Allpar: Chrysler Model Mix "Under Re-evaluation"

According to a report from Allpar, Chrysler’s model mix might be getting a major re-shuffle compared to Sergio Marchionne’s much touted five-year plan shown in 2014. While Allpar doesn’t list a source, a recent investor presentation marked Chrysler’s future lineup as “under re-evaluation”.

The five-year plan called for a new C-segment sedan, which was dubbed Chrysler 100, and a slew of other new product.

With fuel prices expected to stay at their current level until at least 2020 and the market eschewing smaller cars for crossovers, the time may not be right for the Chrysler 100 in North America, reports Allpar.

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Swimming Upstream: VJ Day

It’s been another exhausting day and, after wasting precious time trying to write some sort of clever introduction, I’ve realized that there just isn’t any point in beating around the bush.

The windmill I set out to topple is thoroughly defeated and the Town and Country looks smart sitting in front of the house tonight wearing its new set of permanent Japanese plates.

I wish I could say it was a cake walk, that the Town and Country sailed through its Shaken without any difficulty, but, as usual, there were last minute problems.

Want to know more? Hit the jump for another episode of your favorite reality program: “Man Meets Bureaucracy.”

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Swimming Upstream: 30 Day Countdown

It’s Friday and once again it’s time for an update from Japan where my efforts to get my Town & Country licensed and street legal continue unabated.

Last week’s baby steps have led to modest results. My visit to the local police station netted me a parking permit on Tuesday and, although I am immensely self-satisfied at the results, I am aware that the permit’s issuance has started a 30 day countdown clock. If I cannot complete the entire registration process within that window, I will have to repeat this step of the process.

Naturally, I would rather avoid that.

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Fiat Chrysler's Product Pipeline Drier Than California for 2016

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles may have only one new model built in North America over the next 18 months after executives pushed back development of others due to brisk sales of current models, Reuters is reporting.

The redesigned Chrysler Town and Country minivan may be the only new car built stateside that FCA plans to launch in the next 18 months, sources told Reuters. The company is planning to bring to the United States three Italian cars — the Fiat Spider, Maserati’s crossover and the Alfa Romeo Giulia — in the same timeframe.

This is the part where we would like to mention that a new Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler are seriously overdue.

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Piston Slap: Minivan or SUV to Take the "A" Liner?

Clark writes:

Sajeev,

We plan on buying a hard-side folding camper (a.k.a. an Aliner) with a dry weight of about 2,100 lbs. Which minivan or SUV would you recommend?

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Marchionne: AWD Minivan Will Lose Stow 'N Go or Gain Electric Motor

Move over, Toyota. You won’t be the only automaker hocking an all-wheel drive minivan when the new Town & Country arrives next year.

According to Sergio Marchionne, the next minivan will get all-wheel drive, but something’s gotta give.

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Piston Slap: Registration For The Toronto & Calgary Minivan?

TTAC Commentator BCalgary writes:

Hello Sajeev!

Last summer I finished a 2 year stint in Scotland and moved back to my native Canada. My family is from Toronto, however, I received a job offer in Calgary so my wife and I packed up our belongings and moved out west. Since my new job didn’t start until September, we decided to take the couple of months we had off and do a dream vacation that consisted of driving across Canada while camping and kayaking at various points along the way. We ended up buying a well maintained 2005 Town and Country (3.8L) with high miles (269,000 km or 167,000 miles at the time) for the trip.

Fast forward seven months and it has 290000 km (180,000 miles) and I am at a crossroads as to whether or not to keep it.

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Piston Slap: The Buy or Rent Pitfall?

Henry writes:

Sajeev,

My wife and I are planning on taking a large 20 day vacation this summer where we plan on driving aver 5000 miles with our three older children. My wife drives a 2008 Ford Taurus X, which we love, but does not have enough space for a family of five for such a long journey. We were originally going to rent a minivan from the local enterprise, but a two week rental will set us back $1,300 with tax.

Ouch.

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Honda Crosstour Design Inspiration Discovered

I knew I’d seen it before. Recognize it? Full (wood)body expose after the jump:

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  • Master Baiter Cells capable of accepting fast charge have been available for years in power tools. You sacrifice energy density in cell designs of that type.
  • 2ACL 500s seem to be decent if one stays on top of maintenance. I test-drove some middle-mileage examples car-shopping for the girlfriend and they made a stronger impression upon me than I expected. Haven't driven an Abarth, but I suspect they were among the best cared for given their enthusiast bent.That said, I recall the Multiair Turbo has some wacky service intervals (i.e. 30k miles for spark plugs), the car as a whole imposes utility and component accessibility challenges as well as fuel economy that's worse than several next-size up cars with comparable power. Interesting, but a terrible value IMO.
  • Kjhkjlhkjhkljh kljhjkhjklhkjh Just looking at the PLUMETING cost of used tesla's (28k for a 3P ex) I contest the ''gubberment'' argument. If anything the gubberment is his BEST AND ONLY ALLY because with the increasing emissions regulation a cheap tesla is a hell of a buy.but as previously stated .. were in a saturated market for EV's right now.
  • SCE to AUX This must have been a very interesting event.Of course, 'sustainability' may come with a price tag.
  • Redapple2 TTAC ate my post. 2 paragraphs. Hit Send. No post apprears. 3rd time. I ll write less. Becoming the KMart of sites?