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"PB Pod" wrote: "For anyone who doubts how serious Mopar is about the SRT-4 here is some interesting news. NDRA, the NOPI Drag Racing Association, is the belly of the beast. This is where the fast and furious FWD crowd race for the big bucks. Mopar has become the title sponsor of the NDRA final race of the 2003 season....Because they believe their SRT-4s are going to win season championships. To make sure this happens they have had some of the top import drivers in the series switch to Dodge. Shaun Carlson, Mike Crawford, and Scott “Mo Daddy” Mohler will drive SRT-4s.
Even as the nation girds for war with Iraq and even after Saudi Arabian-born and funded terrorists killed thousands of Americans, the President has proposed a new tax break for buyers of gas-guzzling luxury SUVs. There is already a tax-law loophole which allows small business owners to deduct SUVs which cost up to $25,000, but Bush proposes raising that loophole to allow deductions of up to $75,000 for a single vehicle. While the original idea (also enacted under George Bush) was reportedly to help businesses to buy needed vehicles - e.g. tractors, snowplows, and the like - the law has been taken advantage of by dentists, doctors, and others to whom an SUV performs no more function than, say, a Toyota Prius. Indeed, given that Detroit News has focused attention on abuses of the existing law, its expansion seems to indicate that it was designed to be used by wealthy small business owners who would like to deduct their luxury vehicles. Cars are not eligible for the deduction. Detroit News suggested that most of the people taking advantage of the deduction need no "help" from the government. See their article here.
(by Bill Cawthon)
DaimlerChrysler today announced the Unimog will be sold under its own name in the United States and Canada. Distribution will be handled by Freightliner and its Sterling and Western Star brands. Freightliner subsidiary American LaFrance will build modified Unimogs for use in fighting wildfires.
The first "Americanized" Unimog U500 was built at Mercedes' truck plant in Wörth last November and has already been delivered to Freightliner. It is fully compliant with all North American requirements.
Previous plans for the American Unimog called for it to be rebadged as a Freightliner product, but the same fumbling that has plagued the Sprinter's North America introduction has dogged the Unimog. Now, DaimlerChrysler registered the name "Unimog" and will sell it as a distinct brand.
It is quite possible that DaimlerChrysler finally got its act together when it was confronted by falling home market sales of the pricey Unimog. A new Unimog can run well over $100,000, a real problem for cash-strapped German states and cities.
When the North American expansion plans were first announced in 2000, the Unimog was identified as a sport-utility vehicle, a claim Freightliner quickly retracted. It is worth noting that actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, best know for his affection for the GM Hummer, also owns an Unimog.
Unimogs have been actually been sold in the U.S. almost since Mercedes began to manufacture them though generally not through Mercedes' own North American distribution network. Previous distributors have included tractor company J. I. Case.
The U.S. government has been the largest customer for Unimogs in America. In 1986, the U.S. Army bought 2400 Unimogs. The Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service also use Unimogs.
We interrupt our normal news bulletins for a request. Please contact us if you know the whereabouts - or any information regarding - the 1937 Chrysler Custom Imperial built for Mrs. Walter P. Chrysler. You can leave a message on the classic car forum at http://www.allpar.com/forums/ or drop a message to user "write" at this site. Thank you.
General Motors will be issuing profit-sharing checks of over $900 apiece to each of its 130,000 UAW workers, as well as to its 49,000 management workers. Meanwhile, Chrysler's 65,700 union workers will receive between $500 and $1,000 each. Ford will probably not have profit sharing this year. This indicates that Chrysler earned a profit in 2002, though we have not yet seen DCX figures.
Just-auto notes that Ford is being accused of hiding evidence in 15-passenger van rollover suits. The commercial van has been prone to rollovers, resulting in deaths, injuries, and government safety warnings. Meanwhile, Louisiana's attorney general declared that the state cannot buy any more Crown Victorias until Ford can guarantee that the squad car will not burst into flames in a collision. That may be good news for Dodge and Chevrolet, whose own squad cars have proven themselves in independent tests.
General Motors defied analysts and commentators who said the giant's strategy of extreme incentives would hurt profits. The world's largest automaker achieved record revenues in the fourth quarter, while doubling profits for the full year with earnings of $1.7 billion on a new record revenue of $187 billion. That beats 2001's $601 million profit. With a comfortable amount of cash on hand, GM is reportedly considering further investments in Fiat's car business, which may be split off from Fiat's other businesses (information from just-auto.com).
General Motors defied analysts and commentators who said the giant's strategy of extreme incentives would hurt profits. The world's largest automaker achieved record revenues in the fourth quarter, while doubling profits for the full year with earnings of $1.7 billion on a new record revenue of $187 billion. That beats 2001's $601 million profit. With a comfortable amount of cash on hand, GM is reportedly considering further investments in Fiat's car business, which may be split off from Fiat's other businesses (information from just-auto.com).
Chrysler will offer two Pacifica models, an all-wheel drive version and a front-wheel drive model with traction control. The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the all-wheel drive Pacifica model will be $32,980. The MSRP for the front-wheel drive model will be $31,230. Both prices include a $680 destination fee.
The 2004 Chrysler Pacifica arrives in Chrysler brand showrooms in the early spring of 2003.
Chrysler Pacifica has easy step-across entry and exit, first-class seating, three rows of seats, and fold-flat second and third row seats. Standard features include three-row side curtain air bags, an inflatable driver-side knee blocker air bag, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, speed control, AM/FM radio with CD player, full-length center console, 17-inch aluminum wheels, and the 250 horsepower 3.5-liter engine from the Chrysler 300M.
Optional features include an in-cluster navigation system, DVD Rear Seat Video entertainment system, Infinity Intermezzo 5.1 digital surround sound system, six disc in-dash CD/DVD changer, Sirius satellite radio, UConnect hands-free communication, second row heated seats, power liftgate, power sunroof, and 17-inch chrome wheels.Pacifica will be offered in a variety of colors including Bright Silver Metallic, Brilliant Black Crystal, Butane Blue, Inferno Red, Light Almond Pearl, Onyx Green, Satin Jade, and Stone White. [Rear Seat Video, Infinity, Intermezzo, Sirius, and UConnect are registered trademarks.]
With the introduction of Chrysler Pacifica and Crossfire, the Chrysler brand continues to build momentum. Chrysler brand sales have nearly quadrupled to 481,000 units in 2002 from 130,542 units in 1991. [We wonder how much of this is the boost from Plymouth Voyagers.]
Chrysler Pacifica will be built at DaimlerChrysler's Windsor Assembly Plant (Canada).
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