Chrysler rushing new features and equipment into 15 reworked vehicles

Hmmm. This article suggests that Chrysler *appears* to be behaving somewhat like a car company that is vigorously competing for business. Maybe that's a good thing, in spite of stressing their engineers?

"Chrysler’s engineers are reportedly stressed out over the urgency of these upgrades."
They should be stressed out over their jobs!

BEWARE what you ask for!

in a previous near death experience, chrysler DID lay off bunches of engineers. company did this BEFORE they were done with development testing and debugging.

that job was left to thousands of poor suckers conned into buying the unperfected K-cars just newly released!

@ Fatandsassy: I agree totally. Actually, if I was at the head of Chrysler they wouldn't be stressed anywhere near the studios. They would be stressed in an unemployment line somewhere. It's time the moron engineers and designers at Chrysler woke up and started doing some work for a change. Ever notice how they get ONE vehicle right and then try to design every other vehicle like it? Ram > Dakota. FAIL. 300 > Sebring. FAIL. Grand Cherokee > Compass. FAIL.

Tango... You forget, The engineers at Chrysler before Diamler were designing and building vehicles that were ahead of most auto companies [cab forward and the like]. Chrysler had good momentum and had worked diligently for 10 years to get the product in competitive form. The 1994 Ram set a new standard in full sized trucks went fron 18,000 units to 60,000 in one year, the sebring and avenger had a solid platform and were slated for new technology [ chryslers world engine and dual clutch automatics] the minivans blew the competition away and the Viper was untouchable. They even prototyped a vehicle that was never intended to go into production that ended up selling millions called a PT Cruiser. When GM and Ford saled were tanking, Chrysler sales were strong. When Diamler took over they fired all the engineers, Lutz and the boys went to GM to get them out of there mess. Diamler cancelled the wrold engine and 4cyl program and the trans program, upgraded interiors, cheapened the sebring and avenger projects to put the Chrysler profits twards the failing merc platforms and the rest is history. So I take offence to your Moron Chrysler engineer comment and factually call it the Moron german engineers and the Moron Diamler execs. that took Chrysler to the point is is now. Chrysler is doing a remarkable job in picking up the rubble that Diamler left and turning it around in record time. This will be one fantastic success story.

And BTW The Ram never failed, the 300 never failed [most awarded car in history] The grand C never failed.

he was saying that they tried to copy their successful cars and failed.

he's right about the styling of the Avenger. they tried to translate the charger's look to a smaller car and it was hideous. and the current Sebring... what the f*ck were they thinking? I can't find a single attractive angle or element on that entire car.

My point being the Chrysler engineers at that time were in a box. The Merc engineers were in charge and called the shots. Noted was the drastic change in the Durango/Dakota, Sebring/Avenger Neon/Caliber all from a first generation hit. From what I understand, Chrysler has brought back some of the previous engineers and the average age is @ 24 years old.

Go ahead and de-boost me, I can handle it. You are all haters...

Since you asked for it. Done.

they should ditch the rubbermaid interior in the 300, charger, and challenger, asap.

They have already done it...

bfg - your post brought a huge smile to my face. I hear so much negativity towards Chrysler on this site, ie: Sebrings and Avengers are crap, Calbers interior is "cheap", that benz platform is "tired" ETC. Yet, I see multiples of ALL these models on the road everyday...

Hey I drive a 2008 Jeep Commander and LOVE it everyday except the constant visit to the Gas Pump.

That's great to hear - I'm guessing that you probably did not buy for the gas mileage. I have a 2000 Ram with 110K miles, it gets horrible mileage and I couldn't care less. I bought it for towing, it does a great job and it has NEVER stranded me.

@pushrod27: Im with you on that Sebring comment. I dont know what happend. Chrysler is known for being able to bring a concept to production without changing much. Besides the side profile, the Sebring looks NOTHING like the Chrysler Airflite concept. If it did, it probably would be doing better than it is now.

Also, the whole Chrysler-Daimler marriage thing was just like a real marriage. When it was over, the woman left with everything.

Chrysler is playing catch up largely in part to the fact that Cerberus Capitol Management Group froze all developemnt and laid off engineers. Prior to that what was then Daimler Chrysler did everything they could to sabatoge Chrysler with cheapened products and watered down designs(Sebring)from show car concepts. Fiat is doing all it can to change things around in a very short time window. They are desperate to improve the quality and perception of Chrysler cars prior to the Fiat based models coming out in 2012. This has to happen because Fiat cannot afford to let the perception of Chrysler go down any further then it has. So yes there is a lot of stress on existing engineers. The reality is Fiat has little choice.I believe Marchionne is up to the task.The challenge Chrysler has is keeping the reliability up to snuff. Chrysler cannot afford a debacle like Toyota is going through now. That will kill them and possible Fiat as well.