Chrysler says its U.S. sales rose 5 percent over July of last year, a poor month because the company had just left bankruptcy protection.
BY THE NUMBERS: Total Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brand sales rose to 93,313 vehicles sold in July compared with 88,900 a year earlier.
TOP SELLERS: Sales of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee jumped 54 percent over last July's numbers. Sales of the Jeep Wrangler more than doubled.
2010 Chrysler 300C
2010 Chrysler 300C
2010 Chrysler 300C
2010 Chrysler 300C
2010 Chrysler 300C
Chrysler Group's Jeep brand will become the subsidiary's primary global make in the first half of next year as Fiat emphasises the Lancia nameplate in Europe, a top executive said.
Chrysler's minivan, the Sebring and 300 models will be rebadged as Lancias across most of Europe at the end of the first quarter or early in the second, said Michael Manley, Chrysler Group's international chief.
Manley said sharing models among the brands is part of a plan outlined by Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne in November.
Chrysler aims for Jeep to account for half of Chrysler Group's international sales, up from closer to a third historically, he said.
The goal will be to have two brands - Jeep and one other - from the Chrysler Group in every market, Manley said at an event to introduce the new version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee last week in California.
"The brand is global, it's very well known everywhere around the world," said Manley. "With our partnership with Fiat we can now focus on Jeep as an international brand."
Chrysler Group is putting your new car's owners manual on your smartphone. The maker of Chryslers, Jeeps and Dodges says it's the first big automaker to do it.
Last year, Chrysler Group replaced traditional, bulky owner manuals with DVDs and user guides. That was a space-saving idea, given that owners manuals have grown to 1,000 pages sometimes, but most people don't carry around a DVD player.
Now, in addition to general vehicle information including vehicle operation, maintenance and warranty, this new app offers product-feature video demonstrations, connections with fellow owners via the company's brands on social media sites, and access to customer care and 24-hour road-side assistance, the company says.
The new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, coming to showrooms now, will be the first to get it.
The rocks and desert surrounding Moab, Utah, have seen a lot of things. Dinosaurs hatching, dying, and turning into tar. Mormons fleeing persecution, flourishing, and inspiring a hit HBO show. And Jeeps. Lots and lots and lots of Jeeps. But this is Moab’s first look at the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Ours, too, at least from behind the wheel.
It’s an eagerly anticipated one, with Chrysler hitting financial rock bottom last year and its new-product pipeline drying up like a desert riverbed under the sweltering summer sun. That makes this Grand Cherokee, the first Jeep product to emerge after the Fiat-Chrysler alliance, a hugely important barometer of vitality and competence for an organization that has displayed little of either for the better part of a decade. The latest Ram and Ram Heavy Duty pickups are good indicators of what Chrysler is still capable of—they’re very good. Hooray for Chrysler, then, that the 2011 Grand Cherokee is good, too.
Based on the same architecture as the current-generation Mercedes-Benz M-class, the Grand Cherokee has thoroughly modern running gear. The live axle of the previous generation was tossed in favor of an independent multilink suspension, and civility has taken a commensurate move upward. Even while losing the stick axle, Jeep calls this “the most capable Grand Cherokee ever.” Helping validate that claim is an optional Land Rover–style terrain-selection system, inventively called Selec-Terrain, as well as three different all-wheel-drive systems and an available air suspension.
We spent the better part of a day scrambling up, over, and around nature on Moab’s Hell’s Revenge and Fins and Things trails, which were thick with lifted Jeep CJs, Toyota FJs, and custom-built off-road beasts. The GC acquitted itself very well, a given considering the trails were custom-picked to showcase the SUV’s abilities. Still, we easily conquered super-steep rock faces, craggy stair climbs, and sandy washouts—all with ventilated seats whirring under our butts. The sweaty driver of the 1975 CJ we saw with no doors and a three-legged dog riding shotgun didn’t know what he was missing. We returned to the trailheads suitably impressed.
Chrysler is recalling more than half a million minivans and Jeep Wranglers, the automaker told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A wiring problem is forcing the automaker to recall about 285,000 2008-9 Dodge Grand Caravans and Chrysler Town & Country minivans. Chrysler told the safety agency on June 1 that “an improperly routed wiring harness” can be rubbed by a sliding door. That would wear through the insulation and possibly cause a fire inside the door. Chrysler said it has 57 reports of vehicles having “thermal damage” but knows of no accidents or injuries.
In addition, about 285,000 2007–10 Jeep Wranglers are being recalled. The problem with the Jeeps, Chrysler says, is that the front inner fender liners may rub against brake lines and cause a leak. That could result in a “partial loss” of the brakes, the automaker told safety agency. Chrysler said it was not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the problem.
Chrysler Recall 2010 – Vehicle List and Repair Information. Some striking news came a few days ago from car manufacturer, Chrysler, as they explained that they are going to have to recall more than 700,000 vehicles. The decision to recall the cars came as Chrysler executives discovered brake and wiring problems in the recalled Chrysler models.
It is reported that there will be around 500,000 – 600,000 Chrysler vehicles that will have to be recalled in the United States, and there will also be around 100,000 vehicles to be recalled from various other countries.
Luckily, Chrysler seems to have caught this problem before any crashes or injuries were reported.
There are a few models of Chrysler cars that are affected by this recall including the 2006 – 2010 Jeep Wranglers, which are said to have a problem with leaking brake fluid, the 2008 – 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan and the 2008 – 2009 Chrysler Town and Country, both of which are said to have wiring issues.
Chrysler has reported that they will be getting in touch with all the owners of these cars to arrange repairs. If you own one of these cars, however, and are not contacted soon, you may want to contact your local dealer.
The Grand Cherokee is Chrysler's key (and only all-new) vehicle launch this year and it showed confidence in the SUV by already announcing the second shift to boost capacity. The Grand Cherokee is due on sale in June.
2010 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Limited
BASE PRICE: $27,850 for LX; $29,210 for Touring; $32,710 for Limited.
AS TESTED: $37,335.
TYPE: Front-engine, front-wheel drive, four-passenger, small, hard-top convertible.
ENGINE: 3.5-liter, single overhead cam V-6.
MILEAGE: 16 mpg (city), 27 mpg (highway).
TOP SPEED: NA.
LENGTH: 193.8 inches.
WHEELBASE: 108.9 inches.
CURB WEIGHT: 3,959 pounds.
BUILT AT: Sterling Heights, Mich.
OPTIONS: Power retractable hard top $1,995; upgraded radio package (includes 30-gigabyte hard drive, navigation system, U-Connect communications system, automatic-dimming inside mirror and free, one-year Sirius radio service) $1,200; electronic stability control $425; Inferno Red exterior paint $225; engine block heater $40.
DESTINATION CHARGE: $740.
Chrysler's Sebring convertible, with rear seats that can accommodate two adults and a generous trunk, languished in recent years as its manufacturer went bankrupt and was sold.
But the Sebring is still around, with nicer front styling for 2010 and other minor revisions such as a new instrument cluster and anti-whiplash front-seat head restraints.
In fact, the Sebring convertible and Sebring sedan posted impressive, triple-digit sales gains in the first four months of this year compared with the 2009 period.
The Sebring was supposed to be phased out this year. But Chrysler — now owned by the federal government and Italian carmaker Fiat — is reportedly sprucing up the car for 2011.
Starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $28,590 for a 2010 Sebring soft-top model with 173horsepower, four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission.
The starting retail price for a 2010 Sebring convertible with power retractable hard top is $35,445. This includes 235-horsepower V-6 and automatic transmission.
Note that it is unusual for a four-seat convertible to offer a choice of roofs.
The competing, four-seat, 2010 Volkswagen Eos, which comes standard with power retractable hard top, has a starting retail price of $33,140 with 200-horsepower, turbocharged four cylinder and manual transmission.
A 2010 Eos with automatic has a starting retail price of $34,240.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a Web site posting today it is looking into the pedals made by CTS Corp. for Chrysler’s 2007 model year Dodge Caliber, which includes about 161,000 vehicles. The agency said it received five complaints by consumers saying the pedals stuck while they were driving their vehicles.
“The company’s initial examination of customer complaints finds they are limited to a small group of vehicles built during a five week window in March and April of 2006,” Chrysler spokesman Nick Cappa said in an e-mailed statement. “It appears to be a supplier manufacturing concern, which is mechanical in nature and not a design or electronic issue.”
About 10,000 vehicles out of the 2007 model year were made with the batch of pedals containing the mechanical defect, Cappa said in an interview. The vehicles have brake-override technology, which is intended to stop a car if both the accelerator and brake are applied.
Chrysler Group LLC said North Carolina has dropped a statute giving closed-down car dealers the right to hold their inventory rather than sell their vehicles to dealerships that remain open.
The change comes as three Florida dealers are preparing to plead their cases in separate arbitration hearings Tuesday. The dealers want the chance to rejoin the auto maker's network.
Chrysler closed 789 dealerships last year as part of its bankruptcy and agreement to merge its assets with Fiat SpA. The move—backed by the Obama administration—set off a state and federal backlash after dealers expressed outrage to their representatives and legislators.
North Carolina, along with Illinois, Maine and Oregon, enacted statutes in an attempt to override the bankruptcy laws giving the remaining dealers the opportunity to buy vehicles and brands from the closed dealers. Federal legislators also mandated Chrysler allow its closed dealers a chance to rejoin the network through arbitration.
Chrysler sued North Carolina, Maine, Illinois and Oregon arguing that the statutes interfered with the bankruptcy court sale process and federal law.
The state law said the closed dealers could release their inventory only if Chrysler paid the dealer the value of their former dealerships or filed an action showing the dealers were unfit.
"Chrysler Group is pleased to reach an amicable resolution to our issues," the company said Monday. "Such state dealer laws grant rejected dealers specific statutory rights previously afforded only to existing dealers, and are preempted in accordance with the bankruptcy court's prior rulings."
The Dodge Viper is ending its second-generation run this year with plenty of special edition models. From the Viper ACR-X to the 1.33 Edition and Voodoo version, there seems to be no shortage of special snakes to stash in your garage. Today, Chrysler pulled the wraps off one more: the Viper SRT10 Final Edition, which will be available in a production run of just 50 examples.
Dubbed the Viper SRT10 Final Edition, this snake is available in Coupe, Roadster, and ACR (American Club Racer) versions and livens up the standard Viper appearance with a Graphite Clear Coat body color with a painted black center stripe with a red outline. A black windshield surround, Final Edition side sill badges, and six-spoke Anthracite wheels (black Sidewinder wheels on the ACR versions) round out the exterior changes.
Inside, a black interior is given red accent stitching, while red painted halo surrounds are found on the gauge panel and stainless steel screws are used in the center stack bezel. Final Edition floor mats and a numbered dash plaque complete the interior package.
2010 Chrysler Minivan
Chrysler says: Don't like your new 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan (pictured)? Bring it back in 60 days, no questions asked.
2010 Chrysler 300 Convertible
Chrysler plans to bring a four-door retractable-top car to market. The new convertible sedan will based on the next-generation Chrysler Group LX platform and will arrive no earlier than the 2010 model year.
Helios concept (ASC design), based on a 300C four-door sedan, was unveiled at the Detroit show last year. The Helios is a rag top with a lattice structure to provide expected levels of body rigidity. But Chrysler has rejected the ASC design and chosen another designers to build its 300 retractable sedan. A complex folding steel roof covering four doors in a large sedan seems difficult, but if Chrysler can carry this off, a Chrysler 300 Convertible will add more prestige to keep it at the forefront of leading-edge design.2010 Chrysler 300C eco style Edition2010 Chrysler 300C eco style Edition2010 Chrysler 300C eco style Edition
2010 Chrysler 300 S6
