What's Wrong With This Picture: The Price of Optimism Edition
While reading through some of our analysis of Chrysler’s five-year plan, you may have found yourself wondering “what did the Pentastar boyz do to convince you of their company’s viability plan besides flash PowerPoint slides at you for seven hours?” To fully comply with TTAC’s stringent disclosure standards, we present Chrysler’s material compensation for the seven hours that auto journalists most wish they had back.
The only two items of real value are a wireless mouse in the shape of a Fiat 500 and a Chrysler-branded USB storage drive. The USB drive uses real aluminum, giving it a heft that is clearly intended to signify the Chrysler brand’s new, up-market positioning. But when was the last time you saw real aluminum trim inside a Chrysler? Continuing the push to portray Chrysler as a luxury brand are the new Chrysler 300 and Town and Country brochures, which are printed on a heavy stock and covered in a faux-leather paper product. Again, why not just spend this money on the cars themselves? Though it’s difficult to tell from the picture, the blue-covered documents are a three-inch-high stack of presentation slides, a handy reminder of my seven hours in PowerPoint Hell. Oh yes, and the New New Chrysler had one more journo-softening outlay, courtesy of the Fiat caterers: a delicious Northern Italian luncheon that one veteran described as “the best junket lunch ever.” Orzo, cannelloni alla funghi, imported salamis, Piedmont-style asparagus and more. Did these perks and treats affect our coverage? Decide for yourself:
Chrysler Financial Plans: Leveraged Assumptions
Chrysler Brand: Refresh and Market Like Hell
Dodge Brand: Refresh and Market Like Hell
Dodge Marketing Explained: Sort Of
Dodge Versus Ram Case Study: Nitro
Chrysler: The Powertrain Plans
Fiat 500: The Littlest Bailout Baby
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I could use the keydrive.. over 8g please. At least it would outlast a Chrysler vehicle...
Since at this time the 500 mouse has already been requested (and having not updated since 7:30 local time) Dibs on the flash drive.