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Dieter Zetsche, head of Chrysler, said the former company would try to regain market share by adding more vehicles - 11 within three years, then 20 more in long-range development. That does not include ten redesigns coming up soon (which could include the LH series, the Viper, the heavy duty Ram, minivan facelifts, etc.) The eleven almost certainly includes the Neon's replacement, a retuned and reshaped Mitsubishi Lancer in both sedan and sport-wagon form (two and all wheel drive versions) with substantial Chrysler input into the two-door versions (so we hear); that would account for about three different models in itself. There's also the Pacifica and Crossfire, though we'd hardly count the latter as a Chrysler. Some have said that Zetsche plans a K-car-style diversification, building new models off existing platforms, something absent from Chrysler's plans since the turnaround of the mid 1990s. This type of new model development has been very successful for Chrysler in the past, with the wide range of A and B bodied cars in the 1960s and 1970s, then with the EEKs (eekcars.com) of the 1980s and early 1990s. It has also worked well for Volkswagen, whose Golf platform spawned the Beetle, Jetta, and Audi TT, and for that matter for GM and Ford over the decades, when not stretched beyond incredulity.
(Adapted from PR Newswire)
Today, Chrysler dedicated a new 500,000 square-foot expansion of its Kenosha Engine Plant with the launch of the 3.5-liter V6 engine that will power the all-new Chrysler Pacifica, which begins production in early 2003. The proven 3.5-liter SOHC 24-valve V6 engine will offer brisk performance and improved fuel economy [over the current 3.5 V6, see details below].
The 3.5-liter production launch marks the completion of the plant's $624 million modernization and expansion program that began in 1999.
Chrysler plants traditionally use outside vendors for installation of new machinery. At Kenosha Engine, a unique pilot team was created to eliminate problems up-front and increase efficiencies. Around 30 people from Kenosha's hourly workforce collaborated with engineers, advanced manufacturing teams and suppliers to provide recommendations on the equipment and implementation procedures. 100 skilled employees were involved in the equipment floor installation, testing of machinery and training initiatives associated with the new engine.
"Plant employees from all levels were encouraged to critique current and future processes for continuous improvement," said UAW Local 72 President, John Drew. "The joint initiative between union and management is vital to the success of the Kenosha Engine Plant in today's competitive environment."
The plant will produce a revised version of the 3.5-liter engine used in the Chrysler 300M, Chrysler Concorde and Dodge Intrepid, apparently thaks to a new dual-intake manifold.
The Kenosha plant currently produces the ancient 4.0-liter I-6 and the new 2.7-liter V6. Production of the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica will begin in early 2003 at Chrysler Group's Windsor Assembly Plant.
At full production, Kenosha Engine will employ more than 1,700 team members and has the capacity to produce 780,000 engines annually on a two- shift operation. The 1.8 million square-foot facility currently employs 1,675 workers, who produce more than 2,000 units per day. Since 1997, Chrysler Group has invested $1.2 billion in the Kenosha facility, including today's announcement.
The dedication ceremony coincided with the city of Kenosha's automotive centennial celebration. The current Kenosha Engine production site opened in 1917, housing Nash Motors which became Nash-Kelvinator, which was merged into American Motors, which was bought by Chrysler Corporation, which was bought by Daimler-Benz - seems whoever owns this plant gets into trouble. The facility has produced everything from Nash Ramblers and (much later) Dodge Diplomats to AMC engines used in Jeeps for more than two decades.
For more details on these engines, click here.
Thank you to Rich Hutchinson for covering breaking news in my absence on July 24!
Though Toyota may still be the first company to release a fuel cell vehicle, Honda is the first to have one certified for sale in the US. Before the merger, both Chrysler and Mercedes were working on fuel cell vehicles; Chrysler's approach actually used gasoline as the source for hydrogen and oxygen, and derived its value from cleaner emissions and greater efficiency (this research path has according to company releases probably been discontinued). GM and other automakers are also working on fuel cell vehicles, but Toyota and Honda seem to be in the lead in terms of actually producing one. The Japanese firms are also the only automakers to mass-produce highway-ready hybrid-electric vehicles.
In other high-mileage news, although DaimlerChrysler has a wide array of available diesel engines, Ford may be the first of the former Big Three to introduce a diesel-powered small car to compete with Volkswagen in the US. A diesel Focus is reportedly planned for the moderately near future. Nearly half of European cars are sold with diesel engines, according to just-auto.com, and all major automakers sell them.
Courtesy Mr. Source: Next "Neon" could also have a Hatchback design, besides a coupe and a sedan, designs are ready to have an OK. Also we might have a Chrysler Ram, yes a pickup with a different front end, rear end, interiors, and equipment, also waiting for an OK. The new LX model will be sold as a 2004.5 ,so there wil still be a 2003 M special and a 2004 M special.Then the LX cars go on sale late Jan 2004.
$24,995. That will get you "Tru-Lok" locking front and rear differentials, front and rear Dana 44 axles, and a "Rock-Trac" 4:1 low range transfer case. Jeep is calling this beefy Wrangler model the Rubicon; the name taken from the course that Jeeps must tradtionally be able to navigate. Only 8000 will be built, so get in line if interested.
Winston Cup
Ward Burton began the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup season with a bang by winning the Daytona 500. This Sunday at New Hampshire International Speedway, Burton put his No. 22 Dodge Intrepid R/T out front with 10 laps to go in the caution-filled event and rolled to a 3.23-second victory over runner-up Jeff Green in the New England 300. Burton's second win of the season for car owner Bill Davis gave Dodge its fourth victory in 2002 and broke a 13-race Dodge winless streak.
For the season, Ford continues to lead the standings with 127 points, followed by Chevrolet with 110, Dodge with 95 and Pontiac trails with 86.
Sterling Marlin finished 14th in his No. 40 Dodge Intrepid R/T but still managed to gain ground in the Winston Cup Standings. Marlin now leads Mark Martin by 55 points and rookie Jimmie Johnson by 92. Other Dodge finishers Sunday were:
Jimmy Spencer (No. 41 Target Dodge Intrepid R/T) 11th
Jeremy Mayfield (No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Intrepid R/T) 19th
John Andretti (No. 43 Cheerios Dodge Intrepid R/T) 25th
Steve Grissom (No. 44 Georgia Pacific Dodge Intrepid R/T) 28th
Hut Stricklin (No. 23 Hills Bros Coffee Dodge Intrepid R/T) 31st
Bill Elliott (No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge Intrepid R/T) 34th
Casey Atwood (No. 7 Sirius Satellite Radio Dodge Intrepid R/T) 36th
Kyle Petty (No. 45 Sprint Dodge Intrepid R/T) 37th
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Ted Musgrave led the way for Dodge on Saturday at NHIS with a fourth-place finish in the New England 200. Musgrave finished fourth in his No. 1 Mopar Performance Dodge Ram and continues to lead the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings by 35 points over Mike Bliss.
Rookie Brendan Gaughan finished fifth in his No. 62 NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Ram to maintain his lead in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Standings, and Robert Pressley finished ninth in his No. 18 Bobby Hamilton Racing Dodge Ram. The manufacturers standings remain tight. Chevrolet has 81 points, followed by Dodge with 78 and Ford at 69.
Other Dodge Ram finishers on Saturday at NHIS were:
Carlos Contreras (No. 43 Hot Wheels Dodge Ram) 15th
Jerry Hill (No. 79 RDS Racing Engines Dodge Ram) 20th
Jonathan Price (No. 81 Ware Racing Enterprises Dodge Ram) 23rd
Brian Rose (No. 4 The Perry Connection Dodge Ram) 25th
Jason Leffler (No. 2 Team ASE/Carquest Racing Dodge Ram) 27th
Lance Hooper (No. 5 AmIHealthy.com Dodge Ram) 29th
Morgan Shepherd (No. 51 Quality Metric Dodge Ram) 30th
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
DBP Motorsports Dodge Neon R/T pilot Greg Stanfield made a semifinal round appearance in his first NHRA Pro Stock start of his career in the 23rd annual Mopar Parts Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison, Colo. A standout in the Pro Stock Truck category last season, Stanfield outran George Marnell in the first round (7.288 to 7.323) and Darrell Alderman in round two. Hemi-powered Dodge Neon R/T driver Allen Johnson beat Stanfield in a close semifinal.
It was a nice day for the Mopar Parts Dodge Stratus R/T of Dean Skuza. The two-time NHRA national event winner drove to the semifinals before being nipped by Tony Pedregon.
Alderman, despite taking a holeshot advantage on the starting line (.438-.474), fell in the second round of competition to fellow Dodge Neon driver Stanfield. The three-time POWERade Pro Stock World Champion and driver of the Mopar Parts factory entry made a 7.361-second pass at 187.96 mph. Stanfield clocked a quicker 7.321/188.52 combination.
Alderman advanced to the second round when No. 1 qualifier Ron Krisher red lit in the first round of competition. The 28-time NHRA national event champ had a solid .438 of a second reaction time and an elapsed time if 7.342 seconds at 188.31 mph.
Pennzoil World of Outlaws
Mark Kinser, driver of the Mopar-powered Maxim, finished 13th on Friday night in the 30-lap A feature at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. Daryn Pittman won the Eldora Clash.
Kinser finished 19th on Saturday night in the 40-lap 19th annual Kings Royal at Eldora. Joey Saldana won that event.
Defending series champion Danny Lasoski continues to lead the Outlaw standings with 6,401 points to Steve Kinser's 6,390 after 42 races. Mark Kinser is fifth with 6.084 points.
The New Castle newspaper Courier-Times reported in this article that Chrysler employees are very unhappy with the conversion of their plant to a joint venture with Metaldyne - a joint venture which would end up by September 2003 with full ownership by Metaldyne. Jeff Coatie, a six-year employee, was quoted as saying "It's going to have a big economic impact on this community." Metaldyne reportedly pays about $10 less per hour than Chrysler does for skilled trades, which could result in defaults on mortgages and other loans by current employees. Seniority could also be reset, affecting layed off workers who have been recalled.
DCX apparently has not even asked the union for concessions. Coatie suggested that the union would be willing to give up a substantial amount in wages, and recently voted to give up their paid lunch in order to gain a new facility.
While DCX insists only a letter of intent was signed, Coatie believes that it's "a done deal." Employees were told that if the joint venture was successful, Metaldyne intended to gain full ownership at the end of the current contract.
DCX's Tom LaSorda said the goal was to increase the plant's competitiveness and "give the plant access to global markets."
Ford has replaced the head of Lincoln, Brian Kelley, with Darryl Hazel. Kelley, brought in by former CEO Jacques Nasser, will be president and CEO of SIRVA, a global relocation company. Under Nasser, the core Ford brand suffered setbacks but the luxury group (including Volvo, Astin Martin, Jaguar, and Lincoln) performed very well. Ford was held up as an example of how to run different companies with respect for each one while achieving economies of scale - for example, the annual report dedicated the same amount of space to each brand, from Ford to high-end Jaguar to relatively tiny Astin Martin. Meanwhile, Jaguar's quality was boosted to Korean-car levels and above, while new Ford-based Jaguars greatly increased sales (the long-term effects are unknown but the company's reputation does not seem to have suffered so far). Indeed, some analysts have compared the Mercedes-Chrysler relationship to the Ford-Volvo/Jaguar/etc. relationship - usually to Ford's credit.
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