The Automotive News Week in Review - September 25, 2009

Ram to Step Out on its Own

Chrysler has received word from parent company Fiat that it may be time to seriously re-think the Dodge brand. Part of any new strategy would be separating the Ram pickup from the Dodge family and making it a brand all on its own. This new line of vehicles would include the current full-size pickup as well as smaller trucks, commercial vehicles, vans and a number of sport-utility vehicles. Dodge would be further reshaped by a focus on more performance-oriented vehicles sharing platforms with Italian marque Alfa Romeo. In order to prevent cross-competition, Dodge would leave the European market entirely.

Fiat plans on officially outlining its plans for the Chrysler group in November, although they have already discussed the idea of making Chrysler itself a premium brand aimed at outperforming both Lincoln and Cadillac in the domestic luxury market.

Fresh Government Funds for Hybrid Research

Fisker, would-be producer of high-end electric cars got a serious shot in the arm this week thanks to the injection of federal funds. The U.S. government continued its policy of sponsoring alternative energy research by providing Fisker with $529 million in low interest loans. The money is intended to help the California-based company to finally bring some of its impressive automobiles to market, a feat which has proven strikingly elusive for Fisker.

The company has already seen 1,500 advance orders for its luxury Karma sedan, a plug-in hybrid that has been designed using the company’s Q DRIVE gasoline / electric system. The Karma is capable of driving for up to 50 miles on battery power, and offers a combined 403 horsepower and a top speed of 125 miles per hour. While the Karma is an impressive vehicle, the majority of funding is earmarked to support a less expensive, family-oriented plug-in hybrid that is also being developed by Fisker. Dubbed Project NINA, the vehicle is slated for delivery in 2012 and is expected to sell in the neighborhood of 75,000 to 100,000 units per year. Federal tax credits will help to keep the vehicle’s pricing between $35,000 and $45,000 – still a hefty sum to pay for a family car.

Chrysler Says Goodbye to Paper Manuals

That traditionally thick tome stealing valuable glove box space will become a relic of the past for anyone buying a new Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep vehicle past the year 2010. In a decision that the company says is part cost-cutting move and part ecological initiative, digital-only versions of its vehicle manuals will be distributed with all new models. They will take the form of a DVD combined with a thin paper operating guide that describes basic vehicle functions. The company feels that increasingly complex modern vehicles benefit from operating manuals that can handle the scope of its systems without occupying the physical space required by an encyclopedia-sized volume. Current paper manuals from the company weigh in at as much as four pounds.

Chrysler says that the plan will save the equivalent of 20,000 trees a year from being felled by a lumberjack’s blade, which translates into a savings of 930 tons of paper. Old school car buyers who crave the feel of pages between their fingers will still be able to order paper manuals from dealers or directly from Chrysler.

Performance Fans Encouraged by Chevrolet’s About-Face

Over the past few months it almost seems as if General Motors has changed policies, plans and strategies weekly.  Despite this, Chevrolet Camaro lovers are holding out hope that the confirmation by GM vice president Ed Welburn that of an upcoming Z28 edition of the vehicle is in fact the real deal. The Camaro, which currently counts the SS as its highest trim model, had previously been scheduled to offer a very quick, and very exclusive Z28 version that would serve as competition for the Shelby GT500 edition of the Ford Mustang. Plans were nixed during GM’s turbulent bankruptcy, but as the company’s shake out continues post-recovery, a number of coveted automobiles such as the Cadillac CTS-V sport wagon and now the Z28 would seem to have once again received the boardroom support necessary to actually hit showrooms.

The Camaro Z28 would see the installation of the same 6.2-liter, 556 horsepower supercharged V8 engine that is used in the Cadillac CTS-V sedan. Revised exterior styling would include a light aero package, and the vehicle would sit on a more performance-oriented suspension. The vehicle will not go on sale until 2011.

Cash for Clunkers Tally Made Public

The federal government has chosen to release the actual number of vehicles traded in and those purchased during the CARS incentive that allowed citizens to exchange their older, gas guzzling automobiles for rebates on brand new, efficient models. Breaking down the most popular new car choices under the plan shows Ford and Toyota garnering two each of the first five spots, with Honda taking the remaining slot. In order, the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Toyota Camry and Ford Focus make up the five most popular automobiles sold through CARS.

In terms of hard numbers, the top three vehicles on the list were separated by just over 2,000 units, with the Corolla topping out at 29,488 sold. Some very efficient cars did not show nearly so well during the Cash for Clunkers program, with the Honda Insight, smart fortwo selling only 3,075 and 1,154 units respectively. This is compared to the much higher sales of competitors like the Toyota Prius (14,668) and the Honda Fit (12,158).

Perhaps surprisingly, the Chevrolet Silverado (eighth) and the Ford F-150 (tenth) made the top ten, reflecting the relatively lower fuel mileage standards set for those interested in trading in an older full-size truck for a new one. The only other pickup to make the top twenty was the Toyota Tacoma mid-size.