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Detroit automakers take hit in U of M satisfaction study
Filed under: Chrysler, LLC., Ford, GM  After years of incremental improvement in customer satisfaction, a study from the University of Michigan shows that overall, Detroit automakers have declined versus their Japanese and German rivals. The study, which polls customers with six-month-old to three-year-old vehicles, shows that U.S. automakers have stalled in their quest to improve satisfaction. The problem? Rising gas prices have made truck and SUV customers very unhappy with their vehicles, which reflects negatively in the overall score.
The Chevrolet brand was hit hardest, with scores dropping 3.7% versus last year's score. The bow tie brand was ahead of only Dodge and Jeep. The news isn't all...
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Dodge Viper ACR possibly spotted at 'Ring, fangs bared
Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Supercars, Chrysler, LLC., Dodge 
It's got the preposterously huge wing, and race-burlesque stripe job; could this Viper spotted at the Nurburgring possibly be a Viper ACR? The red and black Viper was nabbed on one of the 'Ring's cameras, and there's also reports of a black Viper with graphite stripes tearing around the German racing venue. While the pictures showed up on the Viperclub forums, nobody's got any lap times, unfortunately. Could the ACR turn laps as fast as the scorching GT-R or ZR1? Who knows, but there's no doubt that it'll be fast. That big, silly wing is acceptable...
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Trevor Creed retires from Chrysler, Ralph Gilles ascends
Filed under: Etc., Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Chrysler, LLC. 
Trevor Creed has decided that being the capo di designi capo for such programs as the Chrysler 300, PT Cruiser, Dodge Challenger, Viper, and Ram, among others, is a satisfactory way to cap a career in design. Creed has spent the past 23 years at Chrysler, and his departure as Vice President of Design on August 31st opens up the slot for Ralph Gillies to step up. Gillies will start his new role as Design Veep September 1st, and he'll answer to Frank Klegon, Executive VP of Product Development.
Hey Frank, get rid of focus grouping, give Ralph a bit more leash...
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Monterey 2008: Leno's Tank Car storms Pebble Beach
Filed under: Time Warp, Etc., Chrysler, LLC., Misc. Auto Shows, Celebrities 
Click above for high-res gallery of Jay's Tank Car in Monterey
We were as surprised as anyone to see Jay Leno's name on the entry list for this year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Then we saw that he would be arriving in a 1953 Chrysler. As nice as 1953 Chryslers may be, Jay's is pretty special. It's an imposing custom hot rod that is powered by a 28.4-liter Chrysler built tank engine. Most people call it the Tank Car, and last year this time it was on display across the country at...
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Woodward 2008: Chrysler Booth Tour at 13 Mile
Filed under: Chrysler, LLC., Dodge, Misc. Auto Shows 
Click above for high-res gallery of Chrysler's booth on Woodward Ave.
The Chrysler booth at the Woodward Dream Cruise is all about two things: muscle cars and Mopar. The Pentastar filled up the massive mall parking lot at 13 mile and Woodward with dozens of classic rides from the '60s, '70s, and today. Among the best examples of Motown Metal were old-school Chrysler 300s, a brilliant orange Dodge Charger equipped with the Super Bird wing, and quite a few vintage Challengers. For some reason the Nassau concept from the 2007 Detroit Auto Show keeps creeping up at...
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Chrysler in-car internet coming Aug. 25th, pricing revealed
Filed under: Gadgets, Chrysler, LLC. 
Click above to view a video of the Chrysler UConnect system.
Chrysler's wireless, in-car Internet system will be made available beginning on August 25th, with pricing set at $499 for the Uconnect equipment, a $50 installation at the dealer, a $35 initial activation charge and a service fee of $29 per month. The cost of the system might be bearable for business users, but everyday consumers may be content with their Edge or 3G-enabled smartphones for mobile web browsing and email.
Check out our original post on the UConnect system here and view a video demonstration of the system in action here.
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First two Dodge Challenger SEs delivered to Ohio this week
Filed under: Car Buying, Coupes, Chrysler, LLC. 
If you want to sport a Dodge Challenger without the fire-breathing V8 or the hefty price tag, the time to act is now. The first two Dodge Challenger SE models have arrived in Ohio this week, and 500 models are en-route to dealerships in the U.S. and Canada as you read this. The SE Challenger packs Chrysler's ho-hum 3.5L V6 with 250 horsepower and a truly retro four speed automatic, but the news is far from all bad. You still get the Challenger's muscular looks, power flowing through the rear wheels, and a hard to beat entry price of only...
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Woodward '08: Chrysler gets things started with PT Cruiser Dream Cruiser Series 5
Filed under: Hatchbacks, Chrysler, LLC., Misc. Auto Shows 
Click above for high-res gallery of the Chrysler PT Cruiser DCS 5
The festivities leading up to the annual Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit begin to ramp up around this time every year, and you know the world's largest traffic jam of classic, custom and exotic vehicles is nigh when Chrysler debuts another limited edition version of its PT Cruiser. This year it's the limited edition Dream Cruiser Series 5 that will be available for purchase in the fall. The DCS 5 is actually more done up than past editions with Midnight White Pearl Coat paint that's topped...
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Chrysler asks UAW for 10-hour, four-day workweek
Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, LLC., Earnings/Financials  In an effort to cut down on travel and energy costs, Chrysler is said to be in negotiations with the United Auto Workers Union to switch from five, eight-hour days down to four days with ten-hour shifts. We first heard this scheme mentioned as a possibility for the Jeep Factory in Toledo, Ohio, though it now appears as if all but the few plants turning in high amounts of overtime would be affected if the UAW agrees to allow Chrysler to make the scheduling change. As is typical with the new Cerberus-owned automaker, the Chrylser LLC isn't giving out any information on specific savings targets,...
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2009 Jeep Patriot with new interior already on dealer lots
Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Chrysler, LLC., Jeep 
Click above to view a gallery of the Patriot's new accoutrements
All you used to need to know about the Jeep Patriot is that it looks Jeepy; drives super-solidly (even when making forays above 80 mph); and comes with a nasty interior that will shred your knuckles on that excess flash all over every piece (Ed. note: flash is what's left over from injection molding where the two halves of the mold come together). Take that painful and bloody criticism, print it out on heavy paper, and then savor the sound as you crumple it up; our bloviating has...
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