What are your predictions for Chrysler's 11/04 presentation?

[XDCX]

What are your predictions for Chrysler's 11/04 presentation?

As Chrysler demonstrated at the beginning of the year with the release of their 200C Concept Car, they're still capable of designing great vehicles.

A lot has changed at Chrysler since the 200C was released on January 11th. Since emerging from Chapter 11 Chrysler has been mostly silent concerning their product plan - that will change during a six hour presentation on November 4th when Chrysler shares their five year plan with the media.

What are your predictions for Chrysler's 11/04 presentation?

Please take our poll and share your thoughts.

[XDCX]

I just checked out the AutoExtremist.com and read his comments about Chrysler's Product Plan in his "On the Table" section.

While most of his information echoed what was reported in the Wall Street Journal, he indicated that the Dodge Viper is on the list of vehicles to be eliminated.

He also mentioned that the Fiat 500 isn't due until late 2011 - that's a full two years away. Let's hope that information isn't correct.

Finally, I somewhat surprised that nothing has been said about the Dakota. Given its low sales volume I wonder if it will be one of the vehicles that gets cut?

Here's a link to the AutoExtremist "On the Table" section - click here

[CarguyCO]

Funny thing you mentioned Dakota...we didn't order any 2009s....but a beautiful Inferno Red Dakota showed up on a truck the other day....talk about flashbacks...

[XDCX]

Originally Posted by CarguyCO

Funny thing you mentioned Dakota...we didn't order any 2009s....but a beautiful Inferno Red Dakota showed up on a truck the other day....talk about flashbacks...

Maybe the reason the Dakota isn't mentioned is because it doesn't cost Chrysler very much to keep it in the line-up?

I know it shares an assembly plant with the Dodge Ram so maybe the savings associated with killing it are insignificant.

On a different note, if Chrysler kills off the Nitro I wonder if the Liberty would make the cut? Perhaps that depends on what they do with the Compass and Patriot.

[Txflyer]

Originally Posted by XDCX

On a different note, if Chrysler kills off the Nitro I wonder if the Liberty would make the cut? Perhaps that depends on what they do with the Compass and Patriot.

I can't remember where I read it, but somewhere I saw that the Liberty stays, but the Compass and Patriot go.

[XDCX]

Originally Posted by Txflyer

I can't remember where I read it, but somewhere I saw that the Liberty stays, but the Compass and Patriot go.

That would actually make a lot of sense for a plant production standpoint.

Chrysler would be able to stop the production of the Caliber/Compass/Patriot and increase Liberty production, offsetting the loss of the Dodge Nitro.

From a sales standpoint, I don't know. Would the Jeep dealers rather keep the Patriot or the Liberty?

Maybe with the new Pentastar V-6 the Liberty will be a more marketable vehicle.

[Txflyer]

I'd personally rather keep the Liberty. I never thought the Patriot made sense. About all it does is rob Liberty sales. If it weren't for Cash-for-Clunker sales, I don't think we'd have ever gotten rid of our remaining 2009 Patriots. Any customer what we've ever had on a Patriot (other than CFC customers) would be an easy conversion over to a Liberty.

No one ever thought of the Compass as a Jeep so it never made much sense either. IMHO it sounds like someone with some business sense is actually making some of the product decisions at Chrysler. I like it

[XDCX]

Originally Posted by Txflyer

IMHO it sounds like someone with some business sense is actually making some of the product decisions at Chrysler. I like it

I like your optimisim.

As I noted in another post, I hope this is the direction Marchionne takes: "As Marchionne's product plan rolls out, the brand strategy will take shape. The Ram truck brand will be split from Dodge, which will sell entry-level cars and sporty rides. Chrysler will maintain its higher-priced status. Jeep will be strictly SUVs. And Alfa Romeo will be offered as a lower-priced (but still upscale) sporty rival to BMW." (Quote from BusinessWeek article)

[ohiobuckeyes]

Just read this on JAYSKI.COM about the plan. If I miss this in the forum my bad.

Dodge on the way out?: UPDATE: Four months after exiting a U.S.-funded bankruptcy reorganization, Chrysler Group is about to unveil a product roadmap that relies heavily on vehicles from Italian partner Fiat while abandoning many of the U.S. carmaker's own models. The plan, due to be unveiled Nov. 4, involves the reintroduction of Fiat's premium, sporty Alfa Romeo brand to the U.S. starting in 2012, The Wall Street Journal reported. Chrysler also will introduce the 500, Fiat's tiny car that is popular in Europe, to Americans. It won't, however, attach the Fiat name to it. Chrysler meantime is preparing to phase out many of its current models, particularly Dodge cars, the Journal said.(MSN Money), doesn't mentioned which Dodge models will be part of the phase out or how this move will affect the teams in NASCAR that run the Dodge Charger.(10-29-2009)
UPDATE: According to the Wall Street Journal, which claims access to people who have seen Fiat's plan for Chrysler, many of the recent rumors regarding current models are incorrect, and Chrysler will incorporate more Fiat Group products than expected. Vehicles planned for the US, according to the Journal article, include a replacement for the Chrysler Sebring, based on a Fiat design. The PT Cruiser, Sebring, Avenger, Compass, Caliber, and Patriot will all have their final year in 2012, with even the popular Dodge Caravan ducking out; the Chrysler Town & Country will be Chrysler's sole minivan, according to the article, though historically the Caravan has sold better. The Nitro will also be dropped. To be kept are the Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger.(allpar.com)(10-29-2009)

[Txflyer]

Originally Posted by XDCX

I like your optimisim.

As I noted in another post, I hope this is the direction Marchionne takes: "As Marchionne's product plan rolls out, the brand strategy will take shape. The Ram truck brand will be split from Dodge, which will sell entry-level cars and sporty rides. Chrysler will maintain its higher-priced status. Jeep will be strictly SUVs. And Alfa Romeo will be offered as a lower-priced (but still upscale) sporty rival to BMW." (Quote from BusinessWeek article)

In my opinion, that's where Chrysler AND GM have failed in the past. Take GM for example. Chevy, GMC and Cadillac all marketed the same vehicle. They just called it something different (Suburban, Yukon, etc). The brands lost their identity. They were competing with themselves. Same thing with the Durango/Aspen and many many other vehicles. I think Marchionne is looking a little further into the future than the other automakers. If he can keep Chrysler's nose above water until all this comes into being, he will be looked back on as a genius. He is doing what GM should be doing. No, I don't expect Chrysler's numbers to increase dramatically in the near future, but I do thing the long-term picture looks promising - provided we can slog through the next couple years intact.

[CarguyCO]

The Patriot is a fantastic used car...we just got the Jeep franchise so I cannot speak for its new sales...but when we get a used one it doesn't last long....

[XDCX]

Originally Posted by ohiobuckeyes

If I miss this in the forum my bad.

No worries, there have been several reports speculating on the "plan" but the only one who appears to have a reliable source is the Wall Street Journal. (Many news stories cite the WSJ as their source.)

Here's a recap of the WSJ report I posted in another thread:

Here are the highlights:

• Dodge to drop Caliber, Nitro and Avenger. Eventually drop Caravan
• Dodge to retain Challenger and Charger
• Jeep to drop Commander. Patriot and Compass die in 2012
• Chrysler PT Cruiser and Sebring die in 2012 or sooner
• Fiat 500 to arrive sometime in 2011
• Alfa Romeo to launch in U.S. in 2012 with the Mito subcompact
• Alfa Romeo to launch a midsize sedan and the Milano in 2013
• Chrysler plans to launch a midsize car and compact in 2012 with Fiat under-pinnings
• Jeep plans to launch a midsize SUV in 2013 with Fiat under-pinnings

The AutoExtremist reports that the Viper will be killed and as noted in the above posts, there's been no mention of the Dodge Dakota.

[XDCX]

Well, we're less than 24 hours away from learning the fate of numerous Chrysler vehicles and the future of the Dodge brand.

While I don't think the poll results here reflect the attitude of Chrysler's entire dealer network, I do sense there's a growing concern about what the "plan" will mean for Chrysler.

Even Allpar.com, one of the most pro-Chrysler websites on the Internet, posted an editorial expressing concern for what the "plan" will bring.

Will Marchionne be able to hit a Home Run tomorrow? Time will tell....

[Txflyer]

Originally Posted by XDCX

Will Marchionne be able to hit a Home Run tomorrow? Time will tell....

I don't know about a home run, but I am hoping for a solid base hit that will get us back in the game.