Chrysler has unveiled a few plans for the future and, rather than using past successes to carve the path, will adapt its course according to the changing market. While speaking at the recent Western Automotive Journalists’ dinner, Chrysler President Jim Press touched on the need to generate brand identity amongst Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler. While each brand currently has a core theme, Jeep – off-road, Dodge – volume and performance, Chrysler – affordable luxury, there have been many recent deviations, such as the conglomeration that is the Jeep Compass. Press hopes to put an end to that trend and focus the company’s aim at the automotive enthusiast. Toyota can keep the automotive appliance title, Press wants Chrysler to appeal to drivers rather than consumers.

Nevertheless, actions speak louder than words and Press backs up his claims through the current curtailing of vehicle production and the scheduled release of seven new vehicles come 2010. Like other manufacturers, Chrysler is aggressively pursuing alternative powertrain configurations, particularly electric drive. In case no one has noticed yet, 2010 will be a big year for the American automotive industry. It will be the point when the roller coaster ride reaches its end and some folks end up with motion sickness while others get a rush of adrenaline. Hopefully Chrysler can find themselves in the latter category.

Trevor Creed resigned from the position of Chrysler’s head of design, and as of today is succeeded by Ralph Gilles, the man who designed the 300C. Since every change at the top comes with a “new sheriff in town” speech — or at least one-liner — this is what Gilles had to say: “It’s definitely time for a new aesthetic at Chrysler. … We’re done with the ‘edge’ look.”

Gilles says he wants the Pentastar’s cars to look more “organic.” This being art, however, that could really mean anything. For concrete examples and practical considerations he mentioned the Dodge Zeo and Chrysler Ecovoyager, and said that he wants to design “sexy” cars that will appeal around the world. Intriguing statements from the gent known for a car that epitomizes the American muscle sedan, but we are all in favor, and we say “aye.” The only question is how soon will they start the redesign, and what will organic look like?

While everyone is aware of what GM, Honda and Toyota have been up to when it comes to fuel-saving technology, Chrysler has been playing it close to the chest. The Auburn Hills-based automaker, however, will show its dealers three new all-electric cars at the end of this month that are said to be production capable. Jim Press, the Chrysler exec who came from rival and current hybrid-leader Toyota, added that Chrysler’s future platforms were being designed with electrification in mind and that is still has access to technology from its previous owner, Daimler.

Like General Motors, Chrysler seems convinced that its EVs need to have plug-in capability. The goal, says Press, is 300 miles of range. To make that a reality, a very good set of batteries will be necessary – likely lithium-ions – and Press assures us that his company is working with multiple suppliers. Will any of the production-ready models be anything like the concepts shown off last year in Detroit? We’ll see.

Choosing them for their portrayed image of “strength and power,” officials in Kuwait have ordered 150 Dodge Chargers to be modified as police vehicles. As the Charger is the leading volume vehicle for Chrysler LLC in the Middle East, the choice doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Delivery of the cop cars, however, isn’t expected to take place for another couple months. In the meantime, the lot of them are heading to Canfield Equipment Service in Michigan where they’ll be fitted for their new Kuwaiti roles in traffic, security, and emergency response. (Here’s hoping none of our readers get a chance to check them out from the back seat once they’re in service).

The Dodge Viper has been heard Chrysler’s halo car from the time it was introduced coming back in 1992, but times are tough. Faced among the thing so it are able to not be able to remain writing the brutish sports car, the Auburn Hills-based automaker is reportedly looking at working at somewhat that is never carried on finished before by a domestic automaker (as for as we know): marketing the Viper’s times ahead to a third party. Automotive News quotes Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli saying, “We undergo carried on approached by third parties who are interested in research coming years possibilities for Viper.” Nardelli reports overly at all happens, his association ought to go to trigger ensured the proper interests of Viper fanboys are served and which Chrysler ought to still be to forward “operational and financial” validation for the car if a purchase takes place. We’re honestly a tiny stunned this Chrysler ought to mull over this kind of a vital action, even though if it equals the Viper can not be sacrificed at the altar of sector woes, we are all for it. On the a multitude of hand, how performs one separate Dodge according to the Viper? Can you assume Ford re&wshyp;selling the Mustang to ROUSH or GM re&wshyp;selling the Corvette to Lingenfelter? Chrysler has not called any of the Viper’s suitors, so in its place as opposed to a familiar tuning house, it would as well be a conglomerate of investors or an extra automaker. Is a Viper purchased by one more kind continue to a Viper?

The 2009 Dodge Journey carries the size and condition of a common crossover, and it has seating for seven and all the luxuries you am able to probably ask for at $30,000. On paper, the Journey has a heaps of Times in its favor, yet we had our doubts.

First off, it appears a lot as if the Dodge Caravan, that operates against the Journey when getting ready to so most crossover homeowners would like to prevent the minivan stigma. It’s as well centered on the dwindled as opposed to amazing Chrysler Sebring platform, that we own discovered to be merely awful. Then there is Chrysler’s corporate 3.5L engine, that is lessened powerful, refined and compact as opposed to similarly sized engines from what i read in its competition. Chrysler’s the latest track peak for vehicles overly are ebbed as opposed to course competitory as well lent substantiation to our idea this the Journey should be a letdown. Regardless, we tried to obvious our minds of these types of conditions when the Journey arrived for a week-long remain in the Autoblog Garage. Hit the jump to see how Chrysler’s new crossover fared.

Later the present period Chrysler are able to at long last launch the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango hybrids. These are the previous non-GM packages of the 2-Mode hybrid partnership the current in addition includes GM, Daimler and BMW. Chrysler hopes who the hybrid patterns can revive its big SUV sales, but if GM’s encounters provided the Tahoe and Yukon Hybrids is any indication, there may be motivate for concern. With this in mind, Chrysler has priced its hybrids $8,000 dwindled as opposed to the comparable GM cases in the present hopes such a working at so could kick-start sales. Back in June, AutoblogGreen drove the Chrysler Aspen hybrid based on what i read in Portland, Maine to Boston, Mass. Head within to ABG to saw all just about how it fared and how even the hybrid method raises the truck’s mileage. Hint: it did higher as opposed to expected.

A quick give the impression at July transactions figures informs who Chrysler saw a gargantuan 34% fall off in its Daily Sales Rate vs. July 2007, but the lower end chain ought to suffer looked worse. Chrysler’s newly written announcement which its loan arm might exit the leasing arena by July 31 had cause to a rush of shoppers visiting local Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealerships. Some dealers purchased two times as a multitude of vehicles as regular for the the previous couple days of the month, initiating the stores a little reprieve for an otherwise bleak July. Now dealers are troubled which the increased sells volume might cause to a nevertheless further bleak August, from the time of various mortgage holders pulled pass on the get decision.

Some dealers are working to afford third-party banks going to get in on the leasing game, but a tight charge cash in on and whole losses at automaker charge arms own received leasing appear actually unappealing as lease market values start on to rise. Chrysler is hoping a modern sweet of incentives should permit pillow the blow, as zero per cent banking and loads of currency on the hood is the condition of the day for now. Chrysler historically leased up 20% of the vehicles it sold, so if a huge new sweet of juicier incentives does not entice people to “Shop til you Drive”, August may seem nonetheless worse as opposed to July

Featuring a somewhat amended front and rear fascia on a previous-generation Chrysler Sebring chassis, GAZ has resuscitated the Volga kind and cr provided the Siber sedan. In the idioms of Sergey Zanozin, Chairman of the GAZ Group, “The GAZ Group has began to supply a new string of cars short of the Volga kind on platforms of the world’s largest manufacturers. The new generation complex has the flexible capacity needed to bid new cases to creation at pithy worth and speculative in the future.” Well, alrighty then. While the old Sebring platform ought to not spot on set the globe on fire, it is certainly a evolution in the correct channel for Russian roads, surrounded by a somewhat lifted ride rate and beefed-up suspension factors to solve the stresses of Siberian winters. The Siber uses a either a 2.0-liter Chrysler engine in on 141 horsepower or a 2.4-liter churning out 143 hp. Standard aspects affix air conditioning, double airbags, ABS and traction control. All in all, it is not the present bad.