Chrysler to become more luxury, Dodge to become more sport, Jeep to stay as is

Duh

— sdcarguy (View Profile)

Posted on 9/22/2009 10:54:56 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

more luxurious than what? a hyundai?

— Lexurious (View Profile)

Posted on 9/22/2009 11:23:40 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I seriously doubt Chrysler will become a Cadillac competitor, they have to many low end vehicles to truely challenge them. It would make sense though for the Chrysler group to have a luxury line and allow Dodge, and Jeep to sell the mainstream cars.

— bmwdrvr (View Profile)

Posted on 9/22/2009 12:44:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Who cares...

Lexus is to old people as ____________ is to poor people.

A: Hyundai (and for the sake of this article, Chrysler would be an acceptable answer also)

I almost liked this place better as BMW-spies rather then Hyundai-spies. Since when does Hyundai have so many people sticking up for it? I'm all for the underdog, but come on...it's Hyunai

— AudiNewEngland (View Profile)

Posted on 9/22/2009 2:25:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Haven't they already tried that 15 years ago ? Than they changed their mind and decided that Chrysler was the car brand and Dodge was to become a truck only brand (except for the viper), then changed their mind again and decided that Dodge was more the "sport" brand ?

— MSP6 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/22/2009 12:44:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Great move. What the article did not say is that the dodge name will be for autos and a fifth brand [RAM] will be trucks. With any manufacture, the main model name should stand for a purchasing catagory. And if Chrysler is to be "a luxury brand" they need to reach higher than Caddy otherwise the media will be comparing with caddy and yanking straws.

— bfghemicuda (View Profile)

Posted on 9/22/2009 2:23:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

it's like FORD, Lincoln is supposed to be Luxury, but they have an entry level MKZ MKX or whatever letters they are. If Chrysler is to become more luxury oriented they will have a good start with the 300. take that and base your cars off of it. Upgrade the 300 a little more with better materials make it 10k more than what it is. make another model the 200, like the concept make it into a between 5 and 3 series car, then make a lower model or coupe. Take the Viper brand and make it into it's sports brand instead of calling it dodge. take the dodge brand and make it into the toyota competitor. Take the Trucks and badge them RAMS, Full size 1500 and up, call them 2000. Then take the small size Dakota and call them 1000. something along those lines.

— freshseth83 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/22/2009 5:37:39 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Overweight, numb handling and a lazy engine is not a sports car Chrysler.

— veyron1001 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/22/2009 6:46:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Smart.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/22/2009 8:53:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Yeah, they are getting out of entry level Luxury. They want to be superior than Cadillac and Benz.


GUESS WHAT??

That leaves a big ass hole for Hyundai to walk right on into.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/22/2009 10:46:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Its not like cars like the PT Cruiser arent price competitive with upper spec Accents.

At least with an Accent you get a car thats more fuel efficent, reliable, and has a better value to interior marterials quotient. The PT has 1996 Hyundai Accent interior materials and look at how much they charge for one.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/22/2009 10:50:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

The PT Cruiser is a $7500 car with a $14,000 price tag.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/22/2009 10:53:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

I know about the PT, becuase there's one in my driveway.

What a Fu-king Lemon?

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/22/2009 10:54:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

HS The PT Cruiser prototype was origonally a Plymouth along with the Prowler. Neither was ment to go into production. There was an overwhelming positive response for the PT so is was built. When the Plymouth brand was discontinued the Prowler was stopped [ never was a high volume vehicle ] but the PT was and has always been a good seller and would not fit in the Dodge brand because the Viper filled that nich so the PT was now a Chrysler. Weather it was wrong or right, thats where it was. And HS If the PT in your driveway is so bad SELL IT!!! and buy another Hyundai.

— bfghemicuda (View Profile)

Posted on 9/23/2009 6:32:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Its my Brother's PT thats why. Hes looking at Elantra Tourings, but I told him to wait for a Next Gen Hyundai, where Elantras will get 40-42 MPG, and Accents will get 45-50 MPG.

Hemi, I actually agree with you Chrysler should keep the PT, they should put a smaller engine option for better MPG and improve on the interior. If I was Chrysler, Id change the headlights to Bluish HIDs with Projectors as well. The Powertrains are antiquated and unreliable. The PT is a good platform for an upmarket small car, but it needs the proper equippment to do the job effectively.

Right now the PT suffers from the same ITIS the Accent suffers from. Its a Rich Kid trying to fit in an Inner-City Neighborhood.

That what Dodge is for, and thats what KIA is for. Hyundia made some Mistakes with the Accent in terms of price positioning and eqquipment levels. Chrysler made some mistakes with the PT in terms of materials and Powertrains.

The Nissan Versa took the PT and improved on it, but the Versa suffers from questionable powertrains as well.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/23/2009 8:19:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Hyundaismoke,
I seriously never knew Chrysler was even in the luxury game with the exception of the 300M. Personally, I think Chrysler customers will gravitate to Cadillac and possibly Ford. The Americans play the incentives game too and once they're done blaming Toyota for everything, guess who's next if they keep on taking sales away with their own gov't incentives.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2009 1:01:14 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Oh stop, huu. Chrysler has been entry level luxury for years. The Luxury cars for the people who got a raise at work, or conservative with their money. Its seems now Hyundai has that spot.

Like you guys at Lexus used to.

Actually Chrysler Customers are Gravitating to Hyundai.

Fact:

Biggest trade ins for a Sonata=Chrysler Sebring

Biggest Trade ins for a Genesis= 300C.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2009 1:45:07 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Insurance Salesman, Government Workers, Social Workers, Teachers, etc.. drive these cars.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2009 1:47:02 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

The Aquamarine Collar Workers as I like to call it. They usually White Collar workers that make Sub-White Collar wages.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2009 1:48:33 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Fiat saw Hyundai's aspirations and saw the trade in number stats, and knew it was time to pull up stakes on Entry level Luxury. Buick and Lincoln are doing the same. That Pretty much Leaves Mercury, MINI, Volvo, SAAB, Subaru, and Hyundai Left in that segment.

Mercury's Customers are Aging, Volvo with a Chinese Owner might end up being the next MG Rover. That Leaves SAAB, Subaru, MINI, and Hyundai as entry level Luxury products that will actually have a future.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2009 1:55:12 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

You may not like the idea huu, but the market is forcing us at Hyundai to take this opportunity.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2009 1:57:01 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

You guys at Toyota need to embrace Subaru as an Entry Level Luxury Make. Prices and Equippment in Subarus today are way far removed from their econo car roots.

Stop trying to update Lexus. Subaru is the Panacea to your problems, huu.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 9/25/2009 2:04:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1