Chrysler cuts product & jobs

I want them to bring back the 300N concept car they showed on the auto-show circuit back in 2000.

I suppose it's too late - it was based on the LH platform (which could have handled RWD). Maybe they still have the tools and dies for the LH platform ? They could then do away with all the (EXPENSIVE) mercedes parts.

Accuracy question: Are they actually discontinuiing the Pacifica and Magnum altogether, or are they just stopping production at Brampton? There's a difference. The Pacifica isn't selling all that badly, and I have to say that the 4.0L version is an outstanding vehicle to drive. Chrysler created another market segment with the Pacifica, but lost out to crap like the Murano because it looked sportier and had a more potent engine earlier on. The 4.0 solved the power problem for the Pacifica, but it may have been too little too late.

The Magnum may still be my favorite of the LX vehicles, although the Charger looks better and better every time I see one. At first I thought it was just an ugly box like the 300, but its got some really greaceful lines, especially the hood, grille, and "C" pillar/rear qauarter area. The rear end is too simple, and the "greenouse" too short, but other than that its very nice. They still should have called it "Monaco" or "Polara" or "Coronet," though.

I always thought the Magnum was the best-looking of the LX cars. If only it had the 300's interior.

Yeah. Rumor was the Compass was going to be dropped too. And Commander.

It even got a pretty good rating from Consumker Reports (below-average reliability kept them from recommending it though).

It's also quite big -- as long as a Town & Country, for example. Yet it only seats 6, not the 7-8 other vehicles that size seat. That probably hurt it.

The headlights are still a weak area, and the C-pillar always makes me think of Richard Nixon -- hunched-up shoulders.

Yeah, and Avenger could be Coronet or even Dart.

I think we all were expecting this but do not forget that there will be a LOT of families and children out there who will be having a pretty grim Christmas. The only good part about it is that they didn't wait until the middle of December before making the announcement, when these people had already spent their money on presents. This way the employees will have a little time to prepare, hopefully some can pick up seasonal work to help build a cushion. I would expect to see most of them off the payroll by end of month December, though, and looking for a job in January really sucks. And to top it off the housing market has taken a big dump, so a lot of these folks may not be able to sell out and move somewhere else.

My guess is it will be years before Chrysler is hiring again.

Ted

You know my opinion on that rag. If they give it a low rating, its just as likely to mean its superb.

Those aren't shoulders, they're hips... and cars are female :-)

I say that's one of the strong points of the styling because it (FINALLY!!) brings back at least one element of the beautiful "coke bottle" lines that were common on the '68-'72 B-bodies, and probably reached the highest level of grace on the '71 Satellite/GTX. The new Charger "squares" the hips off a little too much, but its a step in the right direction. At least its not a rounded vitamin pill. IMO, marrying the coke-bottle side profile with the taller greenouse from the LH cars would have been a good combination. I still don't care for the high beltline and gun-turret slit windows that are the common styling trend now.

Yes very unfortunate, but better they don't waste money on Xmas presents. In Canada the housing market is OK and they have other employment opportunities.

I'm sure Chrysler's new owner wants to keep employment lower.

If the Canadian employees are willing to travel a bit or move they may get a job at the new Toyota plant now being built on Ontario. >:)

The Pacifica employees are in the Windsor van plant aren't they? Where will the Journey be built? It seems to be targeting the space left by the heavy clumsy Pacifica, the nice short van and poor visibility RWD Magnum.

When that stops being the case, it'll be time for the last of the hardheaded holdouts to admit that Chrysler really and truly is gone forever. ;-)

The Journey is aimed at those who bought the short-wheelbase minivans, according to reports. It's based on the Avenger/Sebring platform, so I guess it'll be built alongside them.

Hey, Daniel, you got a mention in the latest issue of The Star, the MBCA magazine (at least your web site did).