold more than
90,000 units since its introduction last year. By comparison, Toyota sold
387,000 Corollas, Honda sold 316,000 Civics and Chevrolet sold 211,000
Cobalts. A 300-horsepower high performance SRT version of the Caliber will
come out later this year.

Are 8 vehicles too much?

Introducing so many new vehicles is a heavy burden for any automaker and
confusing for consumers.

"It's tough to introduce a new nameplate," said Jack Nerad, executive market
analysis for Kelly Blue Book, adding the plethora of new vehicles introduced
by all manufacturers leaves many consumers overwhelmed.

Merkle said that many of the introductions may not generate incremental
sales, instead stealing Chrysler customers from other vehicles.

"When Jeep introduced the Commander (in 2005), it didn't create new
business, it stole Cherokee customers," Merkle said. "There is a danger of
that happening again."

Bartoli disagrees. Bringing out new vehicles refreshes a lineup that was
beginning to get long in the fan belt.

"I think all of these introductions are keeping our momentum going," Bartoli
said. "Our lineup was starting to get old, and that's never a good thing."

Another factor that may help Chrysler in the long run, Nerad said, is the
consumer trend that brand loyalty has gone the way of the three-speed
transmission.

"They are more fickle now than ever before," Nerad said. "Even if they are
totally satisfied with a vehicle they bought, that doesn't mean they'll
return to that brand. What will take them somewhere else is the design."

And design is one area Chrysler has proven again and again that it can
excel.



--
"The king of Israel answered, "Tell him: 'One who puts on his armor should
not boast like one who takes it off."

In article >,
"Jim Higgins" > wrote:

> Last year, Chrysler introduced a record 10 vehicles. Other than the
> four-door Wrangler Unlimited, which serves a relatively small niche, there
> were no unqualified hits. Eight more new models are coming this year.
The Caliber has a good drive train but it's too ugly looking for most.
I notice the PT Cruiser is still being sold? If I were a PT Cruiser
owner the Caliper wouldn't turn me on.

> "They're going to do OK. Chrysler has a lot of solid doubles and all of them
> four-cylinder engines, which is going to be important when gas prices start
> to climb again."
I agree, pray for rising gasoline prices. With growth in Asia gasoline
has no where to go but up.

> Sales for the Sebring sedan, which hit showrooms in December, remain
> sluggish, something Bartoli attributes to an end-of-year launch.
Partly, but it doesn't impress me. Not a car I'd replace my wife's 2001
Sebring with. The channels on the hood are enough to turn me off.

> The Avenger is rolling into dealerships now and offers a muscular
> alternative to a segment filled with hot-selling bland vehicles. It
> resembles a small Charger and its strong styling, unique features and good
> gas mileage should attract new customers. Dodge, a brand that appeals to men
> more than women, now has a car on its hands that could pull more drivers
> looking for something sporty but still need the utility of a sedan.
It could be a big seller if there was a better 2.7L V6 and auto
transmission. A 3.5L V6 in this car is silly.
IMO Chrysler needs to upgrade the 2.7L V6 to VVT and a better
transmission of 5/6 speeds or a CVT.

Have any of you rode in a vehicle with the new 4 bangers? My PT's old 2.4L 4
is smoother and quieter than the 2.0 and 2.4 world engines. I've driven a
Caliber, Compass and Sebring with the new "world" 2.0 and 2.4 engines. They
were loud and very unrefined. The CVT made them worse. The Sebring was
laugable- I swear I was in a John Deer. I have a 2006 PT with the old 2.4
4cy and it is smooth and quiet compared to the Sebring's 2.4 world engine.
Even the salesman admitted it was extremely loud. How can Chrysler come up
with this kind of crap and expect to compete? Don't they even pay attention
to the Civics and Corrolas? It is going to be the downfall of Chrysler-
people want smaller cars with better gas mileage. They're small and midsize
cars are no where near what they should be to even have a chance.



"Some O" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "Jim Higgins" > wrote:
>
>> Last year, Chrysler introduced a record 10 vehicles. Other than the
>> four-door Wrangler Unlimited, which serves a relatively small niche,
>> there
>> were no unqualified hits. Eight more new models are coming this year.
> The Caliber has a good drive train but it's too ugly looking for most.
> I notice the PT Cruiser is still being sold? If I were a PT Cruiser
> owner the Caliper wouldn't turn me on.
>
>> "They're going to do OK. Chrysler has a lot of solid doubles and all of
>> them
>> four-cylinder engines, which is going to be important when gas prices
>> start
>> to climb again."
> I agree, pray for rising gasoline prices. With growth in Asia gasoline
> has no where to go but up.
>
>> Sales for the Sebring sedan, which hit showrooms in December, remain
>> sluggish, something Bartoli attributes to an end-of-year launch.
> Partly, but it doesn't impress me. Not a car I'd replace my wife's 2001
> Sebring with. The channels on the hood are enough to turn me off.
>
>> The Avenger is rolling into dealerships now and offers a muscular
>> alternative to a segment filled with hot-selling bland vehicles. It
>> resembles a small Charger and its strong styling, unique features and
>> good
>> gas mileage should attract new customers. Dodge, a brand that appeals to
>> men
>> more than women, now has a car on its hands that could pull more drivers
>> looking for something sporty but still need the utility of a sedan.
> It could be a big seller if there was a better 2.7L V6 and auto
> transmission. A 3.5L V6 in this car is silly.
> IMO Chrysler needs to upgrade the 2.7L V6 to VVT and a better
> transmission of 5/6 speeds or a CVT.

Some O > writes:

> In article >,
> "Jim Higgins" > wrote:
>
> > Last year, Chrysler introduced a record 10 vehicles. Other than the
> > four-door Wrangler Unlimited, which serves a relatively small niche, there
> > were no unqualified hits. Eight more new models are coming this year.
> The Caliber has a good drive train but it's too ugly looking for most.
> I notice the PT Cruiser is still being sold? If I were a PT Cruiser
> owner the Caliper wouldn't turn me on.

Oddly, I took one look at the PT and concluded there was no way I'd
ever own one. If I were in the market for a new car, I'd be looking
very seriously at the Caliber.

"Scott Koprowski" > wrote

> Have any of you rode in a vehicle with the new 4 bangers? My PT's old 2.4L
> 4 is smoother and quieter than the 2.0 and 2.4 world engines. I've driven
> a Caliber, Compass and Sebring with the new "world" 2.0 and 2.4 engines.
> They were loud and very unrefined. The CVT made them worse.

Yes I've been testing all these cars over the past 6 months, and I have a
very different impression. The Caliber and Compass I drove were, I thought,
not whisper quiet but certainly acceptable. The PT I drove sounded different
but not quieter, and I found the ride much tippier.

As to the CVT I don't see how it could have possibly "made them worse". It
allows the engines to run considerably slower at highway speed (2100 rpm vs.
maybe 2600) and reduces cycling between gears. Maybe you got that impression
because upon hard prolonged acceleration it raises the revs and holds them
there rather than revs up and down. Personally I feel the CVT is the most
valuable selling point for those cars.

In article et>,
"Scott Koprowski" > wrote:

> Have any of you rode in a vehicle with the new 4 bangers? My PT's old 2.4L 4
> is smoother and quieter than the 2.0 and 2.4 world engines. I've driven a
> Caliber, Compass and Sebring with the new "world" 2.0 and 2.4 engines. They
> were loud and very unrefined. The CVT made them worse. The Sebring was
> laugable- I swear I was in a John Deer. I have a 2006 PT with the old 2.4
> 4cy and it is smooth and quiet compared to the Sebring's 2.4 world engine.
> Even the salesman admitted it was extremely loud. How can Chrysler come up
> with this kind of crap and expect to compete? Don't they even pay attention
> to the Civics and Corrolas? It is going to be the downfall of Chrysler-
> people want smaller cars with better gas mileage. They're small and midsize
> cars are no where near what they should be to even have a chance.

Is it the engine or mounts or soundproofing causing this problem?

I'll be renting one of them for a few days to compare to my LH car, but
I won't be comparing to the PT Cruiser as I'm not interested in it.

Had an '86 LeBaron 2.5L, it was acceptably quiet and smooth, but not as
good as the LH's 3.3L V6.

Maybe Chrysler should consider launching a low-priced brand. They could
just add a new brand at the Chrysler dealers. That would leave Dodge to
concentrate on performance, and then Chrysler wouldn't be diluted as the
luxury brand. Hmmmm....

"Jim Higgins" > wrote in message
...
> Can Chrysler hit jackpot again?
> http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...97/1148/AUTO01
>
> W hen times get tough, Chrysler has always had a knack for producing a hit
> vehicle that washes away the red ink and safeguards the company, at least
> temporarily.
>
> The audacious Chrysler 300 sedan was the last timely stroke of brilliance
> in Auburn Hills. It could whisk you to the Fisher Theatre while beating
> every chump off the line along Woodward. Over the years, the quirky PT
> Cruiser, classic Jeep Grand Cherokee and innovative new minivans saved
> Chrysler's bacon.
>
> The question is: Does Chrysler have enough mojo left to pull off another
> product-led comeback? Stabilizing health care costs or cutting jobs alone
> won't save the automaker. As parent DaimlerChrysler AG shops it to
> potential buyers, Chrysler may never have needed to prove its worth more.
>
> Last year, Chrysler introduced a record 10 vehicles. Other than the
> four-door Wrangler Unlimited, which serves a relatively small niche, there
> were no unqualified hits. Eight more new models are coming this year.
>
> "We just have to be competitive," said Steve Bartoli, Chrysler's vice
> president for global product planning, adding that the coming crop of new
> vehicles will pay dividends quickly.
>
> "It's been a mixed mesh of new vehicles," Bartoli said, listing recent
> launches. "There haven't been any disasters."
>
> No disasters is nice but it isn't enough. Chrysler needs to create an
> emotional connection with buyers. The automaker still designs and produces
> polarizing vehicles. In fact, many of its newest models, such as the boxy,
> aggressive Dodge Nitro, offer a distinctive look and unique features for
> their respective segment. But none has been an out-of-the-park home
> run."You don't get 300s every year," said Jim Sanfilippo, an automotive
> marketing expert with Team Detroit, which handles advertising for several
> brands. "They're going to do OK. Chrysler has a lot of solid doubles and
> all of them four-cylinder engines, which is going to be important when gas
> prices start to climb again."
>
> Will new minivans prevail?
>
> Chrysler's most important vehicle launch in 2007 is in the segment it
> invented in 1983, the minivan. Since then, Chrysler has since sold 11
> million family haulers.
>
> "If Chrysler has a home run, it's their new minivan," said Erich Merkle,
> director of forecasting at IRN, an automotive consulting company in Grand
> Rapids.
>
> The fifth-generation 2008 Chrysler Town and Country minivan and
> top-selling Dodge Caravan, which roll into dealerships this fall, should
> boost the company's lagging sales, Merkle said.
>
> While Chrysler still owns 28 percent of the segment, Town and Country's
> sales dropped 12 percent last year and Caravan sales fell 6.9 percent,
> according to Autodata.
>
> "The competition doesn't have the ability to build more minivans," Merkle
> said. "And Chrysler is introducing an excellent product."
>
> Indeed. The new pair of minivans will tout more than 35 improvements
> including a six-speed transmission, more head room, dual DVD players and
> crisp, clean, roof-mounted ambient lighting. Both debuted at the Detroit
> auto show and both look refined and well-crafted.
>
> The Swivel 'n Go seats, a pair of second-row captain's chairs that turn to
> face the rear row, may not create as much buzz as the cool Stow 'n Go
> seats caused in 2005, but Chrysler will offer a superior vehicle with
> exclusive innovations. It's a recipe to bring in new customers.
>
> With Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. abandoning minivans, Chrysler
> has a chance to grab even more customers as it fights with Honda Motor Co.
> and Toyota Motor Corp., who hold the No. 2 and No. 3 spots respectively.
>
> Is luck on sedans' side?
>
> Chrysler Group may not be as lucky in the midsize sedan segment with its
> two new introductions: The all-new Dodge Avenger, which replaces the
> Stratus sedan, and the redesigned Chrysler Sebring.
>
> Both vehicles offer distinctive designs, and the economical advantage of
> being built on the same platform in Sterling Heights. The Avenger is
> aggressive and mean-looking. The Sebring has a face made for the rental
> car fleet.
>
> Sales for the Sebring sedan, which hit showrooms in December, remain
> sluggish, something Bartoli attributes to an end-of-year launch.
>
> If the Sebring sedan's short deck and snubbed nose make it an ugly
> duckling, the convertible version of the sedan, which comes out later this
> year, is the swan. Somehow, dropping the top and removing two doors makes
> those hood strakes look good. America's best selling convertible should
> remain at the top.
>
> The Avenger is rolling into dealerships now and offers a muscular
> alternative to a segment filled with hot-selling bland vehicles. It
> resembles a small Charger and its strong styling, unique features and good
> gas mileage should attract new customers. Dodge, a brand that appeals to
> men more than women, now has a car on its hands that could pull more
> drivers looking for something sporty but still need the utility of a
> sedan.
>
> Another moderate success for Chrysler has been the Dodge Caliber. An
> inexpensive compact, the Caliber continues Chrysler's tradition of
> offering a distinct alternative to the traditional competitors.
>
> While the interior feels spartan, it comes with clever features, like a
> cooler in the glove box and detachable cabin light. Chrysler sold more
> than 90,000 units since its introduction last year. By comparison, Toyota
> sold 387,000 Corollas, Honda sold 316,000 Civics and Chevrolet sold
> 211,000 Cobalts. A 300-horsepower high performance SRT version of the
> Caliber will come out later this year.
>
> Are 8 vehicles too much?
>
> Introducing so many new vehicles is a heavy burden for any automaker and
> confusing for consumers.
>
> "It's tough to introduce a new nameplate," said Jack Nerad, executive
> market analysis for Kelly Blue Book, adding the plethora of new vehicles
> introduced by all manufacturers leaves many consumers overwhelmed.
>
> Merkle said that many of the introductions may not generate incremental
> sales, instead stealing Chrysler customers from other vehicles.
>
> "When Jeep introduced the Commander (in 2005), it didn't create new
> business, it stole Cherokee customers," Merkle said. "There is a danger of
> that happening again."
>
> Bartoli disagrees. Bringing out new vehicles refreshes a lineup that was
> beginning to get long in the fan belt.
>
> "I think all of these introductions are keeping our momentum going,"
> Bartoli said. "Our lineup was starting to get old, and that's never a good
> thing."
>
> Another factor that may help Chrysler in the long run, Nerad said, is the
> consumer trend that brand loyalty has gone the way of the three-speed
> transmission.
>
> "They are more fickle now than ever before," Nerad said. "Even if they are
> totally satisfied with a vehicle they bought, that doesn't mean they'll
> return to that brand. What will take them somewhere else is the design."
>
> And design is one area Chrysler has proven again and again that it can
> excel.
>
>
>
> --
> "The king of Israel answered, "Tell him: 'One who puts on his armor should
> not boast like one who takes it off."
>

"Scott Koprowski" > wrote in message
nk.net...
> Have any of you rode in a vehicle with the new 4 bangers? My PT's old 2.4L
> 4 is smoother and quieter than the 2.0 and 2.4 world engines. I've driven
> a Caliber, Compass and Sebring with the new "world" 2.0 and 2.4 engines.
> They were loud and very unrefined. The CVT made them worse. The Sebring
> was laugable- I swear I was in a John Deer. I have a 2006 PT with the old
> 2.4 4cy and it is smooth and quiet compared to the Sebring's 2.4 world
> engine. Even the salesman admitted it was extremely loud. How can
> Chrysler come up with this kind of crap and expect to compete?

Well, on the CVT, it's an "everybody is doing it" thing. It gets results on
paper. I think the CVT is going to bow out as the most hated auto
technology ever.

"Joe" > wrote in message
...

> Maybe Chrysler should consider launching a low-priced brand. They could
> just add a new brand at the Chrysler dealers. That would leave Dodge to
> concentrate on performance, and then Chrysler wouldn't be diluted as the
> luxury brand. Hmmmm....

They have one, it's called Plymouth. Time to bring it back.

"Joe" > wrote

> Well, on the CVT, it's an "everybody is doing it" thing. It gets results
> on paper. I think the CVT is going to bow out as the most hated auto
> technology ever.

Huh? Some people think it's sluggish (which is an illusion) but "most
hated"? For what? Being smooth?

It's different unless one is familiar with snowmobiles, scooters or ATVs. I
live in an area filled with snowmobilers, and have never heard anyone say
they hate the CVT. Quite the contrary, I've heard a number of comments over
the years "why don't they put those in cars?".

The reason it's becoming popular for cars now is not fashion, it's that only
recently have technological developments given a transmission that could be
durable at sufficient torque output.

I suspect it may take over most of the small-medium vehicle market within a
decade, both for automatics and with autostick, manuals as well. (The
exception will probably be heavy-duty and performance applications). The
reasons are simplicity, speedy and smooth shifting and above all ratio
range.