Chrysler Sales Drop Eight Percent in January 2010

Chrysler Sales Drop Eight Percent in January 2010

When it comes to sales, it's all about new product. For the time being, Chrysler doesn't have much of that, which may help to explain why sales in January 2010 slid 8 percent to 57,143 units.

Some may question the decision to split the Ram pickups from the Dodge brand, but it did help the latter to post a sales increase, something Chrysler's other three brands were unable to do. Dodge itself managed to eke out a 1-percent sales increase, while Chrysler sales fell 2 percent. Jeep sales were down 7 percent, while the Ram brand dropped 25 percent.

The Journey crossover continues to be the sales star at Dodge. 4790 examples were sold, marking a 55-percent increase over January 2009. Other notables included the Avenger sedan, up 44 percent to 3134 units, and the Grand Caravan, which jumped 34 percent to 4298. Caliber sales were up a scant 4 percent, while Challenger and Viper sales dropped 39 and 80 percent, respectively.

At Chrysler, the picture is slightly more grim. The Sebring witnessed a huge rebound, as sales jumped 85 percent to 3593 units. The Town & Country minivan continues to be the top seller, with 4531 examples (a 6-percent increase) moving off showroom floors. The remainder of the lineup, however, was sagging -- 300 sales were down 26 percent, and sales of the ancient PT Cruiser dropped 32 percent.

Jeep saw sales of its compact Compass skyrocket 52 percent to 1244 units, although the similar Patriot slid 7 percent to 1972 vehicles. The Grand Cherokee and Commander posted gains, up 6 and 22 percent, respectively. The Wrangler remains the brand's best-selling vehicle with 4888 copies sold in January, but is still off last year's number of 6362 units. The number-three seller, the Liberty, fell 11 percent to 2987 vehicles.

Slow truck sales truly hurt the Ram brand, which is comprised entirely of trucks. Sales of the new Ram pickup (especially in 1500 form) have helped bolster Chrysler as a company, but even Chrysler's best-selling vehicle saw sales slide 22 percent. Dakota sales, meanwhile, dropped 32 percent to 994 vehicles.

Source: Chrysler

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Chrysler May Abandon Sebring Nameplate

Chrysler May Abandon Sebring Nameplate

In an attempt to break away from its pre-bankruptcy form, Chrysler is possibly dropping the Sebring name for its revised midsize sedan, which is due late next year.

Chrysler is planning to significantly revamp its lineup in the near future, and is promising nine significantly upgraded vehicles -- Chrysler calls them "new" -- by the end of this year. The Sebring is one of those cars on the block. Apart from ditching most of the features found on the current car, CEO Sergio Marchionne suggests the new car may even ditch the Sebring nameplate.

“You’ll see a completely different animal,” said Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat and Chrysler Group, speaking about the Sebring replacement scheduled to go on sale in the fourth quarter this year. “Actually, we were having a discussion about what name this animal should have. The jury’s still out.”

While details about the upgraded Sebring are rather scarce, Marchionne says the changes will be significant. The most significant changes will come in the interior, where hard plastics currently abound. The new interior should look more like the new Ram trucks’ interior, with numerous leather appointments.

Chrysler’s significantly refreshed Sebring -- or whatever it will be called -- is due in the fourth quarter this year, along with eight other significantly upgraded Chrysler products. The Sebring refresh comes just over two years before the brand new model based off a Fiat platform debuts in 2013.

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Marchionne: A Chrysler-Lancia Merger Could Happen This Year

Marchionne: A Chrysler-Lancia Merger Could Happen This Year

The marriage between Chrysler and Lancia may come sooner than later. An Autocar interview with Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne says the two brands could merge their lineups by the end of this year.

"In Europe, Lancia is an undersized, underdeveloped brand, with nothing bigger than the Delta. Chrysler, which has a true global reach, has nothing smaller. Put them together and you have a full lineup," Marchionne said. "We could see the two converge as early as the end of the year."

Marchionne's statements nearly confirm reports of such platform dating to last October. The first example of such a merger could be the Chrysler-branded Delta that was on hand at the Detroit auto show. While details were nonexistent -- the concept didn't even have a name -- the hatchback provided a pleasant example of how the Fiat's products could appear stateside. We've also heard that Lancia could receive a luxury vehicle underpinned by the next-generation Chrysler 300C.

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Chrysler 300, PT Cruiser, Town & Country Updated for 2010
Chrysler’s 2010 lineup may not be as extensively overhauled as Dodge’s portfolio, but the division will introduce a few new trim levels for the 2010 model year.The rear-wheel-drive 300 gains two new special edition models, both with Audi-esque names. The 300 S6 and S8 are powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 and a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 respectively, and help dress up Chrysler’s largest offering. Both cars receive new 20-inch wheels with painted pockets, darkened headlamp bezels, and blacked-out grilles with a chrome outline. Although the powertrain is left stock, Chrysler has fitted the cars with upgraded suspension parts to improve handling.
Inside, 300 S6 and S8 models receive suede seat inserts, and red accents on the steering wheel and seats. Brushed aluminum accents help dress up the aging interior, while a 13-speaker, 322-watt audio system (complete with a 100-watt subwoofer) entertain those seated within. 300 S6 and S8 cars also come equipped with Sirius satellite radio and remote start, and should arrive at dealers in the spring.For 2010, the Town & Country will once again be offered as a Walter P. Chrysler Signature Series model, and will be dressed up for the occasion. The black paint and chrome wheels carry a luxurious look, but it’s what inside that counts. Macassar Range wood trim is unique to this model, as are the two-tone leather seats. Stow ‘n’ Go, a 30-gigabyte hard drive, a dual-screen DVD entertainment system, and heated seats in the first and second rows are also standard equipment. Pricing begins at $33,365 (including $820 of destination fees), and should be on sale in the first quarter of 2010.Special edition PT Cruisers are nothing new, but the two-tone paint on the new PT Cruiser Couture Edition is rather attractive. Couture cars also receive a red pinstripe, along with polished multispoke 16-inch wheels. Seats can be trimmed in either a vibrant red hue or available gray leather. Look for the Couture Cruiser to arrive in showrooms in a few months, carrying a base price of $19,995

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