Chrysler Unleashes Incentives on 2010 Models

Chrysler Group LLC will offer 0% financing or as much as $4,000 cash back on its 2010 vehicles in an effort to remain competitive and lure customers into showrooms.

Consumers can choose between 0% financing for 60 months or a cash rebate on all of the auto maker's vehicles starting Friday and ending Jan. 4. There are also free equipment upgrade options—such as the installation of a DVD player or all-wheel drive—on some models.

The incentives highlight the reality new Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne finds himself in as he attempts to revive the third-largest U.S.-based auto maker. Mr. Marchionne, who is also CEO of Fiat SpA, told reporters just over two weeks ago that he wanted to reduce Chrysler's reliance on discounts.

However, auto makers aren't ready to abandon discounts as they still face a slow economic recovery. Chrysler is facing the hardest challenge to generate sales as its filing for bankruptcy protection and its subsequent change in ownership to Fiat may have kept consumers away from showrooms.

Chrysler didn't release its five-year survival plan until November, although the company exited bankruptcy protection in June. This year's sales of its vehicles have fallen 39% through Oct. 31.

The latest offer, called the "Year-end Wrap-up," includes $3,000 cash back or 0% on Chrysler brand vehicles and a no-cost service program for three years or 36,000 miles. Chrysler Town & Country minivan buyers will also receive a free installed DVD player.

The Jeep brand offer $4,500 cash back or 0% and the same free service program as Chrysler.

Dodge cars offers $2,500 cash back or 0% and a free all-wheel drive upgrade on a Dodge Charger.

2009 Chrysler Grand Voyager Special Edition

Chrysler UK Ltd is pleased to introduce a special edition model to its successful Grand Voyager range.

Celebrating 25 years as the world’s best selling MPV, and with over 12 million vehicles sold worldwide, the Grand Voyager special edition comes with significant amounts of extra interior and exterior equipment that help makes the award winning vehicle even better value for money.

The interior equipment includes leather trimmed upholstery, dual screen rear DVD entertainment system and uconnect gps satellite navigation including uconnect phone with voice recognition. The exterior equipment features Xenon headlamps, chrome mesh grille, LED daytime running lights, revised lower front fascia, special paint and badging and an engraved commemorative keyring, all included in the price.

On sale from the 1st May and with only 100 models available, the 25th Anniversary Grand Voyager is priced at £32,600 on-the-road.

Nigel Land, marketing director of Chrysler UK Ltd, said: “These new models will appeal to motorists wanting a vesatile seven-seat vehicle that comes with class-leading reputation that the Grand Voyager has built up since its arrival 25 years ago.

“It has an unrivalled blend of luxury, equipment, comfort, versatility, performance and load-carrying capacity at a very competitive price.”
The Grand Voyager also features the easy to use Stow ‘n Go seating system, which allows the second and third row of seats to fold flat into the floor.

Powered by a 2.8 diesel engine, it provides acceleration from 0-62.5 mph in 12.8 seconds plus a top speed of 115mph, and with an extra urban fuel consumption figure of 38.7 mpg and a combined figure of 30.4 mpg it gives customers the fuel economy they expect.

As with all models in the Chrysler range, the special edition Grand Voyager is backed by a peace-of-mind owner’s package and comes with three year/60,000-mile mechanical warranty, seven-year anti-corrosion warranty and one year European roadside assistance.

Chrysler launches incentives on 2010 models

Chrysler Group LLC on Friday launched a year-end sale for nearly all of its 2010 model year vehicles with zero percent financing or up to $4,000 cash to draw customers during the typically slower winter months.

Chrysler, which emerged from a U.S. government-funded bankruptcy in June under the management control of Italy's Fiat SpA (FIA.MI), said the program runs to January 4. It covers nearly all vehicles except the Dodge Challenger muscle car.

Chrysler has fared worse than the U.S. auto industry overall this year as the sector has slumped to the worst sales levels since the early 1980s. Through October, Chrysler sales were off 39 percent, while the industry was down 25.4 percent.

Earlier in November, Chrysler announced a five-year plan that would have the automaker break even on an operating basis in 2010 and on a net basis by 2011 based in part on restoring market share lost in its slide toward bankruptcy.

Chrysler has relied on more aggressive incentives than rivals during the downturn. Edmunds.com has said the true cost of Chrysler incentives in October were about $3,219 per vehicle sold, compared with a $2,468 industry average.

The automaker has about 183,000 vehicles in inventory, with roughly 88 percent as 2010 models and nearly all of the rest 2009 model year vehicles.

For the year-end program, Chrysler is offering $3,000 cash or zero percent financing on 2010 Chrysler brand vehicles. It is offering $4,000 cash or zero percent financing on Jeeps and $2,500 cash or zero percent financing on most Dodge cars.

Chrysler is also offering 1.9 percent financing for 60 months on its Dodge Viper sports car.

Chrysler is offering $2,500 cash and low or zero percent financing on 2010 Ram pickups and up to $5,500 cash or zero percent financing on most 2009 Ram trucks.

Chrysler offers new deals for buyers

Chrysler Group LLC is offering discounted financing or cash rebates on most 2010 models through Jan. 4.

Buyers of any Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge car vehicle can get interest-free loans of up to 60 months, or cash rebates of up to $3,000 for Chrysler, up to $4,000 for Jeep and up to $2,500 for Dodge cars.

Buyers of leftover 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup trucks can get no-interest loans of up to 72 months, or up to $5,500 cash back. Buyers of the 2010 Dodge Ram 1500, can borrow at 0% for up to 48 months or at 2.9% for 60 months, or choose cash rebates of up to $2,500.

There are other choices in lieu of the cash-back or interest-free loans. For example, buyers of a Chrysler Town & Country van can have a DVD system for no extra cost. Dodge is offering all-wheel drive on the 2010 Charger for no charge.

Chrysler’s U.S. sales in 2009 through October have fallen 39% from a year earlier.

Chrysler to get new small work van from Fiat to compete against Ford's Transit Connect

Fiat's Doblo could end up as a Chrysler vehicle when it comes to the USA to compete against Ford's Transit Connect

CAPTION

By Fiat

Watch out, Ford. Chrysler has its sights on a promising area of new business that you thought you had carved out for yourself -- carlike fuel-efficient cargo vans.

Chrysler plans to import a version of the Fiat Doblo compact van in the U.S., Automotive News reports. The van has the same look and configuration as Ford's just-introduced Transit Connect, built in Turkey and a success across Europe. The Doblo would be sold as a Ram, the truck brand being separated from Dodge. And it won't be alone:

The Doblo will join a large Fiat-based van to be sold in the U.S. by the new Ram truck brand, along with a restyled chassis cab model and light- and heavy-duty Ram vehicles. Fiat has a 20% stake in Chrysler, which is enough to be considered the controlling shareholder.

The latest version of the Doblo starts sale in Europe starting in mid-January with U.S. sales in 2012. No name for the U.S. market yet. The new Doblo offers the most interior room and lowest carbon emissions of any van in its segment, Fiat boasts.

GM, Chrysler not required to make electric cars

The Obama administration's preference for robust electric car production will not influence its oversight of taxpayer equity in General Motors GM.UL and Chrysler, an administration official said.

Ron Bloom, the head of the government task force that facilitated the restructuring of GM and Chrysler this year, said in an interview with Reuters that there is a bright line separating the two issues.

"We obviously would be very happy if Chrysler and GM were making lots and lots of high mileage cars. It's not a prerequisite. It's not an obligation," Bloom said on Tuesday.

The government, which has deferred to directors and management of both companies, wants viable automakers that can compete globally and repay their loans in a timely way.

The Obama administration has extended $30 billion and bankruptcy financing and working capital to GM, and $8.5 billion to Chrysler. Those taxpayer investments translate into a 60 percent stake in GM and a nearly 10 percent share of Chrysler.

Plans at both companies call for more fuel efficient vehicles regardless of engine technology and a variety of smaller cars.

GM has made a big side bet on the Volt electric hybrid due out next year. But Fiat (FIA.MI)-led Chrysler this month set aside its plans to develop a similar mass-market vehicle, concluding the effort did not fit with its accelerated business plan.

The decision raised eyebrows in Washington, and in the environmental and energy communities, since Chrysler secured help from the government partly on its blueprint for battery powered vehicles.

"We're completely separating policy from ownership," Bloom said in response to the Chrysler decision. "We trust that the board has carefully thought through the various options of the company and where it was and made judgments on the electric program based on that."

Chrysler May Drop 145 Dealers on Lack of Inventory Financing

Chrysler Group LLC may have to terminate as many as 145 more U.S. dealers unless the retailers can find lenders to finance their new-vehicle inventory.

GMAC Inc., which replaced Chrysler Financial as the preferred lender for the Auburn Hills, Michigan-based automaker’s dealers, has been negotiating with Chrysler retailers, said Sue Mallino, a GMAC spokeswoman.

If dealers can’t get the financing from GMAC, they may lose their franchise agreement unless they can find another lender, said Kathy Graham, a Chrysler spokeswoman.

The outcome may mean fewer dealerships for Chrysler, which has about 2,400 U.S. outlets after terminating 789 as part of a government-aided bankruptcy reorganization. Chrysler exited court protection after six weeks on June 10 under the control of Fiat SpA. GMAC took over preferred financing duties for Chrysler dealers as part of the reorganization.

Of about 1,500 dealers that applied to Detroit-based GMAC to finance their vehicle inventory, about 90 percent will qualify, Mallino said. She said 85 dealers have been refused such financing and 50 to 60 others are still in negotiations.

Fiat kills Chrysler electric car

The Chrysler/Dodge ENVI The Chrysler ENVI electric car program, which was put on hold shortly after Fiat offered to buy Chrysler Corporation from Cerberus Capital Management, has officially been killed by Fiat executives.

The original plan, which involved $70 million dollars of government funding, called for the electric vehicles to be sold starting in 2010, a decision which some critics claimed was impossible. These same critics are now claiming that the entire plan was a ruse to garner more government bailout money for green initiatives.

The decision-makers at Fiat have been downplaying the importance of electric vehicles, or EVs, for months, saying that, "Until the (battery) storage gets resolved, I think electric vehicles are going to struggle," one Fiat executive said in a press release.

No announcements have been made about the funding received from the United States government.

Chrysler 200C EV Concept Car

12-Jan-2009 by admin

The definitive blend of design and technology, the all-new Chrysler 200C EV concept redefines the idea of responsible mobility with a touch of class and sophistication never before embodied so elegantly in one vehicle.

The 200C EV has a 400-mile total range, and a 40-mile all-electric range with zero fuel consumption.

Chrysler to launch four Special Editions

Much has been made of Chrysler's apparent lack of new products for the 2010 model year. Suffice it to say, while there are big things in store for Chrysler, they will take at least another year to get into production. For instance, while removing the unsightly strakes from the hood of the unloved Sebring sedan and convertible is a nice gesture, it's not nearly far enough to make the car suddenly competitive with its chief rivals in the ultra competitive mid-size sedan arena.

Not entirely surprisingly then, Chrysler is trying its best to add a few reasons to purchase its current models before the major changes happen in the next few years. Each of Chrysler's current nameplates – 300, Town and Country, Sebring and PT Cruiser – get Special Editions that will hit the market in the first quarter of 2010.

First, the 300 is slated to get a complete redesign later on in 2010, probably as a 2011 model vehicle. Regardless, the current 300 will get a Sport Edition that's targeted at the youth market before the reboot button is officially pressed. The Town and Country gets a Fashion Edition and the Sebring gets an Ocean Edition (we have no idea what that means).

Lastly, the long-in-the-tooth PT Cruiser gets a Final Edition (finally final? Promise?) and the nameplate is not scheduled to live on past the 2010 model year. So, if you want one... better hit your local dealer post haste. As a parting note, Chrysler never actually mentioned it, but take a good look at the new Chrysler 300 brochure at the top right of the image above – that doesn't look like the current 300 grille, does it? Hint, hint.

Chrysler May Put On a New Badge

Low-resolution, grainy and barely recognizable--sounds like a spy photo of a top-secret supercar in testing. But this time, it's a new Chrysler logo, dug out of the depths of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

The logo, which seems oddly compressed in the vertical axis, is a sort of retro-modern combination of the winged Chrysler logos of the 1990s with a modern typeface and the Chrysler name. It may be yet another visible aspect of the Fiat restructuring and rebranding of Chrysler, though the symbol also bears at least a passing resemblance to Aston Martin's famous winged icon.

Chrysler is no stranger to the whole musical logos game, however, of late a procedure that's tended to coincide with purchase or sale by a parent company, i.e. Daimler. The last such change saw the withdrawal and then reinstatement of the Pentastar logo, which once again appears to have gone the way of the dodo, or the Pontiac, as it were.

An interesting note: the date on the file is from July 2, 2009. That means this new logo has been in the works behind the scenes since the earliest stages of the official merger of the two companies, which was finalized in early June.