Money losing automakers in mind, it should be noted that Chrysler Group isn't
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| Chrysler Group's in the money, so expect cars like this Firepowerconcept to become reality soon. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
exactly shrouded under the same dark cloud as Volkswagen (although VW's quarterly profits are up for Q1 of '06), the even darker Mitsubishi, or for that matter its Big 3 Detroit rivals, GM and Ford. Thanks to a tightly run ship and an extremely innovative and resultantly successful product lineup, the automaker achieved a $126 million CAD ($114 million USD) quarterly profit in Q1 of 2006, which is the "11th quarter in a row where Chrysler Group has made a profit", claimed Landry. But the trick to maintaining profitability, or at least a good way to continue up the bell curve, is to enter untapped market segments with exciting new products that will be sure to attract attention.
Chrysler Group will soon remind us all once again that they're the best in the auto
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| The funky little Hornet, or something similar, might just be the mostimportant car Chrysler Group builds in the next few years, as it luresnew younger first-time buyers into the Dodge family. (Photo:DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
business when it comes to flipping the status quo onto its collective rear end. Soon, the two new Jeep models just mentioned, plus a new slightly smaller than midsize 4x4-capable Dodge Nitro SUV, and a slightly smaller than full-size Chrysler Aspen luxury-SUV, just to name a few, will enter the market. Landry also showed Board of Trade members photos of two additional concepts that may get the official Auburn Hills nod in the near future; one being the brilliant orange Dodge Challenger two-door muscle car that created quite the fuss in Detroit last January, and the other being the equally intriguing Chrysler Firepower sport coupe that many
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| Don't expect suicide doors in production trim. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
expect will replace the automaker's slow-selling Crossfire coupe and roadster. While such brand-topping models are important for building a nameplate's image, the Hornet could be a halo car all on its own, and one that could fill the bottom line while increasing sales to levels currently unachievable with the automaker's current product lineup.
Without doubt Chrysler Group would like to take part in the subcompact party, and now all that remains to be seen is how the powers that be go about bringing the feisty little hatchback to market.
