Jeep pulls out of New York Auto Show press days?

Chrysler had reportedly scheduled a press conference for Jeep during the New York Auto Show, whose press days are scheduled for March 31 and April 1. While Jeep has unveiled its new vehicles at the show in recent years, and was slotted in earlier this year (with many assuming the Grand Cherokee would be re-unveiled), the most recent list of press conferences does not show Jeep. Listed are Mercedes, Infiniti, Ford, Chevrolet, Volvo, Mazda, Scion, Hyundai, Porsche, Volkswagen, BMW, Acura, Subaru, Kia, Hyundai, Mini, Bentley, Mitsubishi, Saab, and SMS Supercar (which launched their Challenger-based supercars in New York last year).

The schedule is subject to change, and Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep could re-appear.

Update: to clarify, Jeep will, with Chrysler and Dodge, have a presence at the show; the only change is not doing a dedicated press conference.

Carlisle changes car show registration policy

In the past, those registering at the Chryslers at Carlisle show in Pennsylvania had to stop by the registration booth to get their sticker and proceed to the show field. Starting this year, car owners who register by June 7 can get their sticker by mail and drive in through Gate 3 without stopping at the office, avoiding both a delay and an opportunity for extra scratches and dings on classic cars.

Stickers are being mailed 3-4 weeks before the show, with a letter telling people how to get their dash cards and goody bags from a location on the grounds still to be determined.

Those who will show their Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, Jeep, AMC, or other affiliated car at Chryslers at Carlisle are urged to mark Allpar as their club. During the online registration, simply select ALLPAR.COM under “Club” — it’s the last item before “Add to Cart.”

Bertone to show new Pandion at Geneva Show

At next month’s Geneva Auto Show, famed Italian design house Stile Bertone (Bertone Styling) will be unveiling the Alfa Romeo Pandion, a radical new one-off, not-for-production, show car.

Styled by a team led by Mike Robinson, Bertone’s executive brand and design director (and former design director for Fiat), the car takes its name from the osprey (pandion haliaetus), a large predatory bird with a wingspan that can stretch two meters. The connection is the car’s rear-opening, scissor-hinged doors that stand nearly twelve feet tall when open, making for long “wings,” indeed.

The Pandion is a running prototype that uses the Maserati GT’s rear-wheel-drive platform and 440 horsepower, 4.7-liter V8 engine. Both Maserati and Alfa Romeo are owned by Fiat SpA, which also runs Chrysler Group. According the Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, the futures of Alfa Romeo and Chrysler will be closely linked with shared platforms and brand marketing strategies.

Fiat also owns Bertone’s manufacturing facility and plans to use it to build as many as 50,000 Chrysler-based cars a year for European sale. Fiat does not own Bertone Styling. Stile Bertone is owned by Lilli Bertone, the widow of Nuccio Bertone who died in 1997. Hard times and family squabbles forced the company into bankruptcy in 2008 after which Fiat emerged with the manufacturing arm and Ms. Bertone was granted the name, logos and intellectual property of the design operation. Still, Bertone has been fond of using Alfa Romeo and Maserati cars for its styling exercises like the legendary Alfa B.A.T. (Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica or “Aerodynamic Technical Coupe”) series and the beautiful Maserati Khamsin of the 1970s.

No offense to Ralph Gilles, but it might be interesting to see what Bertone could do with the Sebring and Avenger…

Chicago Auto Show

Allpar’s Chicago Auto Show coverage has begun, with extensive reporting and photography by contributing editor Jim Choate.

Chrysler, Lancia to share stand in Geneva

Automotive News Europe is reporting that Chrysler and Lancia will share a stand at the Geneva Auto Show in March. The two brands, destined for integration under CEO Sergio Marchionne’s master plan, will also do a joint presentation for the motoring press.

While neither brand has any new vehicles to display, there’s been no decision announced as to whether the Chrysler-badged Lancia Delta unveiled for the Detroit Auto Show will be on the stage. That vehicle was prepared to get an idea of how American consumers might respond to a larger hatchback instead of the traditional sedan.

Marchionne’s plans call for four Chrysler vehicles the 300, Town & Country and the Sebring sedan and convertible, to be merged with the Lancia line with new vehicles appearing in 2011. Cars to be sold in Italy would wear the Lancia badge while those sold outside Italy would carry Chrysler colors.

Chrysler signs on to help Chicago food drive

Chrysler Group is working with the 2010 Chicago Auto Show’s Food Drive and A Safe Haven Foundation to benefit Haiti earthquake victims and Chicago’s Homeless. The expanded food drive began yesterday at the more than 40 Metro-Chicago Chrysler Group dealerships. Those making a donation of at least three cans of food will receive discount tickets to the 2010 Chicago Auto Show. The drive will run through February 19 and donations can be made at the show on February 17, 18 and 19 in the main hall of the McCormick Center.

“Chrysler is dedicated to serving the communities in which we live and work,” said Lewis Scott, Director of Chrysler’s Midwest Business Center. “We are so proud to continue our partnership with A Safe Haven Foundation and the great work they do everyday to feed the people of Chicago and most recently, the victims of the earthquakes in Haiti.”

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Chicago Auto Show food drive. To date more than 300,000 pounds of food have been collected through the program and distributed to local food pantries through A Safe Haven Foundation.