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Dieter Zetsche has announced that, while 5,000 diesel-powered Jeep Libertys will be made in the 2005 model year to test the waters, there will be no cap on production - in short, if demand warrants, Jeep will build more diesel-powered Libertys.
In other news, Ford's 427 concept seems popular, GM introduced their new V8-powered, Australian-engineered GTO, Canada is bringing their auto emissions standards up to US levels, and Ford unveiled their 2004 F-150 pickups. (Thanks to just-auto.com for the information - see their web site for details.)
Over the weekend, Dodge introduced a concept version of the next-generation Durango, as well as a concept of its version of the PT Cruiser, and a concept of what the next-generation Neon/Lancer could look like (at least, in mini-SUV trim). For details and photos: Durango - Avenger and Kahuna
H. David Braew reported: "Sports Compact Cars has declared the SRT-4 its car of the year." This is quite an achievement, considering the general perception that Honda and other imports are the king of the sport compacts.
For 2002 as a whole, Chrysler tread water, losing market share with a 3 percent total sales drop - but with gains on many high-profit vehicles (Grand Cherokees, Rams, and Libertys did well). Losing 5 percent of minivan sales must hurt, and knowing that Honda, Toyota, and Ford are beefing up their vans and production facilities can't feel good, given the profits there. We wonder whether Dodge's mix of vans is trending to the low end as time goes on and Odyssey takes the high end customers.
Percentage wise, most of the big losers were slow sellers, so the wild swings don't mean much. Sebring Coupe is down 29 percent, but that's only five thousand cars - the five percent fall in minivan sales represents 22,000 vans! Likewise, the Ram Wagon and Van falling 40 and 28 percent, respectively, isn't as huge an impact as it could be. The Durango fall of 18 percent must hurt, though - that's from 130,800 to 106,925. Dakota's down 15 percent, too. Fortunately, the Ram - which sells twice as many trucks as Dakota - is up 15 percent, more than making up the gap. But that's all of Dodge's bad news; the rest is good. Neon sales are up 18 percent, possibly finally attracting some Plymouth customers, or more likely basking in the reflected glory of the SRT-4.
The Chrysler brand is where it hurts. Even though Dodge Caravans are holding their own, the Voyager and Town and Country are both in the dumpster, falling 17 and 12 percent, respectively. The beautiful-inside 300M has fallen. The Concorde, more of a value now with its longer body, is down. The LHS is of course gone completely, merged into the Concorde, but to no avail. All the Sebrings are down except the sedan, which is steady with 2001. The Chrysler brand seems to be suffering from its identity crisis, and the constant repetition of DAIMLERchrysler may not help those who buy American. (The refrain doesn't seem to have convinced those who buy German - unlike the PT Cruiser, which has attracted many Volkswagen and other import buyers.)
The glory days are surely long gone. Only 126,118 Neons sold - it's amazing. The Neon should have sales of over 200,000 units. The Sebring and Stratus sedans, together, account for about 140,000 units - not exactly the best sales figures for Chrysler family-sized cars. But those slipping minivan figures are equally worrisome. Perhaps bringing back Plymouth just to hang Voyager and Neon nameplates on would pay for itself...!
We hope Chrysler leaders - and, more important, Daimler leaders - will think about why these numbers look the way they do, and act accordingly. We fear they'll keep on blindly trying to remake Chrysler into Audi, complete with TT styling. But we've been wrong before - and maybe they're right. We'll all know a year from now.
Bill Cawthon was good enough to forward Chrysler's December sales report to us before Chrysler notified us of its presence. Overall, the news is not bad, with a one percent increase over 2001 (based on a daily selling rate).
Jeep was the surprise performer, setting an all time record with sales of 45,751 units - up 22 percent over last year, with (again surprisingly) the Grand Cherokee going up 19 percent. Even the Wrangler increased in sales. The biggest percentage gain was the Liberty, up 35 percent. But for the full year, Jeep sales only went up one percent - just short of 460,000 vehicles.
The Dodge Ram, not surprisingly, also set a sales record, with 34,812 units sold. Nearly 400,000 Rams were sold, 15 percent more than in 2001. Dodge cars, all combined, only reached 348,218 in sales, up six percent from 2001, but still less than the Ram! The Dodge brand overall also went up by one percent over 2001, with 1.26 million sold.
In 2002, Chrysler Group sold 2,205,446 vehicles, compared to 2,273,208 in 2001, a decline of three percent - with half a million vehicles in inventory at the end of the year.
U.S. Sales Summary Thru December 2002
Month Sales DR % Sales CYTD DR %
Model Curr Pr Change Curr Pr Change
Yr Yr Yr Yr
Cirrus 0 0 0% 0 371 -100%
Sebring Sedan 2,732 4,522 -37% 56,606 56,616 0%
Sebring Coupe 519 1,092 -51% 11,784 16,601 -29%
Sebring Convertible 2,350 2,245 9% 43,977 45,242 -3%
Concorde 2,583 3,280 -18% 31,611 32,331 -2%
300M 2,360 2,988 -18% 32,375 36,583 -12%
LHS 0 229 -100% 552 8,852 -94%
Prowler 39 160 -75% 1,328 1,134 0%
CHRYSLER CAR 10,583 14,516 -24% 178,233 197,730 -10%
PT Cruiser 8,332 12,676 -32% 138,260 144,717 -4%
Voyager 1,911 3,344 -41% 37,392 45,105 -17%
Town & Country 10,057 12,605 -17% 126,378 142,902 -12%
CHRYSLER TRUCK 20,300 28,625 -26% 302,030 332,724 -9%
CHRYSLER BRAND 30,883 43,141 -26% 480,263 530,454 -9%
Wrangler 5,072 4,860 9% 64,351 68,830 -7%
Cherokee 0 242 -100% 0 74,490 -100%
Liberty 16,555 12,763 35% 171,212 88,485 93%
Grand Cherokee 24,124 21,096 19% 224,233 223,612 0%
JEEP BRAND 45,751 38,961 22% 459,796 455,417 1%
CP CAR 10,583 14,718 -25% 178,838 228,964 -22%
CPJ TRUCK 66,051 67,586 2% 761,826 788,481 -3%
CPJ DIVISION 76,634 82,304 -3% 940,664 1,017,445 -8%
Neon 7,387 7,915 -3% 126,118 107,299 18%
Stratus Sedan 7,093 6,505 13% 90,189 88,948 1%
Stratus Coupe 1,214 1,181 7% 19,044 22,177 -14%
Avenger 0 0 0% 0 143 -100%
Intrepid 7,919 6,855 20% 111,356 109,098 2%
Viper 77 96 -17% 1,511 1,388 9%
DODGE CAR 23,690 22,552 9% 348,218 329,053 6%
Dakota 8,581 11,543 -23% 130,712 154,479 -15%
Ram P/U 34,812 30,253 20% 396,934 344,538 15%
Caravan 19,236 18,466 8% 244,911 242,036 1%
Durango 7,427 10,024 -23% 106,925 130,799 -18%
Ram Wagon 251 602 -57% 10,912 18,321 -40%
Ram Van 1,863 2,257 -14% 26,170 36,537 -28%
DODGE TRUCK 72,170 73,145 3% 916,564 926,710 -1%
DODGE DIVISION 95,860 95,697 4% 1,264,782 1,255,763 1%
TOTAL CAR 34,273 37,270 -4% 527,056 558,017 -6%
TOTAL TRUCK 138,221 140,731 2% 1,678,390 1,715,191 -2%
TOTAL CAR & TRUCK 172,494 178,001 1% 2,205,446 2,273,208
-3%
Total Minivan 31,204 34,415 -6% 408,681 430,383 -5%
Total Sport Utility 53,178 48,985 13% 566,721 586,216 -3%
Selling Days 25 26 307 307
Source: Chrysler
The Hemi and Cummins engines seem to have done the trick.
You heard it here months ago, but the official announcement came yesterday. Chrysler, Hyundai, and Mitsubishi will jointly operate a new North American plant which will produce their "world engine" (designed and used by all three companies). Chrysler will "lead" management of the plant, which will draw on each of the three companies' strengths (all three are wholly or partly owned by DaimlerChrysler), and be set up under a separate company, Global Engine Alliance, LLC. The engines will also be produced in Korea and Japan, most likely under the auspices of Hyundai and Mitsubishi, respectively. Production of the new engines will start in 2004 in Korea, with the American plant producing engines for US-made Dodge and Mitsuibshi models in 2005. DCX estimates that, once the three plants are running, 1.5 million of the engines will be made each year, making it possibly the highest-volume engine family in the world.
Jack "dodgeboy16" informs us that not only is the Hemi Ram 1500 shipping, but it's available at some dealerships already. The Hemi replaces the 360 (5.9) engine option, since the 360 was discontinued in mid-December.
The Dodge Magnum SRT-8 was introduced to the world in advance of any other LX-based car. This concept features a supercharged Hemi engine capable of 430 horsepower, pumping out a stomping 480 lb-ft of torque, in an LX chassis. It appears to be a hatchback/wagon, and has rear wheel drive and a five-speed automatic transmission. Dodge may be hoping to generate excitement with the LX early in the LA auto show - the release may be the first of the show - since Pontiac's new GTO, based on the Australian Holden Monaro, will be sure to grab most headlines when it is brought out. As if that was not enough for the show, Toyota will bring out its anticipated Scion line, Ford will show supercharged Thunderbird and three-door SUV concepts, Mitsubishi will show the 2004 Evolution VIII, Mercedes will introduce the Maybach to the United States (presumably its primary market), and Porsche will show its Cayenne SUV. If the SRT-8 goes into production, it may well be the most impressive offering of the group, though the GTO is reputedly "hot."
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