Posted by Ty Michael on August 16, 2011 at 5:00 am
The Town & Country achieves the highest ranking among Minivans based on owner ratings in AutoPacific’s 2011 Ideal Vehicle Research. This is quite an achievement because its two major competitors – Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are newer. The T&C benefits from a thorough upgrade to its interior for 2011 and the changes worked to put the Chrysler Minivan on top. Over 25% of Town & Country owners want more infotainment technology. Over 20% want more daring styling, better ingress/egress, more safety features and more power. Town & Country handily won over the second place all-new Honda Odyssey.
Continue Reading
Posted by Dan Hall on August 3, 2011 at 11:02 pm
Willow Springs Raceway
At AutoPacific we’ve been doing a lot of EV research. A lot. So it was with a smile that we accepted the Chrysler Group’s offer to come to Willow Springs, north of Lancaster in California’s high desert. No EVs here. No range anxiety discussions. The Chrysler Group hauled a load of journalists and analysts to Willow Springs to remind us that anxiety should remain a small part of the driving experience. Exhilaration is better.
Once we were settled, Ralph Gilles, CEO, SRT Brand and Motorsports, announced that Chrysler has officially elevated its in-house performance division – the Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team – to a separate company brand to build high-performance vehicles for Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge. The Chrysler public relations team was on hand the let us take a few of the latest SRT vehicles for laps on the famed racetrack. Not a bad day.
Continue Reading
Posted by George Peterson on November 8, 2010 at 3:21 pm
As part of the extensive facelift(s) the Chrysler brand is getting for the 2011 model year, Chryslers get a new face. The grille texture is now horizontal with subdued chrome accents. The top edge of the grilles includes the modified Chrysler double wing logo now with Chrysler in blue text in the between the wings.
The best thing about the new grille is that, at-a-glance in the rear view mirror, it can be immediately identified as “Chrysler”. The subtle diagonal cues read much better from a distance than from close up. Chrysler designers get kudos for getting a lot of bang from what probably were little bucks.
Continue Reading
Posted by Stephanie Brinley on June 17, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Public Responds Positively to Ford’s Actions, but Some Still Have Reservations
TUSTIN, Calif. (June 17, 2009) — American consumers’ opinions about Ford Motor Company have been positively influenced by the company’s decision not to accept government bailout funds, and by the bankruptcy filings of rivals General Motors and Chrysler. Automotive research and analysis firm AutoPacfic conducted an online survey of more than 900 U.S. consumers regarding their purchase intent and opinions of individual car companies. Highlights include:
* Asian and European manufacturers scored highest when the survey asked “How concerned are you about buying/leasing a vehicle from” a particular maker, with an average of 61% “Not concerned at all.” Ford scored 48%, far ahead of GM’s 15% and Chrysler’s 14%.
Continue Reading
Posted by George Peterson on June 11, 2009 at 6:00 am
The Detroit Big Three soon will consist of the New General Motors, New Chrysler and Old Ford, or better… the New Old Ford. Ford has benefited from a major restructuring begun with the arrival of Alan Mulally in 2006. Like most other automakers today, their sales are way down and they are hemorrhaging cash at an alarming rate. But they seem to have a plan. They have a viable short term product plan, have aggressively rightsized their organization and have not taken federal bailout money and have not undergone bankruptcy, It’s a wonder that all sounds like good news.
A VehicleVoice Internet survey of over 900 respondents in the field from June 3 through June 8 asked several questions concerning Ford’s position in the market while General Motors and Chrysler are in bankruptcy…
Continue Reading
Posted by George Peterson on June 9, 2009 at 8:58 am
A just-completed national survey shows American consumers are skeptical of the U.S. government’s involvement in the auto industry, with 81 percent of respondents agreeing that the faster the government gets out of the auto business, the better.
Following General Motors’ Chapter 11 bankruptcy announcement last week, automotive research and analysis firm AutoPacific conducted an online survey regarding government involvement in the auto industry. Highlights from this survey of more than 900 U.S. consumers include:
• Eighty-one percent of the respondents AGREE that the faster the government gets out of the auto business, the better.
Continue Reading
Posted by dbarrett on April 30, 2009 at 7:21 am
Imagine this: You own a business. One day, you receive a telephone call from the owner of a competitor of yours. After many discussions, you’re essentially offered the opportunity to create a new company overseas; one that will then purchase the assets of the competitor at a highly reduced (but court approved) price, including parts, trained staff, union agreements, and, if you like, part or all of a fully established dealer network. And, your deal will have solid backing from a variety of sources, including the government. If you own Fiat, then that is essentially what you’re doing right now with Chrysler Corporation.
Continue Reading
Posted by George Peterson on March 30, 2009 at 11:01 am
President Barack Obama delivered an address to the nation this morning at 11AM where he summarized the results of review of General Motors and Chrysler by The Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry. The conclusion of the report was that neither of the plans presented to the Task Force by GM and Chrysler are viable.
Wagoner Gone – Replaced by Henderson: Immediately, General Motors’ Chairman Rick Wagoner was let go to be replaced by Fritz Henderson – a very capable and experienced senior executive. Clearly, the Task Force determined that the GM plan did not go far enough. GM now has another sixty days to rework the plan and come back with a viable approach. If they do not, the government can move the Corp into bankruptcy to get its house in order.
Our question is “What will GM’s brand and vehicle line profile look like on June 1?”
Chrysler and Fiat Agree to the Framework of a Tie-Up: Minutes after Obama’s speech, Chrysler announced the it had reached developed a framework for a tie-up with Fiat with the blessing of the Treasury Department. Fiat receives a third share of Chrysler for technology sharing allowing Chrysler to launch competitive new products based on Fiat powertrains and platforms. This is needed to keep Chrysler competitive. Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli keeps his job because he has been at the helm for a relatively short time (since August 2007) compared with Wagoner’s eight years at the helm.
Government to Guarantee Warranties (Warrantees): Obama stated that beginning today the warranties offered by GM and Chrysler are stronger than they have ever been because they would be guaranteed by the government. Also, adopting a spelling not seen for decades, the government refers to these plans as “warrantees”. This support by the government is to create confidence in purchasing a new General Motors or Chrysler vehicle today.
Other Actions – Tax Credits, Scrappage Plans, Etc: Obama also mentioned the sales tax credit for purchasing a new vehicle that has been approved by Congress. Pending are plans for incentives to scrap older, gross polluters.
Further Question: Ford: Ford Motor Company has not taken part in government loan guarantees having planned financially for tough years back in 2006. While Ford is struggling like GM and Chrysler it does not seem to be hurt as much in the market as they are. Market share is not down as much.
How will Ford be impacted by the statements of the President, The Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry, and the restructuring forced on GM and Chrysler by the government? Will Ford thrive or continue to struggle?
Another Question: Financial Company CEOs: Rick Wagoner fell on the sword for General Motors performance during his tenure but you can argue that the performance of the financial community has been much worse and much more damaging to the economy. Where can we see the heads of the banks, investment banks, and insurance company CEOs rolling down Main Street?
Continue Reading
Posted by Stephanie Brinley on January 12, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Along with looking at new-century powertrain options, Chrysler LLC showed off ideas for connecting drivers to their cars and houses in the future. This trick interior was found inside the stunning 200C concept.
Though the primary purpose of vehicles remains getting us from point A to point B, we live in an increasingly connected world. The technology is available to have your smartphone replace these new-fangled smartkeys, find your car remotely, find out if your friends are in the areas, and even see traffic real-time by connecting to city intersection cameras.
All manufacturers are working with partners to see how quickly and how well we remain seamlessly connected to our jobs, families, fun, and obligations as we move from home to car to work or school to car to destinations and everywhere between. Follow the jump to get an idea of the solutions Chrysler is looking for.
Could this be the future of the gauge cluster?
Continue Reading
Posted by katrina on November 21, 2008 at 4:45 am
The Place: The Capitol, Washington D.C. The Players: Three captains of industry (Rick Wagoner of GM, Alan Mulally of Ford and Bob Nardelli of Chrysler), one union leader (Ron Gettelfinger of the UAW) and a big angry Congress.
And then there’s me, your humble chronicler, the only person left behind at Vehicle Voice World Internet Headquarters and Decorative Bamboo Plantation to tell this story, because everyone else is at the L.A. Auto Show. Follow me behind the cut, and let’s talk about the Detroit 3 (plus one)’s adventures in Washington.
That’s…ominious.
Continue Reading
