In the latest spin to produce sales, Chrysler does a drastic move committing themselves to cut gas prices for new Chrysler owners to only $2.99 a gallon for three years. With gas prices seeming to challenge the $5 a gallon mark, who wouldn’t want to have such a bargain?

This type of campaign isn’t exactly new but Chrysler just upped the ante by expanding the coverage to almost all models and the scope - nationwide. Something this drastic is definitely aimed to address something worse - which happens to be Chrysler’s sales records in recent quarters. Sales have been dismal with a 17.6 percent decline.

A few clinchers though, while this “Let’s Refuel America” drive covering Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep new vehicles, they would only concern gasoline with up to 87 octane regular unleaded fuel, E85 fuel or diesel fuel only. Exempted from the drive are some of their guzzlers - SRT models, Dodge Viper, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Ram Chassis Cab, Chrysler Crossfire, Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Sprinter.

Source: Det News

Quite different from all the trucks and the toned American muscle that will be featured in this year’s SEMA show, what we have here is the Chrysler SR 392 Roadster. If you’d ask me, I’d say this should belong to Tokyo instead of Las Vegas with how it looks. But hey, it’s a Detroit baby even dubbed as a “Detroit roadster” (whatever the heck that is).

The design sketch might look funny since it’s inspired by a 1927 street rod design. However, that should distort the fact that this Chrysler will be packing the same engine to be used by the Jeep Wrangler Ultimate - the new 392 HEMI crate engine from Mopar.

So what’s the fuzz over the Chrysler 392 HEMI crate engine? It’s capable of producing somewhere between 525 - 540 horsepower with torque ranging from 490 to 520 pound feet depending if it’s strapped with a carb or an EFI. So it would give trucks and SUVs a lot of power and pull but imagine all that strapped on a roadster. Menacing.

Car Magazine features this list of the the worst celebrity endorsers for cars. Quite an interesting list too.

• Bryan Adams and Audi
• Tiger Woods and Buick
• Celine Dion and Chrysler
• OJ Simpson and Hertz car rentals
• McLaren and its F1 drivers

In all honesty, I’d have to pick Toyota and its endorsers as the better ones. When that Britney Spears Toyota Vios ad came out, it really made me crave for one (in all hopes of having the pre-trashed out Britney inside one).

The best? James Bond. Nothing can make a car scream “Sex!” more than being driven by Bond. The Aston Martin DBS? Ooooh yeah! Don’t tell me you didn’t want one after watching Casino Royale.

Source: Car Online

Chrysler issued a recall of 300,000 SUVs to address a potential braking problem when driving uphill. The recall covers 2006-2007 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Commander, 2007 Jeep Wrangler SUVs and 2007 Dodge Nitro SUVs.

Chrsyler apparently received 20 complaints that vehicles experienced braking delays when drivers stepped on them to stop after coasting uphill. To address the issue, the computer connected to the ABS need to be reprogrammed. A crash has already been reported though no one was seriously harmed.

Apart from these recalls, Chrysler will also put the word out on 72,333 Dodge Avenger sedans and Chrysler Sebring convertibles from the 2008 model year that suffer from problems involving the front door latches and locks.

Earlier this week, Honda also issued a recall of 182,756 Civics due to a faulty wheel bearing O-ring causing it to leak and will cause a wheel to fall off “possibly resulting in a crash,” says Honda. Yeah, a wheel falling off may “possibly” cause it to crash. Now that takes a genius to figure out. Consolation for Civic owners though, Honda will notify owners by mail and replace any damaged parts for free.

Source: Detroit News (Chrysler and Honda)

If there’s one thing I’d like to be 100% in good running condition in my car, it would be the brakes. Acceleration and speed do not mean squat if your car can’t stop. Too bad for BMW, that’s one area in the X5 where they have to recheck. A problem with brake fluid level warning light can cause drivers to totally miss leaks since the system doesn’t work 100%. X5s built from February to April suffer from this fault.

And it’s not just BMW who will be doing recalls. 2,200 units of Jeep Liberties have also been recalled by Chrysler due to a heater motor fault. The fault can result to fires. Nasty thing to experience, especially when cars run on fuel (flammable). Chrysler also issued a recall with 212 Chrysler PT Cruisers due to the rear quarter windows falling out.

Likewise, automaker Maserati recalled 718 Quattroporte units for defects in the ABS software.

Source: Auto Express

For those of you who haven’t heard/read the news, Chrysler is under new management under Cerebrus Capital Management LP. Cerebrus bought Chrysler from former owner Daimler AG for USD 7.4B.

Now Chrysler employees are now starting to get jittery and jumpy because of the recent events. One thing they’re not happy about is the appointment of Robert Nardelli (Home Depot and General Electric) a known cut-throat chief. To compound matters, Nardelli is an outsider to the industry. Employees are now starting to apply for jobs at Daimler and Chrysler Financial.

Change management is one thing that Cerebrus has to look into. Losing white-collar men spells bad news for any organization.

Source: Detroit News