Archive for the ‘Patriot’ Category

Want American-made and fuel-efficient? A small car, too? You don't have many choices.

Shoppers are valuing fuel efficiency more than before, especially now that they might be able to take advantage of a $4,500 Cash-for-Clunkers incentive. While there are plenty of stars-and-stripes-waving larger vehicles, the list of smaller, frugal American-made cars is very limited.

And at a time when you're likely wondering how you can do your part to support the economy—whether locally or nationally—chances are the dealership salesperson will be of little help to some nagging shopping questions like "Where is this car built?"

Luckily, you'll find...

Sergio Marchionne took the reigns of Chrysler less than a month ago, and already he's showing that life at the new Chrysler/Fiat isn't going to be la dolce vita. Taking advantage of the capital and credibility that come at the start of many corporate tenures, the CEO is making some very bold choices--and some difficult ones, too.

Over the weekend, we mentioned that Marchionne is readying plans to rebadge a number of Dodge models for European markets and to rebadge Alfa Romeos for America. Now comes news that Marchionne also seeks to cut a number of underperforming and duplicative models from the Chrysler lineup. Facing the chopping block:...

"Absolutely false" - those were the words used by Chrysler Vice Chairman and President Tom LaSorda today regarding murmurs of a sale of the Jeep brand, one or more manufacturing plants, or tooling for an existing vehicle. (And who, exactly, would be fool enough to buy the tooling for, say, the Jeep Patriot or the Dodge Avenger?).

LaSorda asserted that Chrysler will not separate brands from the company, speaking to reporters this morning on a conference call. He did allow that his company has been planning for more than a year to sell non-earning assets, or those that may be "coming due." As well, he claimed that there have been talks of...