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The long-wheelbase Jeep Wrangler, discussed for years, may actually reach production within the next year. Adding two doors and between 1.5 and 2 feet of length, the long Wrangler would help to replace the old Cherokee for buyers who want something more "rough and ready" than the Liberty, but would also like to have more interior space and four doors.
After Chrysler was merged into Daimler-Benz, a large number of Chrysler plants were shut down to reduce costs. Now, DaimlerChrysler has already announced a new plant to build vans - far, far away from all existing Chrysler plants - and is considering another new one, to build engines. This time, however, the plant would, according to Chrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche, be located in Michigan or Ohio, near existing plants (Sterling Heights and Belvedere). The plant would build the new four cylinder engines jointly designed by Hyundai, Mitsubishi, and Chrysler, which will be used in the next-generation, Mitsubishi-based Neon, the next-generation, Mitsubishi-based Stratus, and Mitsubishi and Hyundai models. Over half a million of the engines are expected to be needed each year just in North America, with 1.5 million used across the world. Hyundai will start making it in South Korea in 2004. Eventually, all production may be centrally located, possibly in the United States.
The implication of this may be negative for those who work in the plants that currently make the 2.0 and 2.4 liter engines used in the Neon, Stratus, PT Cruiser, Wrangler, and minivans. While the 2.4 might continue for a year or two after 2005, the existing plant's days would seem to be numbered unless it is converted to produce the new engines.
Doug Hetrick notes an article in the December 2002 issue of Four-Wheeler. Apparently, a guy in New Mexico liked Dodge's T-Rex concept car, and chose to make his own, a 6x6 1995 Ram V-10 with 2.5 ton Rockwell axles. Believe it or not, it's painted Hemi-Cuda lime green.
Hemi power will finally be coming to the Ram 1500 model, offering owners more power (345 horsepower and 375 lb.-ft. of torque) and better gas mileage than the current 360 / 5.9 liter engine. The Hemi option will be available only with a responsive five-speed automatic at first, and will cost $800. It appears to be available on all models, and we'd expect it to replace the 5.9 entirely in the near future.
Chrysler's PR on the Hemi follows:
Modern technology meets tried and true combustion with the all-new 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum. The use of the classic HEMI (hemispherical) head design creates optimal air flow, while twin spark plugs, direct ignition and Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) allow for smooth, efficient operation. Composite air-flow modules combine with cross-flow aluminum heads, splayed valves and investment cast rocker arms to deliver an awesome 100 horsepower increase and an additional 40 lb.-ft. torque compared with the 5.9-liter Magnum.Fuel efficiency is also improved by 10 percent over the 5.9-liter, while the new HEMI Magnum engine is approximately 60 lbs. lighter in weight. The 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum debuted in the all-new Dodge Ram Heavy Duty 2500 and 3500 as the standard engine offering, and replaces the 5.9-liter Magnum V-8 in the entire Dodge Ram truck line-up.
In 1951, Chrysler introduced the HEMI V-8 engine to the public. The engine produced 180 horsepower, an impressive output in those days. The first cars to carry the new engine were the New Yorker and Saratoga lines. Between 1951-53, HEMI engines were offered on the Chrysler and Imperial, DeSoto and Dodge. Although the engines carried different names - "Firepower," "Firedome" and "Red Ram" - and were manufactured in separate facilities, they shared a similar design approach with each engine having its own size range.
Chrysler will be trying to better match GM's incentives to stem its fall in market share, which is currently 11.5 percent or nearly two percent below its Jan-Oct 2001 market share. GM's market share has improved, meanwhile, as it offered interest-free loans, cash rebates, no down payment, and three months without payment. This means GM's revenue per vehicle is lower, but by making more vehicles and amortizing their fixed costs, GM makes more money overall. Chrysler's Jim Schroer told Reuters, though, that incentives were only part of the story, and that many people saved (or borrowed) enough by refinancing mortgages to buy new cars - and that the rate of refinancing slowed in September, prompting the October auto sales losses. [As an example, a family which had a relatively good 7.375 percent 30-year mortgage could, in the current climate, replace it with a 5.5 percent 15-year mortgage, paying roughly the same amount each month, but also increasing the mortgage amount by enough for a new car or a down payment. Likewise, replacing a 7 percent mortgage with a same-term 5.5 percent mortgage would free up more than enough cash each month for a car payment.)
We currently do not have details on Chrysler's higher incentives, but note that GM was doing three months without payment, zero percent, and rebates.
Yes, the Ford Focus has been recalled once again. Long-time Ford followers will not be surprised to learn the issue is unscheduled pyrotechnics. 572,795 2000 and 2001 model year Focus subcompacts are being recalled for safety issues including a potential for engine fires, an issue which seems to have afflicted Ford far more than other automakers. The Focus, while the darling of the automotive press, has suffered from repeated recalls and quality issues, prompting Ford to dredge out their highly successful "Quality is Job One" ad campaign.
Bill Cawthon provided this list of the best sellers in the Chrysler stable. Sales figures (USA) are for January through October 2002.
Warning: perspective can be depressing, so don't read farther if you're a Chrysler fan. That said, for comparison, the best selling vehicles in the US are (courtesy KeithO):
United States car sales plummeted 27% this October, compared with October 2001, a nosedive that failed to surprise many industry insiders. Automakers have generally been raising sales through heavy incentives, and incentive-fueled purchases borrow from the future. The future seems to be here.
Ford was hit hardest among American automakers and, most likely, for overall volume, with a 34 percent drop month-to-month (Oct. 2001 to Oct. 2002). GM was nearly as bad with a 32 percent drop, while Chrysler fell 31 percent. Foreign automakers tended to do better, though Ford-owned Mazda fell 42 percent. Honda only fell 6 percent. Both BMW and Mercedes actually improved slightly. Even Toyota fell by 21 percent.
Chrysler might not have enough room for Plymouth, but there is still room for another low-end DaimlerChrysler brand. Bill Cawthon wrote:
DaimlerChrysler AG will be producing a variant of the Smart 4-seat model at its Juiz de Fora site in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The model is based on the new compact car concept developed jointly with Mitsubishi.This is the first time for a Smart production site outside Europe. The Juiz de Fora plant is fairly new and currently produces the M-B A-Class for the South American market and the C-Class for North America.
Jürgen Hubbert, head of Mercedes passenger cars and the Smart Division, remarked: "This variant underscores the great potential of the Smart brand. At the same time, it marks a major step toward Smart’s entry into the US market in coming years." (Hubbert originally targeted 2004 as the entry date for Smart vehicles.)
"Our goal is to establish the Smart as a multi-product brand worldwide," said Andreas Renschler, CEO of Smart GmbH. "The model will build on Smart’s unmistakable flair with outstanding technical features and the design and interior elements typical of the brand, and will be closely aligned to customer preferences in the US market."
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