FUTURE DaimlerChrysler Products - Read & Heed

[hemidakota]

Quote: Originally Posted by MikeCandler

Quote: Originally Posted by georgejetson

Firepower has been cancelled.

(Hat tip: oh2o on Allpar.)

I don't have a Ward's subscription, so I can't read the story. Anyone know the details?

Info, Hemi?

Lets hope not

"The WIND is now blowing in a different direction.....PVOMan"

Chrysler Extinguishes Firepower



Dec 15, 2006 1:40 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Eric Mayne - - Chrysler Group is letting the flame go out on its Firepower concept, the Hemi-powered ?grand tourer? that stoked performance ambitions for the auto maker?s core brand.

?We?re not doing Firepower,? Trevor Creed, senior vice president-design, says. ?We just couldn?t find a viable way to do it.?

Reeling from the effects of bloated inventories, which led to a $1.5 billion third-quarter loss and an internal drive to shave $1,000 per vehicle-production cost, Chrysler is refocused on profitability.

Against this backdrop, the auto maker has said no product will enter its pipeline unless it has realistic profit potential. This approach killed the Jeep Gladiator concept earlier in the year, which debuted alongside the Firepower at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

And it even caused the Dodge Challenger concept ? a can?t-miss product in the eyes of most industry observers ? to undergo rigorous scrutiny before the auto maker declared it would build the muscle car in 2008.

The sleek, stylish Firepower features a 6.1L Hemi V-8 developed by Chrysler?s Street and Racing Technologies (SRT) performance group.

?It was a very striking concept,? Creed tells Ward?s, adding the Firepower shared no significant components with any other product in the Chrysler family. ?(It) was built from the ground up,? Creed says. ?And we needed to do that to get the unique look of (the) vehicle.?

But creating concept cars is ?easy? compared with the task of engineering and building a production version that will succeed in the market, he adds.

The move to kill the Firepower doesn?t surprise industry experts.

?That makes sense to me,? says AutoPacific Inc. analyst Stephanie Brinley. To generate sufficient earnings from the Firepower, Chrysler would have been forced to charge ?Viper money,? she says, referring to the 500-hp Dodge Viper SRT10 supercar that starts at $82,745.

Speculation by United Auto Workers union leaders called for the Firepower to be built alongside the Viper at Chrysler?s Conner Ave. assembly plant in Detroit.

?A (Chrysler) halo coupe is clever, but they?ve still got to fix some other issues,? Brinley says, noting she was impressed by the Firepower?s styling ? interior and exterior ? and its Ocean Deep Blue color scheme.

The car succeeded in generating buzz, but reaction was mixed. Last summer, when Firepower production seemed plausible, bloggers were upbeat about the design, with one poster calling it ?awesome.?
Industry observers predicted Firepower's base price would be close to Dodge Viper.

However, others took note of Chrysler?s precarious financial position and declared potential Firepower production to be a ?dumb move.?

Without the Firepower, Chrysler is left with the Crossfire as its flagship sports car. Built in Germany by Wilhelm Karmann GmbH using numerous components from the Mercedes-Benz SLK, the Crossfire is refreshed for ?07 after its ?06 run was cut short.

The 2-seater, with an anticipated starting price of about $31,000, features a new monochromatic look and many added safety features, such as passenger-seat occupant-classification technology that governs airbag deployment.

[hemidakota]

WINDING ROAD AUTO NEWS |December 18th, 2006 10:42 AM

Our ?Men In The Trees? over at KGP Photography have captured shots of what they say is new Dodge prototype, which appears set to do battle with larger two-row crossovers like the Toyota Highlander and Ford Edge.

According to KGP, the new model known as the "JC49" is based on the same floorpan that underpins the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger. Claims of a base price as low as $20,000 are being floated, though that strikes us as on the cheap side for a vehicle this large, especially when the markedly smaller Caliber can creep up and over that price point when well-equipped.

From the looks of this mule, the vehicle appears to be quite far along in gestation, so perhaps we can look forward to a 2008 introduction with a 2009 model year designation.

Dodge engineers have begun testing prototypes for a new crossover vehicle to do battle with the Ford Edge, Toyota Highlander, and the rest of the burgeoning crossover crowd.

This all-new model? known internally as the JC49?is based on the just-released Chrysler Sebring and soon-to-be Dodge Avenger sedans, although this spin-off is clearly larger than its platform-mates.

Despite the camouflage, typical Dodge styling cues show through. The cross-hair grille design takes after the Avenger, the headlights appear to have some of the Nitro?s detailing, while the chiseled shoulder line, flared wheel arches and chunky lower body sculpting appear somewhat Caliber-inspired. The tail-lights have Dodge's typical red lenses with white bands, as on the Charger and Avenger.

The prototype also displays a fetching profile, thanks to a nicely raked windshield and a rising beltline which gives this new Dodge a fairly athletic stance.

DaimlerChrysler reps have described this model as a ?new conceptcrossover', somehow designed to separate it from its competitors, but from what we can see here it?s pretty much what you would expect from the mainstream crossover offering. Where this model might cause a stir is in price' if initial reports of a starting price around $20,000 hold true. This looks like a lot of car for twenty-grand.

To go for that price, we expect that it will be offered in both four-and six-cylinder forms. This seems to fit the evidence we have seen on the testing circuit, since, in addition to the dual exhausts visible on the prototype in our photos, we spotted another prototype sporting a single exhaust.

Dodge's new midsize CUV will be built in its updated Toluca, Mexico assembly plant, alongside the PT Cruiser. Dodge planners hope for 150,000 annual sales of this model. A production run in the east China province of Fujian is reportedly also planned, for export to other markets outside of North America.

The JC49 is expected to reach the market in early 2008. A Chrysler spin-off is possible for 2010, likely serving as the replacement for the Pacifica.

[SRTGallardo]

Boooo!!!! No Firepower and no Gladiator. Oh well at least it looks like we'll get an SRT Dakota or a nice little Hornet. That crossover, is that a re-freshed Caliber?

[gnat turner]

Quote: Originally Posted by hemidakota

"The WIND is now blowing in a different direction.....PVOMan"

Now we're standing downwind and it doesn't smell too pretty. This company is in deep "doo doo". Once the Crossfire goes out of production, Chrysler's lineup will rival only Buick in snooze-inducing ability. Unfortunately, Chrysler will remain a "one car" company.

[hemidakota]

That is why I posted this snippet from his e-mail on Saturday to me concerning some changes are coming. Sad to see it though.

There is even further revelation of pending "STOP WORK" for the next production on the ZC Viper since there 'no profit' from this car. And lost of sharing of platforms is now a bust according to Dieters out of Germany. This is dreadful awakening news for those who may commit sucide over this coming lost.

[gliv]

Ouch......that hurts.

[SRTGallardo]

This could only mean the Challenger and Cuda will be that much better. I expect the SRT versions to fight the world

[gnat turner]

I hope SRT doesn't get caught up in these "changing winds".

[georgejetson]

Quote: Originally Posted by hemidakota

That is why I posted this snippet from his e-mail on Saturday to me concerning some changes are coming. Sad to see it though.

There is even further revelation of pending "STOP WORK" for the next production on the ZC Viper since there 'no profit' from this car.

If the current car were better looking and just a little less expensive they'd be selling all they could make. A racing program would do a lot to help, too.

[gliv]

Quote: Originally Posted by gnat turner

I hope SRT doesn't get caught up in these "changing winds".

I was thinking the same thing, you beat to the punch. Not sure how strong SRT looks with the top brass. Anybody know?

[gnat turner]

Speaking of top brass, how are the talks for Wolfgang going?

[hemidakota]

Quote: Originally Posted by ResumeSpeed

In case anyone is wondering, the 6.1L engine will continue for the 2008 model year in the 300C, Charger, Magnum and Grand Cherokee SRT8 models.

Change out is the next gen SRT versions after 09. This will give the Challenger time enough for the first year production.

[hemidakota]

Quote: Originally Posted by bikeluver43

Any info on a detuned version with more low end for the Ram's?

We have to wait for Chicago or lil sooner than that for 'beat me to internet inside news' prior showing. LOL

[hemidakota]

Quote: Originally Posted by ResumeSpeed

Quote: Originally Posted by bikeluver43

From what I've heard the 4.0 is replacing the 3.7 so I'd assume the bigger motor would be the 4.0 in the Dakota. Although this is the first I've heard of a 3 valve 4.7-any more info on this???? I love the 4.7 best all around V8.

The Dakota will not get the 4.0 for 2008 (contrary to some recent web site reports), the 3.7L will continue as the base engine. The 3-valve 4.7 will be offered in the '08 models of the Dakota, Durango, Ram, Grand Cherokee and Commander. Both standard fuel and flex-fuel versions will be available. Look for an increase in hp/torque, have not seen the numbers yet.

Same as the 4.7 three-valve update - needs the VVT.

[hemidakota]

It would be nice to drop the Viper pricing to 72K dollars and produce other variants to curb the cost factor. I have to agree with George on this one. Cheaper pricing and updated powertrain with a refresh design would propell the car with higher sale numbers.