The Chrysler Tug of War - GM vs. Nissan

Jeffrey Ross — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:39:00 GMT

By now, the bleeding that is going on at Chrysler has attracted many sharks. The two biggest reports currently involve either General Motors or Nissan consuming the privately held automotive company in the near future – near enough that Chrysler has essentially stopped development of a latest and greatest replacement for the aging V-6 engine lineup. With Nissan and GM circling the SUV and truck-heavy brand, exactly which scenario would play out best for all parties involved as well as the local job markets employed by the companies? Ironically, both situations would mark a reunion of sorts for Jeep to past owners, but here’s our take on both situations:

The most prominent story right now is of a GM acquisition. Not only would this be devastating for Chrysler, but it a huge mark in the win column for the General being able to take out a major competitor. A major disadvantage for both GM and Chrysler in this situation would be the high amount of plant closures and job loss, not only in the United States but worldwide. Most likely, the Dodge and Chrysler brands would meet the same fate as Plymouth did in 2001, leaving Jeep somewhere along the lines of a booster to the HUMMER brand. This would mark the first time that HUMMER (or more so, its heritage from AM General) and Jeep have been under the same roof since 1983. Although most of Chrysler’s unit sales would be shed, the remaining additional sales could help GM take a big enough lead ahead of Toyota for top manufacturer in the world.

If Nissan were to acquire Chrysler, this could be looked at more as a merger than an acquisition. This would be the best possible scenario for all parties. Shedding overlapping models is still a definite concern for Chrysler’s three brands, but platform sharing with Nissan could bring Chrysler smaller, fuel-efficient cars, while Nissan would benefit from the truck and SUV platforms as well as the hybrid technology that Chrysler has already invested in. Currently, Nissan’s only hybrid vehicle is the limited production Nissan Altima that uses technology borrowed from rival Toyota. With the advanced technology behind the Chrysler-GM-BMW-Daimler two-mode hybrid system, Nissan could become the leading Japanese manufacturer

Currently, Nissan is the seventh-ranked automotive manufacturer in the world and a merger of this magnitude would dramatically increase Nissan’s annual sales numbers. Although a few models would undoubtedly be shed in this arrangement, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep would continue to exist and could help put Nissan Motors in the fifth position (according to 2007 sales statistics) worldwide among automakers. If Chrysler were to become a Nissan subsidiary, it would put Jeep back in the same parts bin as Renault for the first time since Chrysler bought the Jeep brand from AMC in 1987.

In the end, we think the best chance for success might be with Nissan-Renault, but in this economic environment, GM may have considerably more pull. And when it comes to a tug-of-war, you always want to have more pull.

Chrysler, GM making towing safer

Jeffrey Ross — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 18:29:00 GMT

By: Jeffrey Ross
Autotropolis.com

Anybody who has improperly loaded a U-Haul trailer and experienced the ensuing fright at highway speeds will appreciate the latest technology available on two new SUVs.

Despite the fact that most trailers have the centerline clearly labeled, it can sometimes be hard to judge proper weight distribution. The end result of an improperly loaded trailer is violent swaying which can cause a loss of vehicle control leading to collisions, jackknifing or a rollover.

Chrysler and General Motors are incorporating new technologies into their SUVs helping to reduce the risk of accidents. The new technology uses the anti-lock brake system (ABS) and traction control system to help keep the vehicle on the road and the driver in control.

In late 2006, Chrysler engineers were the first in the industry to incorporate a Trailer Sway Control technology into full-size SUV, the 2007 Chrysler Aspen. In addition to the Trailer Sway technology, the Aspen uses Electronic Stability and Electronic Roll Mitigation to give drivers the highest level of control and should equate to one of the safest SUVs on the market. The Aspen has a Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) up to 14,000 pounds and a maximum trailer weight of 8,950 pounds.

The Aspen’s trailer sway control uses software to compare the vehicle’s movement and momentum to the driver’s intended path. If the Aspen’s yaw sensor detects a sway, not from the driver’s steering input, the system will kick in to apply the brakes on the one front wheel that would counteract the swaying. As the trailer continues to sway, the system will alternately apply the front brakes to lessen the swaying, while also reducing the vehicle’s speed using the rest of the brake system and reducing engine torque.

As Saturn continues to improve its brand image with all-new vehicles, the 2008 Saturn Vue will be added to the lineup this year and will come standard with GM’s StabiliTrak system. While StabiliTrak is a common traction control system across GM’s gamut of cars, the 2008 Vue's system adds a Trailer Sway Control system.

While the 2008 Vue has a towing capacity of less than half of what the Aspen hauls, anyone experiencing the aforementioned U-Haul scenario knows that it really does not matter on the weight being hauled but rather the distribution of weight in the trailer. The V6-powered Saturn Vue models can have a maximum trailer weight of 3,500 pounds, while the four-cylinder models (including the Green Line hybrid) can tow up to 1,500 pounds. GM fully integrated its Trailer Sway Control program into the StabiliTrak system.

The Vue’s system reacts automatically but still relies on some driver input to fully protect against trailer sway. When the StabiliTrak system detects trailer sway, it automatically applies the brakes to help maintain vehicle control. A light on the instrument cluster will also flash to indicate to the driver to reduce the vehicle’s speed. If the system detects continual trailer sway, it will decrease engine torque and slow the vehicle.

Both systems are helping to ensure that the driver maintains complete control of the vehicle and keep the top-heavy SUVs planted firmly on all four tires.

[source: Saturn and Chrysler press releases]

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The Chrysler Tug of War - GM vs. Nissan

Chrysler, GM making towing safer