The 2009 Jeep Patriot is a step forward

The Jeep Patriot seems to have it all: gas mileage, offroad capabilities, reasonable pep, and a lifetime warranty, with numerous interior features. Sales have, though, been slower than one would expect during these frugal, gas-sipping days. The factory that makes the Patriot, Compass, and Caliber is still on limited capacity. Hopefully, customers will give the Patriot another look now that the Patriot’s gotten an interior workover; the “bulky look” is gone now, replaced by more curves and better-looking materials. We won’t be able to report on personal impressions for a while yet - we do have them! - but we can tell you just from the pictures that this is a much better interior than the current Patriot has. Pay particular attention to the treatment of the glove compartment; the blocky look is gone and textures seem to have been fixed, with chrome accents relieving the plastic. Overall, everything is still in roughly the same place - it’s clear that this was no “unlimited budget” or “from scratch” makeover - but the details have been cleverly reworked for a massive improvement.

You may wonder how we can release this photo (and more at our Jeep Patriot page). First, the details we have on the Patriot were leaked to us before we were bound by the media embargo; second, Chrysler has violated its own embargo with brochures and actual cars showing up at dealerships just a tad early. Is there really a point to our withholding photography when you can go to a Jeep dealer and see the real thing? We sure hope not, because we don’t want them to be mad at us again!

Journey in the Journey

After reading dozens of hands-on reports from the Dodge Journey, all positive, I finally snookered one myself, though only for a few days. So far, I’m very impressed. It doesn’t feel anything like the current Sebring or Avenger; the interior looks great (mine is black, and because it’s an R/T (AWD) there’s chrome accents everywhere); and the ride is quite good, without giving up much in cornering. Acceleration is pretty good, with the 3.5 liter V6 quieter than I’ve ever heard it, and sound insulation is excellent. I think Chrysler has a winner here - especially once it gets the Phoenix engine, diesel option, and automatically-shifted manual transmission to edge the gas mileage up. In the meantime, I look forward to getting my hands on the thriftier four-cylinder.

By the way, EPA-rated gas mileage on this one - remember, it’s AWD - is 15 city, 22 highway. Ack! Full sized minivans can beat that. The price clocks in at around $28,000 base - but mine is pretty well loaded to the gills, with a sticker of $34,240. That’s more than a Hemi Charger and, I think, more than the Challenger R/T… but it has all sorts of options like a sunroof, big wheels, and rear seat video. That stuff all adds up.

See our Dodge Journey report.

What will stay and what will go?

This is just my opinion based on current reports. There might be more new vehicles to replace the ones I’m counting as living. My guess is that the Caliber, Patriot, and Compass might all be dropped and Belvedere closed when the China-cars come online, unless they replace them all with entry-level cars or some new segments - but I think future cars will come from cheap-labor markets. (Though the falling dollar might ameliorate that - the question is, are people chasing low costs or following dogma?)

Note that if we look at the cuts the following way, they don’t seem so bad. I’m also expecting a Scrambler pickup, so Dakota might disappear to make room for that. Durango and Aspen might both go away if every dealership has all brands.

This leaves more than the normally stated 30 models, but of course Chally isn’t on sale yet. Your comments on revisions would be appreciated.

Most scary to me is a rumor that more engineers are going to be laid off. What’s the point in flexible manufacturing if they won’t pay for cars to be engineered and built?

Dodge

Chrysler

Jeep

The new Dodge Viper ACR is launched

The PR folk at Dodge have done two very interesting things with the launch of the Viper ACR. First, they gave the Dodge Viper Club first dibs on the release materials, including numerous photos that are ONLY being distributed through the Dodge Viper Club and a video interview posted on the Club web site. This includes information not being distributed through the press releases.

Introducing a car this way is a refreshing change. The Viper club represents the current owners of Dodge Vipers, a key group of people. Imagine if Dodge had launched the new Avenger by inviting the ASOG (Avenger-Sebring Owners Group) to post the press materials first, giving them exclusive photography, and inviting them to interview the engineers or program leaders. It’s a huge sign of respect, and it’s not the way things have always been done; and I suspect it’ll increase the impact of the launch. It may also help to get around the three major gatekeepers of the auto world, namely, the traditional glossy car mags (which typically prefer Hondas and BMWs to, well, anything other than perhaps Corvettes and high-end Mustangs), the ordinary working auto-journalists, and Autoblog.

The second interesting part of the launch is which auto show will get the Viper first: Los Angeles, typically home to either low-importance introductions or “green” vehicles. Sure, the hybrid Durango will probably come out in LA, but bringing out the Viper brings a shot of adrenaline - and a marked contrast to most other vehicles there. I think the Viper will get a lot of headlines, while at Detroit it might have to fight its way through the latest exotic supercar, Camaro or Mustang variant, or whatever “F” car Lexus is going to bring out next.

Kudos to Chrysler.

Oh, and by the way, for our coverage of the new Viper and links to the Viper club, see: http://www.allpar.com/cars/viper/2008-ACR.html.

Getting Chrysler back on its feet

Nearly ten years of Daimler ownership have taken their toll on Chrysler. The 2.0 liter engine was allowed to age and be replaced by powerplants that are far too peaky for the average driver; cars were given odd combinations of far-too-expensive and far-too-cheap materials and designs; and, overall, there have been few real winners in the lineup since 1998, the two big exceptions being the current Wrangler and the 2001 PT Cruiser (some throw in the 300C as well, though as a whole the LX does not seem to have sold as well, or made as many profits as, the LH line had.) Now, yet more factories are slated for closure and shifts at surviving factories are being eliminated. What can be, and what is being, done? Or, to be more precise:

1. What can be done within one year to make the lineup work?
2. What needs to be done so the lineup will work in 2011?

These are very different questions. With regard to product alone, I suggest:

Here’s what Chrysler is doing do for #1:
1) Use the GM hybrid in trucks, SUVs, etc.
2) Dodge Journey, otherwise known as the “we’re betting a lot on this thing being popular” truck
3) Higher pressure turbo detuned to 270 hp for Sebring and Avenger to replace the 3.5 V6?
4) Higher quality through empowered teams (see Allpar article)

Here’s what they COULD do for #1:

1) Interior tweaks including better seats.
2) Special editions, etc.
3) Retuning of the World Engine.
4) Light pressure turbo or supercharger for the World Engine to make it more desirable

Here’s what Chrysler IS doing for #2:
1) LY series replacing LX series; possible AMT.
2) Truck aerodynamics and other key elements being reworked.
3) AMT/dual-clutch for minivans!! Gas mileage + performance + smoother operation!
4) Phoenix engines!! Gas mileage + performance!
5) Aerodynamics taking front stage
6) Going back to the early 1990s “involve suppliers early” on interior components; see Allpar articles
7) Higher quality through empowered teams (see Allpar article)
8) Horizon/Omni replacement (from China)
9) Rams with Avalanche style bed storage, new Cummins diesel in 1500
10) Dakota re-engineered as a lifestyle vehicle rather than as the heaviest duty mid-sized pickup; optional Cummins diesel
11) Durango based on lighter next-generation Grand Cherokee

Here’s what they COULD do, which would in my opinion fix the main problems of their bread and butter vehicles (aside from the steps mentioned earlier):

1) Engineer a Neon replacement and PT Cruiser replacement off a heavily modified Caliber platform using a PT-like suspension front and rear to save money and increase space utilization
2) Revisit pre-Daimler LX work; downsize slightly and replace Avenger/Sebring with larger FWD cars (may not be practical)
3) Replace the World Engine either with a more evolved version of the old 2.0/2.4, or with something based off the Hemi or Phoenix engine
4) Extended-wheelbase Commander
5) Scrambler (Wrangler pickup)
6) As the AMT takes over, put the six-speed automatic into cars that had the four-speed automatic

Of course there are more possibilities, and none of us have the warranty information, profitability figures, or other data that the execs have. We don’t know, for example, whether the LX really was more profitable than the LH, though I highly doubt that it could have been. We don’t know what actually customers wanted versus what dealers ordered versus what the factory incentivized into being. There are all sorts of administrative issues that are of key importance, including advertising and marketing, media relations, supplier involvement, quality enhancement, labor issues, production methods, tooling (Toyota drastically cut costs with new stamping presses that allow for lower roofs, less noise, and much lower energy usage, for example), CATIA (where Chrysler has long been a leader), emissions and fuel use, international sale, dealer relations, service capabilities, customer alienation prevention, customer loyalization (BMW excels at that), and more. The list of key issues goes on and on and on.

Fortunately, it’s not just Nardelli calling the shots out there. We hope the team gets it right this time. It’s a very hard job; journalists want one thing, normal buyers want another, and then there are the conflicting demands of Chrysler loyalists, other-brand loyalists (some of whom will never, ever, ever, ever buy a Chrysler, no matter what), and the on-the-fence crowd. There are alienated customers to be re-attracted on a constant basis through customer recovery - something not yet attempted at Chrysler, as far as I know - and there is much to be done before any dealings with a dealer or with the company, particularly the zone reps, convinces buyers that they really should have gotten a Toyota or a Chevrolet or what-have-you. There is Chrysler’s horrific image for quality to be dispensed with, and there is the constant question of Plymouth and an entry-level budget brand which could be more recession-proof than the Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep brands are. On a higher level there are strategic questions of niche sales vs mass market sales; Chrysler is all but out of the car mass market now, but they could make it back in if their other ducks were in order.

Chrysler has a rough road ahead. I, for one, hope that their recent cost cutting moves were intended to give them some shock absorbers as they move into the future. At least in 2012, the V6 and V8 powertrains should be second to none.

Playing with the Caliber SRT-4

We just had a Caliber SRT-4 delivered. It’s got more features and amenities than the Neon SRT-4, but when you put your foot into it, there’s a pause while the World Engine winds its way up into its effective operating range, and then it tosses the car a bit to the side and a good distance forward. While the car seems to be trying to change lanes whenever it’s under full power, it is controllable within reason. The sound is quieter than the original SRT-4, but it is tuned to sound surprisingly like the original while idle. Cornering is quite good, as one would expect, and the seats are more comfortable and probably better tuned to larger drivers and passengers. A handy new feature is the built-in accelerometer, which provides (on demand) 1/8 mile, 1/4 mile, and 0-60 times; but it doesn’t track them unless you’re in accelerometer mode. We’ll get you some times later, but right now the roads are busy and wet.

Here’s the video. The full review is coming soon.