No surprise: Nissan-built small Chrysler model in trouble
Click above for high-res image gallery of the Dodge Hornet concept
Color us unsurprised at the revelation that the long awaited tie up between Chrysler and Nissan has hit a rocky patch. Recall that the two automakers struck a deal last April that would have Dodge supply the next generation of the Nissan Titan fullsize pickup truck (built atop its Ram platform) in exchange for a duo of small cars to be built by Nissan and sold as Dodges. After the last few years of failed attempts to get some other automaker (first by way of Chinese automaker Chery, then Nissan) to build a small car for sale here in America, we've grown immune to the disappointment of not getting the Dodge Hornet concept produced in a timely fashion.
According to reports, sales of the Dodge Trazo, which is literally nothing more than a Nissan Versa wearing new badges, will go on as planned in South America. The other small car and the Dodge-built pickup have reportedly been put on hold as the companies work to fix their own financial problems. Our last hope may be that Chrysler is able to drum up enough money to make the planned strategic alliance with Fiat work out as hoped before its too late.
Gallery: Dodge Hornet
[Source: CNN]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gorr 9:42PM (2/13/2009)
Quote: '' No surprise: Nissan-built small Chrysler model in trouble ''.
No surprise, the world banks have decided to tax all cars to the utmost and to ruin all car makers then bouth them for cheap with tax money. An easy thing to notice. Every ass on earth is now own by world banks with all western countries owing trillions each. Each jobs will by given by politicians if you lick some part of their body, brilliant peoples you're dead as you lack experience in doing so.
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Treehugger 4:47AM (2/14/2009)
Why should we save Chrysler ? what do they have that deserve to be rescued : ugly design, poor quality, outdated technology, disastreous fuel efficiency, no edge or differentiated technology, they can dye who cares ? Ok their MiniVan know-how, but nothing than Toyota or Honda can do.
They are an unadaptable specie prone to extinction soon
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Throwback 5:14PM (2/14/2009)
I'm sure the people who rely on Chrysler for a pay check and health beneifts care if they die.
JDred 7:05PM (2/14/2009)
Treehugger, I can see you don't take into account that the wonderful folks at Mercedes-Benz all but ruined Chrysler in their "Merger of equals". Prior to that fiasco, a lot of people seem to forget they had an extensive and competitive line-up of fuel efficient vehicles going back to the 1980's. What you call "Ugly" were in fact, the most aerodynamic vehicles on the road.
On top of this ignorance, your poor spelling skills aren't helping you to articulate a reasonable point at all. I'd go back to where you went to school and see about a refund if I were you.
The fact that the "Hornet" is delayed is simply because of the poor business climate that exists for all auto makers today. Myself, I believe Chrysler will make a comeback. What have they done to be rescued? They survived an internal mauling by a foreign competitor who did nothing but destroy them from within all while promising an equitable exchange of ideas and technology.
Treehugger 10:18PM (2/14/2009)
Ok next time I will re-read my comments, so sorry for the spelling. I don't know if the fact that Daimler Benz and Chrysler were unable to work together is more Chrysler's fault than Benz's fault. My understanding is that it was a refusal of Chrysler to be controlled by Benz. But whoever is responsible doesn't change the fact that it is questionnable if there is any value in this company that deserves to be bailed out. That's a problem for the workers but it is part of the game in the auto industry that Chrysler might have to die even if they are more victim than guilty.
jharlan 9:40PM (2/14/2009)
Chrysler as we know it died when the Germans bought it. The Germans tried to fix it and had to throw in the towel in defeat and literally pay someone to take it off their hands. What can you do with a car company that is worth less than it's debts? You steel money from the taxpayers, silly! It may be possible for Ram Trucks and Jeep to make a profit because they have sex apeal and a loyal following, but the cars are in a suicide squeeze play trying to compete with well funded competitors with more desirable, economical, and more dependable offerings. They want everyone to buy American but just take a look where their stuff is built. I hate to see it, but I think the American made big 3 are going to be Honda, Toyota, and Ford (and I'm not so sure Fords are made here).
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JDred 6:16AM (2/15/2009)
When Chrysler was merged, they were one of the most profitable American car companies with a huge reserve of cash. How people can blame Chrysler for failing when Damlier eliminated Plymouth, which in turn killed off the Prowler and other similar niche vehicles planned for Plymouth. They also ended a mutually successful partnership/ownership that Chrysler had with Mitsubishi.
Dr. Z and the boys made what was supposed to be an economical Neon-based PT cruiser and made it into a bloated car that, while it sold well had terrible gas mileage and was a 1,000 pounds heavier that what it was planned to be. And to say Chrysler was at fault!? How can it be their fault when they ended up losing an entire product line, reduced the vehicle lines that Chrysler had and their cash reserves all but drained?
But they did get an old Mercedes suspension design from Damlier to put on the 300 and a Diesel engine for a Jeep. Big whoop!
Damlier made the Neon into a bland car(the coupes vanished after 1998) and did nothing to improve it. It's replacement is nothing like the former car. Damlier took two reliable engine designs(2.0 and 2.5) that Chrysler had and shelved them for a "World engine".
Yes, Dodge had to rely on selling trucks and SUV's, because it was all they had left that sold well!
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BigWill 7:57AM (2/16/2009)
While I don't totally disagree with you, that recount is less than balanced. For example, there's no mention of the Hemi which debuted in 2003 and was on the Ward's 10 Best Engines list for 2003 through 2007. Or no mention of the significant success of the Chrysler 300, which may be hard to remember since the 300 is long in the tooth now. As for the World Engine, I wouldn't be looking down my nose at the platform for the Mitsubishi Evo's turbo engine. There was nothing wrong with cheaping out and licensing the Hyundai-designed engine especially considering the rather agricultural attributes of those Chrysler 4s you mention. Both Hyundai/Kia and Mitsubishi have gotten great results out of the World Engine platform so what was Chrysler's excuse? That Daimler couldn't properly design the heads for a 4 cylinder engine? I don't think so.
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energy conspiracy 2:51PM (4/01/2009)
gm has flex fuel going for them besides that the auto industries are obviously controlled and pawns of the NWO.what about suppression of so many technologies of the past with tales of 200 mpg on pump gas.fuel cracking technology putting excess exhaust heat to work?,wheres the support of browns gas from water that many do it your self are using to great results 50 plus mpg.the electric cars are a joke.the new tech out brushless motors and litium poly batts being developed make a true electric car at our doorstep,just needed some R and D money.but no stick with the old tech and keep the bankers stranglehold of the world in place.i personally love the history of dodge/chrysler and there cars from the past.maybe its not too late for the auto industries to change there ways.forget it this is not the biggest trouble we have how about the fact that facists have finally overrun our gov and do not even care if you know now. the final stab at our industrial manufacturing base and bannana republic for the US and there north american union.Do you want to wake the F up and see through the smoke and mirrors-watch obama deception on line also see the money masters and end game,listen in on alex joines news show on-line to get a clear pic of the trouble we are all in including the auto makers workers.
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