Chrysler--Looking Shaky

Have you noticed the lack of positive news about Chrysler?   How Chrysler's sales numbers continue to slide year-over-year, even after Cash For Clunkers?  How Ford and GM are coming out with new product, and teasing the press with development mules running around in heavy camo, but there are no spy shots of Chrysler vehicles?

For 2010MY, the only "all new" (for what that's worth) product is the Dodge Ram HD.  That and some minor cosmetic tweaks and standard equipment package changes.  For a complete run-down, see AllPar (http://www.allpar.com/history/chrysler-years/2010.html).

For 2011MY, the new V6 Phoenix engine will be introduced.  A new Jeep Grand Cherokee, co-developed with Mercedes, will launch, as well as a refreshed 300.

In 2012, FIat may be able to introduce the first small Fiats, such as the 500 ("Cinquecento"). 

Meanwhile, Chrysler must figure out some way to keep selling their sub-par mid-size cars. 

Will Ram, Jeep, and minivans keep the company alive?  Or will Fiat take a Cerberus-like financial beating as Chrysler bleeds out money? 

I hope that Chrysler has some sort of secret project under wraps which will prove to the world that thay are alive, and can still design and engineer a lust-inducing world class car.  They need to remind consumers that they are still in the game, because to me, it looks like they are fading out.

Audi Mocks Volt

In an interview with MSN Autos, Audi of America president Johan de Nysschen mocks would be buyers of the Chevrolet Volt as "idiots" and environmental posers. (Link http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/autosblogpost.aspx?post=1247701). He predicts that the Volt will flop and that Obama will have to prop up the Volt to save face.

He's basically right. Even Obama's own automotive task force reported that the Volt was "too expensive to be commercially successful in the short term".

But, Audi's cheerleading for clean diesel is not going to work. That's because the U.S. decided long ago to be very tough on diesel emissions standards, which means that "clean diesel" engines are expensive. Though not as expensive as hundreds of pounds of batteries. Also, due to the economics of refining, during times of high demand diesel can be as expensive (or more) as gasoline, ruining the value proposition further. A much better plan is to develop GTDI and HCCI engines, which get diesel-like efficiency running on gasoline, which several of the OEMs are looking into.

GM's Volt is basically a publicity gesture and technology exercise. Eventually, the system might get cheap enough to makes sense economically. Or it may not. It wil still have done its job, helping GM earn public assistance and learn about all electric propulsion for future programs.

One more thing: pop some popcorn, folks, because Lutz is going to come out swinging a lead pipe.

Spotted A 2010 Buick LaCrosse

The other day, I stopped by my local Murray's Auto Parts store to buy some high quality washer fluid.  Pulling in next to me was a new Buick LaCrosse, of the freshly redesigned 2010 vintage.  It was a nice metallic cream color. It had standard plates, but some sort of parking sticker on the windshield.  A well dressed young man stepped out, likely a GM management type or maybe a marketing/PR guy.

The guy noticed me admiring the car, and said, "So, what to you think"?

"The design is nice, and the interior looks great", I said, "but I'm not sure about the vent things."

"Yeah, that's a Buick styling thing", he said, and walked off.

So that's my mini-review of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse.  Lovely lines, rich looking interior, silly vent holes.

New Car: 2010 Fiat Punto Evo

This is the Fiat Punto Evo, the revised version of the Grande Punto that will be displayed at this month’s Frankfurt motorshow and go on sale in the UK Spring 2010.

As well as a mild restyling, the Fiat Punto Evo gets an updated engine range that includes the innovative 1.4-litre petrol Multiair unit. The Multiair system works by allowing direct control of air and combustion in engines, cylinder by cylinder and stroke by stroke, without the use of a conventional throttle. It saves energy wasted in traditional systems, cutting fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by around 10% over a comparable standard engine, and increasing power by up to 10% and torque by up to 15%. It can also reduce particulate emissions by up to 40% and NOx emissions by up to 60%. Fiat plans to fit the technology to all its engines in coming years.

Other engines in the range include a new 1.3-litre Multijet diesel, which features a new common-rail injector that reduces consumption by around 2% and NOx emissions by 30%, plus methane and LPG units that boost the car’s eco credentials but which won’t be on sale in the UK. This emits 115g/km of CO2. Fiat is also fitting stop-start as standard on all its Euro5-compliant petrol and diesel engines.

Fiat says the interior has been completely reworked, while the exterior has been tweaked by the addition of new bumpers and light clusters. The car is slightly longer than before, at 406cm from 403cm. All other dimensions are the same.

The Punto Evo has seven airbags as standard, including a driver’s knee-bag. Options include a hill holder function to make hillstarts easier, and adaptive cornering fog lights that switch on according to the angle of steering and a new sat-nav system is also available. Called Blue&Me-TomTom, it allows the driver to manage telephone, sat-nav and information systems via a single colour touch screen.

Jaguar XF outsells Audi A6 (UK)

Jaguar’s XF saloon is continuing to steal sales from rivals, despite the weak new car market.

Figures obtained show that the XF is outselling all of its saloon rivals in the UK and the margin is growing. It took 60% of the UK’s executive saloon market in July; earlier this year it was closer to 50%.

“We’ve been working on residuals and keen pricing and equipment levels and that’s continuing to work for us,” says Jaguar. The company reckons it operates in about 30% of the executive market, because it doesn’t offer an estate or four-cylinder diesel model. To the end of July, the XF is third overall favourite executive car despite being available only as a 4 door.

It produced 5,653 registrations, ahead of the Audi A6 with 5,000 (includes estate variants). The BMW 5-Series with 7,900 sales lead the way. The Mercedes E-Class sold 5,700, putting it in second place.

Launch of Mini Crossman delayed

BMW has confirmed it will not be showing a production version of its Mini Crossover until 2010 at the earliest. At the Frankfurt motorshow this month, it will be showing two new concepts; the Mini Coupe concept and the Mini Roadster concept.

The baby crossover, rumoured to be called the Crossman, was first seen as a concept car at the Paris motorshow last year. It will be the fourth production model in Mini’s line-up.

A BMW Mini spokesman told media in the U.S: “The Crossover launch has been pushed back as we wish to first explore differentiation within future Mini smaller models and get feedback.”

The production launch is likely to take place at the Geneva motorshow in Spring 2010.

Hyundai i20 production shifts from India (EU)

Hyundai plans to shift more than a third of its i20 production to Europe from India by the middle of 2010, according to the firm’s Indian managing director.

H.S. Lheem said production of around 70,000 cars would move to Europe in order to get tax benefits. Hyundai currently has the capacity to make around 200,000 units per year in India.

Lheem refused to confirm which plant in Europe the i20 would be built, although it is likely to be at the firm’s Turkish plant. As India is a right-hand drive market, the move won’t affect any cars destined for the UK, so production will carry on as normal.

He said Hyundai’s sales in India were expected to increase to 580,000 in 2009, up from 490,000 sold last year.