Can Chrysler Compete Until New Models Arrive?
Yesterday, stories swarmed the internet that Chrysler would introduce anywhere from seven to 10 new models by 2010. Since we have the automaker’s entire 2009 lineup already announced, we know there will only be one or two that could be considered new for this year: the Challenger and the Ram pickup. The other five to seven models, however, aren’t known to most industry insiders.
With sales dropping for the Chrysler Group more significantly than any other automaker in today’s troubled economy — they’re down 24% for the year, while GM and Ford are down 18% and 15%, respectively — we wonder if the company can survive the rest of 2008 and all of 2009 without anything new to offer.
We can assume one of the new 2010 products will be a small car like the Dodge Hornet concept shown above. Also predicted are new versions of the once-popular Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger, along with new versions of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and possibly a new Dodge SUV based on the same platform. That’s four, and two of them are SUVs, which aren’t exactly the hottest vehicles these days. Chrysler executive Jim Press says the company is working on a new D segment car, which we’d assume will replace the horribly received Chrysler Sebring and somewhat more popular Dodge Avenger from 2007.
With the Jeep Patriot, Dodge Journey and Chrysler Town & Country minivan the three lone “successes” for the company to point to this year, we’re wondering how the now-private company can speak so glowingly about its future when its Detroit rivals are starkly pessimistic about 2009, even though they’re showing the media and public exactly what their new products will be for the next two years. We won’t even get into Chrysler’s virtual lack of hybrid vehicles; it just recently rolled out its first hybrids — versions of the full-size Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen SUVs.
As the new auto show season approaches, all eyes will be on how every car company addresses the needs of newly efficiency-obsessed consumers. Chrysler will be no exception. Let us know what you think in the comments below.
