Chrysler and Dodge to Recall More than 26,000 Vehicles in the U.S.

A new recall announced by the Chrysler Group will affect 26,397 owners of Chrysler and Dodge brand vehicles in the USA. The recall includes certain 2010MY Chrysler 300 and Sebring, and Dodge Charger, Avenger, Challenger and Journey, and some 2011MY Ram pickup trucks, because a power steering pressure hose may leak fluid onto a hot engine and cause a fire.

The U.S. automaker told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that dealers will inspect and replace if necessary the power steering pressure hoses free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin before the end of the October 2010.

Owners may contact Chrysler for more information regarding the recall at 1-800-853-1403.

According to reports, 13,000 vehicles are also being recalled outside the U.S. for the same problem.

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Chrysler Wraps Headquarters to Celebrate "Truck of the Year" Award

To celebrate the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty Motor Trend "Truck of the Year" win, Chrysler has put a dedicated 140-foot tall and 120-foot wide building wrap at its Pentastar Central headquarters in Auburn Hills.

Fred Diaz, President and CEO of the firm's newly formed Ram Truck division, had this to say about the wrap:

"The purpose [of the wrap] is to share our pride in the Ram Heavy Duty as well as the Ram 1500 with our employees that work hard each day to support this company as well as the communities that surround Chrysler Group. This display will be seen by approximately 200,000 drivers and passengers along the Interstate-75 in Auburn Hills, Mich., each day."

The company said that the building wrap is part of an overall marketing campaign for the Ram Heavy Duty that was recently launched nationwide.

Building Wrap Quick Facts

• The Ram Truck featured in the building wrap is approximately 100 feet long and 41 feet tall
  
  • Its headlamps are 18 feet wide and 9 feet tall
    
  • Its tires are 16 feet wide and 17 feet tall
    
  • Its windshield is 28 feet wide and 9 feet tall
    
  • The front grille is 27 feet wide and 12 feet tall
    
• The building wrap covers 14 stories of the Headquarters' tower
  
• It took three days to place the wrap on the tower
  
• The building wrap could stay on the tower up to 120 days.
  

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Chrysler Group's Sales Numbers are More Confident than they Should Be

Despite all the negative publicity, it seems that Americans would still rather be driving a Toyota than a Chrysler product. According to Edmunds, Chrysler's consumer sales are down a HUGE 44% this year, versus Toyota's 14% drop.

Anyone quoting a 3% drop by Chrysler is factoring in fleet sales, and that isn't exactly fair. However, a Chrysler spokesperson says, "Fleet is part our businesses strategy...We have to rebuild consumers' confidence in the company...The fact that large companies are willing to buy our vehicles helps rebuild that confidence." Hopefully.

Here's what you can learn from some industry analysts:

Jesse Toprak, TrueCar: "You cannot viably survive with fleet and rental sales over 50%...The math just doesn't work."

Erich Merkle, President, Autoconomy.com: "The fact that [Chrysler's] losing share on the pickup side, it says to me that this goes beyond the product itself...I think Chrysler in the near term will be at the mercy of the market. They'll continue to lose market share, but they've got to hope that a rising tide will lift all boats."

Jeff Schuster, J.D. Power & Associates: "It really is survival mode for the next 18 months until they see product in the showroom...They're not finished with the turnaround yet. This is not something that can happen overnight."

If the Pentastar's lineup over the next couple years ends up being as promising as it looks, perhaps Chrysler won't have to keep leaning on fleet sales like an old man with a cane.

Maybe then, finally, we'll have a chance to see some legitimate, luxurious Chrysler compacts and small, sporty Dodges. And what if they try to pull another Sebring or Compass? I can't speak for anyone else here, but if that happens, take it easy guys. No tears shed on this side of the table.

- By Phil Alex

Via: CNN

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Chrysler and Fiat Group Reveal 2010-2014 Product Plan, Many U.S. Models to be Based on Fiat Platforms

Today, the Chrysler Group LLC and it's Italian parent company partner Fiat presented the firm's long-awaited five-year business plan that's supposed to show how Fiat will turn the U.S. automaker's fate around and save the company from going down. Many interesting thing were said and shown at the eight-hour long press conference including Chrysler's new logo but in this post, we'll concentrate on the 2010-2014 product plan of the Chrysler Group's core division that comprises of the Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Cars and Ram Truck brands.

The company's five-year product strategy that includes many new models based on Fiat platforms was unveiled by the Group's vice president of product planning, Joseph Veltri.

Starting off from Jeep, in 2010, aside from the market launch of the new Grand Cherokee, the Patriot, Compass, Wrangler and Liberty will be freshened. The following year, the Wrangler will receive another update including a new interior. 2013 will see the Jeep brand receiving three new models based on Fiat platforms including a small SUV, a common replacement for the Patriot and Compass, and a new Liberty. The Commander will most likely be dropped off in 2011.

Moving on the Chrysler, next year the brand will present the redesigned Sebring and 300 sedans while in 2012, a new Fiat-based compact sedan will join the range., In 2013, Chrysler will get three new products based on Fiat platforms, including a Fiat Group sourced small car (most likely the Punto), a successor to the Sebring and a new midsize crossover. An all-new Chrysler-developed Town and Country minivan will be presented in 2014.

In 2010, the Dodge Car brand will unveil refreshed versions of the Avenger and Journey, along with a fully redesigned Charger sedan and a new fullsize CUV. The Nitro will receive a facelift in 2011 as will the Challenger pony car while the Viper will be freshened up in 2012. The same year will see the introduction of a new Fiat-based compact sedan that will replace the Caliber which will be discontinued after 2012.

In 2013, Dodge will get yet two more Fiat-based models, a small car and a replacement for the Avenger sedan. The Grand Caravan will be replaced with a new model in 2014.

Finally, highlights of the newly-formed Ram Truck division's plans include the possible presentation of a new mid-size pickup truck based on a car platform in 2011, and the launch of Fiat-based small and large commercial vans in 2012. Furthermore, the company said that it will discontinue the production of the Dakota in mid-2011.

More details can be found in the presentation sheets below.

Chrysler LLC Group Product Plan 2010-2014

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Chrysler LLC Group Product Development

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Mopar to Show Off Custom Dodge Ram Bianco at 2009 SEMA

Next month's SEMA show at Las Vegas will see the Mopar squad revealing several concept models including this custom Dodge Ram Bianco that's based on the HEMI V8-powered Ram 1500 Sport. Chrysler's in-house performance tuning arm said that the Ram Bianco has been modified to reflect a more upscale feel and appearance with the help of several Mopar performance parts and accessories.

Finished in a special Arctic Ice pearl paint, the truck is distinguished by a Mopar body kit that includes modified fender flares while the 22-inch alloy wheels in dark finish and lowering kit complete the upgraded looks.

Inside, Mopar said that the Ram Bianco gets black and white Katzkin seats with matching door trims and Piano Black and Arctic Ice accents. There's also a new For Kicker audio system consisting of an audio amplifier, a subwoofer and new speakers.

Performance upgrades are limited to a Mopar cold-air intake and a new exhaust system.

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Dodge Unveils Four Customized Ram Trucks at SEMA

While the Challenger is sure to get most of the attention at SEMA, nevertheless Dodge also brought along four tricked-out Ram pickup trucks. Starting off with the Ram R/T pictured above, the concept is based on the 2009 Ram Sport with a 380HP 5.7-liter HEMI V8 and it's supposedly inspired from the re-born Challenger. Mopar Underground painted the R/T truck in a classic B5 Blue and added a bodykit which consists of sill and box pieces, finished up with a chin spoiler, dual-snorkel aluminum hood and carbon-fiber accent stripes.

The concept rides on Mopar 22-inch Alcoas alloys wrapped in 285/45R22s in front and 305/40R22s in the rear. Finally, the interior features Katzkin leather seats with body-color stitching to match the instrument panel and steering wheel.

The Ram TRXtreme pictured on the right plays up the off-road capabilities of the 2009 Ram TRX package. The Mopar Underground design team added 4.5-inches of extra ground clearance using a Mopar lift kit which allowed the use of Mopar polished and forged 20-inch wheels wrapped in chunky BFG 37X12.50's tires. The paint is a bright yellow and mineral grey two-tone incorporating a mud splash theme. Interior features include a Mopar navigation system, DVD headrests and Mopar leather seats by Katzkin.

The third iteration of Dodge's pickup truck is the Ram Sportsman which features a washed-out military-green paint job that company describes as a "blowing-leaves paint scheme". The vehicle gets added capability with a Mopar 2-inch lift kit supported by Mopar polished and 20-inch forged alloy wheels with 33-inch tires. Inside, the Sportsman boasts a headrest DVD system, perforated leather Mopar seats by Katzkin and an ambient lighting system.

Last but not least is the Ram Mopar Street Package which is based on the Ram Sport. The exterior features a Blackberry paint and a Mopar body kit consisting of sill extensions and a chin spoiler while a slight body-drop/leveling kit, 22-inch polished Alcoa forged wheels and an all aluminum dual-snorkel hood add to the appearance. The classy theme is continued in the interior with ambient lighting and suede / leather seats trimmed with premium piping and stitching.

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