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Marchionne to cut Sebring, Compass, Patriot and Caliber from Chrysler lineup?

07/06/2009, 9:09 AM

By Andrew Ganz

Chrysler’s new CEO, Sergio Marchionne, has said that he intends to conduct a thorough study of Chrysler’s portfolio that will likely result in not only the adjustment of prices and equipment, but also in the slicing of under-performing models – which could mean the end of the road for at least four of the automaker’s weak-selling offerings.

An analyst told Reuters that the Chrysler Sebring and Jeep Compass and Patriot could be headed to the chopping block, while the Caliber might survive if it was thoroughly re-engineered for more refinement and performance.

“Chrysler models are old and they have little appeal on the market,” Giuseppe Berta, a professor of contemporary history at Milan’s Bocconi University, told the wire service.

“Marchionne has to work out over the summer a bridge solution which will allow him to get to 2011,” he said.

Dodge, Jeep and Alfa Romeo futures up in the air
Marchionne has said that he hopes to figure out by the end of this month just what direction Dodge, Jeep and Alfa Romeo will take in both the North American and global markets.

An early report indicated that the CEO has some interest in rebadging Alfa Romeo vehicles as Dodges for the North American market and vice-versa for Europe, though no official word has emerged from either Turin or Auburn Hills.

Meanwhile, Marchionne has shown some interest in thoroughly promoting the Jeep brand in the emerging markets of South America, where the iconic badge has seen little exposure under Chrysler’s ownership.

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07/06, 9:20 AM

posted by:

slider5634

Thank you Sergio for cutting the ugliest, most redundant vehicles in the lineup. Now, can you please do something about that Charger wannabie called the Avenger? Perhaps a face lift or a full redesign? Looking forward to seeing some Alfas making their way here.

07/06, 9:40 AM

posted by:

zfenderguy

Yes, cut all of those pieces of crap from Chrysler’s lineup. The old Chrysler is dead, bury those reminders of why they went bankrupt with it.

07/06, 9:42 AM

posted by:

mayer_ray_nagin

what does that leave? Cherokee, Ram, and 300C?

07/06, 9:57 AM

posted by:

2WheeledSpeed

Well I like what he’s doing so far, I won’t cry if I never see a Sebring convertible again.

07/06, 9:59 AM

posted by:

rpiotr01

Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Wrangler and probably the Panda for Jeep.

Chrysler really should be the Town and Country, 300C and the 200C, along with a small Fiat based model or two. The Sebring, Aspen, Pacifica, Crossfire should all go. PT cruiser is already slated to go.

07/06, 10:02 AM

posted by:

Need more oil for GM

Cut a few more while your at it. Chrysler is dead or at least close to it.

Victims of the American Revolution.

Buy American. Buy GM.

07/06, 10:03 AM

posted by:

johnnycanuck

Sebring- they didn’t just burn that bridge, they nuked it.
Compass- the most embarrassing vehicle ever to carry the Jeep name.
Patriot- aside from the CVT it’s not a bad rig, especially since the interior redo.
Caliber- it’s a good name, keep that and start over.

07/06, 10:58 AM

posted by:

JakeK66

JohnnyC hit the nail on the head.

What’s this guy Giuseppe Berta know? He’s a professor in Milan and we take his word that he knows what he is talking about? I hate to break it to him, but these models aren’t “old” they came out in 2007, only two years ago. They suck, but they aren’t old.

07/06, 11:02 AM

posted by:

JakeK66

rpiotr01 – Umm… the Aspen, Pacifica, Crossfire have ceased production last year. The PT is stated to go, but has been given at least a years stay because they sell well in fleets.

07/06, 11:07 AM

posted by:

teahead

Those Chrysler models suck, but those Fiat models look pretty bad too. Panda? Punto? Puhleaze!

07/06, 11:14 AM

posted by:

shaver

“professor of contemporary history at Milan’s Bocconi University” Who and why is this person being quoted? What did the pizza guy think?

07/06, 11:45 AM

posted by:

rpiotr01

JakeK66 – thanks, didn’t realize that. That whole line needed to be gutted anyway.

Even if this isn’t insider info it’s perfectly logical. Patriot sales did OK for a while but have crashed in the past 8-9 months. Compass sales were never that good and are downright pathetic now. Might as well start over with something in the Caliber range.

07/06, 12:22 PM

posted by:

jl328i

Good, thoes models were all a joke anyways.

07/06, 12:37 PM

posted by:

NRG

No surprise there. Good riddens.

07/06, 12:40 PM

posted by:

JakeK66

They should bring the Lancias over. They actually are attractive. The Delta looked good in Angels and Demons, albeit a little to close looking to the Murano in the rear.

07/06, 12:57 PM

posted by:

Donfuy

Lancia Delta looks like sex.

But yeah, cut these off, no thing’s lost.

07/06, 1:36 PM

posted by:

teddyc73

Hey jl3281, how is the Patriot a joke? It has classic Jeep styling, has off road capability and fills a position below the Libirty, plus the weakest part of the car was fixed for 2009 with an all new interior. I think canceling the Patriot is a huge mistake. How about adversting it?

Hey zfenderguy, my Patriot isnt a piece a crap, its a great little SUV.

Even though you have your facts wrong rpiotr01, but why should the Pacifica have been dropped? All other car companies have high end crossovers. I had a Pacifica and it was a fantastic and very competetive vehicle. Not have a luxury crossover is a big mistake.

I just find it hilarious how a lot of you people say to drop this car or drop that car from Chrysler.

07/06, 3:39 PM

posted by:

JakeK66

Yeah Teddyc73, I actually really liked the Pacifica too, it was very much before it’s time and it was the best ChryCo product they had when introduced. The Crossfire could quite possibly be the best looking 2 seater I can afford. It was controversial, but an amazing car all around IMO. I will probably end up owning one as a second car some day soon.

As everyone knows, I’m no posterchild for Chrysler, I don’t like many thins they’ve done, but a couple of their products under Daimler weren’t that bad.

07/06, 5:11 PM

posted by:

sprockkets

They stopped making the Pacifica because sales went down the tubes. Notice how many there are on the road, and then notice how many of them have the new stupid styling on the headlamps – nearly 95% of them don’t. That’s how I tell they no longer sell.

07/06, 8:01 PM

posted by:

elviososa

Good!

07/06, 8:58 PM

posted by:

zoomzoomer

I don’t have any problem with losing the Caliber or Compass.. two vehicles that Chrysler spent way too much time developing when they should have instead been designing a successor to the PT on that platform. The Patriot is the only worthwhile model on that chassis.. including the Sebring/Avenger which ride a stretched version of the same platform. A new Alfa/Lancia-based Sebring sedan/convertible replacement would be nice though!

07/06, 9:03 PM

posted by:

beatusmongous

The Pacifica was nice for its time. However, I just couldn’t justify the price when I was checking it out. The update wasn’t a turn for the better, either. And in this day and age, with everyone trying to go green, a struggling company is better off without a luxury crossover – a symbol of “wasteful greed.” I know it really isn’t that bad, but that is the perception of the general public.

I think when he says “Chrysler models are old”, I don’t think he’s referring to their actual age, but their emotional age. Many of them give you the feeling that you are getting old. I just don’t see many Chrysler models outside of Jeep appealing to younger buyers.

I think we may see some pretty cool stuff coming out of Chrysler soon. Hopefully, the Zeo (or something like it) gets produced somehow.

07/06, 11:41 PM

posted by:

global_lightning

This week I’m on vacation and have a rented Sebring Convertible. It is one absolute POS. The bloated exterior is so hideous I can leave it with the top down and not have to worry about it getting stolen. The interior is an ode to the Plastics Manufacturers of America – 3 or 4 mismatched designs and build quality that would make Soviet Russia proud. The 4-banger engine makes more noise than useable power but it sucks gas like a V6, the brakes feel like cold oatmeal, and the road noise sounds like it’s dragging a dead cat. Other than that, its OK. I think I should pee in the fuel tank when I turn it in.

07/07, 12:33 AM

posted by:

Kanucko

I like this man…cut em Sergio, plus you can ditch that Hideous Commander !

07/07, 4:07 AM

posted by:

F50

Cut the Sebring and Compass, redesign the Caliber and keep the Patriot, as for the Avenger, go back to the cab forward for those mid-sized cars.

07/07, 12:13 PM

posted by:

benroethig

I could deal with temporary cuts while replacements are designed, but I hope they’re not planing to abandon these markets, so he can slide ugly Fiat hatches into them. Hopefully we’ll get a C-Evo sedan (Neon), a C-EVO CUV to replace the Caliber/ Compass/ Patriot and a production version of the 200C. Hopefully spending time in Canada will help Marchionne understand the North American market more the the traditional European, but so far he’s done nothing to quell my fears.

07/07, 12:48 PM

posted by:

ricky_b

Alfa is more upscale than Dodge. Maybe a Chrysler, but not a Dodge. Tell this guy to shake the meatballs out of his ears.

 
 
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